I was glad (and flattered) to have been sent a copy of this book by its author along with a request to write a review. I have known John Milnes Baker for decades now through the Saint Nicholas Society, of which we are both members and he is a leading light and a former President (as am I). I always knew that the English-seeming Baker name was originally spelled Backer and was Dutch. But, until I read this book, which is an updated edition of an earlier one first published 50 years ago, I did not know any of the particulars of his family. From reading the entries for many ancestors and relatives, I noted that they include many accomplished individuals, educated and professional, who were active in their professions, right up to John himself, who is a talented architect and published author. As well as a family history with lots of biographical information, John has produced an almost panoramic (if you will) portrait of a successful New York family crossing the centuries from New York’s earliest days to the present. This is one of the most interesting family histories I have read and I hope that this short review does it justice.

John Baker’s meticulous research and storytelling captures not only the grandeur of these family histories, but also the intimate, personal moments that have shaped who we all are today. As someone who recently married into the Baker family, the depth of the family’s journey through time—its triumphs, challenges, and quiet, everyday moments—is documented with such care and respect. I was moved by how John Baker brought our ancestors’ struggles and successes to life, making me feel a deeper connection to my new family and its legacy. The visualizations and drawings in the book add so much. This book is more than just a historical account - it’s a treasure that will help future generations understand and appreciate the roots we come from. I’m truly grateful for the time and effort invested in preserving and sharing this story.

A captivating journey through New York’s early history, blending rich historical detail with compelling storytelling. The novel immerses readers in the world of the Baker and Edgar family histories, exploring their triumphs, struggles, and deep-rooted influence on the city’s evolution. John Baker brings each character to life with depth and humanity, making their emotional journeys feel authentic and relatable. The prose is vivid, balancing high drama with introspective moments that touch on themes of identity, heritage, and family legacy. It’s a beautifully crafted work that will resonate with both history buffs and lovers of timeless, human stories. A must-read.

Being the author’s eldest son, I literally grew up with some of the stories that infuse this enthralling account of family history. Some of the original diaries my father has included in ‘A Knickerbocker Legacy’ served as the basis for a term paper that I wrote in boarding school for a course on American History. Accounts of my ancestors seeking gold in the Klondike, exploring unknown tracts of the Canadian Rockies, or setting sail to Java (as did Jacobus Backer after presiding over the handover of New Amsterdam to the British) certainly influenced later choices that I made in my own life’s journey. As my father, John Milnes Baker, writes, “We are all part of a history of family and kinship” which connects us with the wider history of the human race. It’s my hope that his book will encourage all who encounter it, whether they are direct relations or not, to find inspiration in their family origins, and to thus find their place in an ongoing legacy, forged by the choices we make in an ever-unfolding world. From its first conception, John Milnes Baker’s book, as his life, has been, for me, an incomparable guide to life’s potential!

Anyone who has a true interest in family genealogy and history would enjoy this book. It is well constructed with in-depth ancestral detail,,family charts and photographs that date back centuries,as well as most present.
The research effort involved shows amazing care and dedication as in the first edition.
John Milnes Baker has given his readers a strong sense of the families lineage starting in Amsterdam, Holland leading up to early New York City and much more.