INTRODUCTION AND COMPENDIUM.
7
always brought to me the desired information. In case my first two letters
were laid aside without reply, I have written my third with a tone of dis-
appointment, expressed in language a little pointed. I would state that other
families had rendered assistance most cheerfully and promptly, that nearly every
one felt a deep interest in my work, and would sometimes close by saying "if
these questions are not attended to for want of references I can furnish them
at any moment." This succeeded, with few exceptions, and letters from those
solicited were usually prefaced with an apology for not attending to my wishes
sooner, followed by the statement of their willingness to do all in their power to
aid me in my researches. Having opened the way, I must then press my claims;
after waiting a few days another communication would be forwarded, in which at-
tention was called to some omission in my first, and after thanking my "valuable
correspondent" for the interesting information contained in his letter, I would
express the hope that the wanting records would be furnished without delay;
this was, with few exceptions, successful. Being now possessed of the material
relating to the early generations of this family, I would write out my caption
and commence the composition and classification of the matter; meanwhile, those
families with whom I had corresponded, having acquired new facts concerning
their ancestry, which inspired a growing interest in my work, in spite of their
first indifference, their family pride would cause them to discuss the tradi-
tions handed down to them, which excited their curiosity to know how the
family history was progressing. Taking advantage of their interest I was
careful to mention incidentally, in my subsequent letter, some historical fact
that was new to them, which always served to rekindle their interest and
sharpen their desire for a more complete knowledge of their ancestral history.
I would now write that I had commenced the composition of their department of
my book, and had found that I could proceed no further without certain records
of births, marriages, and deaths of the younger generation, — perhaps I omitted
the maiden names of wives, — and would suggest that they could never feel
any satisfaction in the history of that branch of the family if it appeared in
a "disconnected and fragmentary condition," when other sections of my book
would be so complete and interesting; that, as there were now so few de-
ficiencies to be filled, I hoped they would do me the favor to provide the
names and dates "by return mail."
During the many years employed on my work, I have learned the expediency
of adapting my style of correspondence to the characters and circumstances of
those families from whom I desired assistance; indeed, it would have been ab-
solutely impossible for me to bring together from thousands of individuals the
large collection of records and historical materials found in this book without
playing somewhat upon family pride and ambition; by these means the otherwise
inaccessible have freely imparted from their stores of genealogical information
valuable contributions to my work. Begging pardon for any seeming dis-
courtesy in my methods of investigation, I will state that to me, in my enthu-
siasm, the end justified the means, and the results now given to the families
who have endured my importunity, are of such a valuable character as to mod-
ify their impatience and cause them to regard the author's work with feelings
of appreciation.
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If I was aware that families from whom I wished to obtain information were
in affluent circumstances, - if they were pressed with business cares and the
entertainment of friends, I have called their attention to my undertaking in
a circuitous way, never failing to mention the many very respectable families
of our name in Great Britain. I have shown that representatives of the family
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