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Numerous people have been involved in the work of reconstructing the genealogy of the Despain family. Most notably in 1965 Wilford W. Whittaker of Prosser, Washington, began publication
of a newsletter/newspaper called the Despain Log Chain. He had recently acquired a printing press and almost singlehandedly published numerous articles and notes that he himself had
collected and which had come into his possession from people in various branches of the family. The paper was replete with pictures and document facsimiles of interest to Despain descendants.
Interest in coordinating research increased. His efforts led to help from professional genealogists, one of whom was able to locate the will of Samuel Despain in Warren County, North Carolina.
Back in the twenties Despain descendants had discovered Despaignes in the publications of the Huguenot Society of London and claimed them as ancestors. But it was not clear where the
immigrant Samuel fit in. |
| In the late 1960's Ella Adkins of Coalville, Utah, a descendant of Samuel's grandson James Scott Despain, while visiting England with her husband on business, kept busy
in trips to Canterbury and the Kent County Archives there. She earnestly sought direction from me and Wil on the best way to proceed. The final result was that all possible connections were
eliminated but one, which in this work we take to be the correct one. My own efforts at that time concentrated on compiling the genealogy now found in chapter three. Those in chapters one and
two followed soon after. During those years the Despain Family Organization was instrumental in keeping those interested informed of much of the research and findings. This organization
comprised principally descendants of Solomon Joseph Despain of Granite, Utah, but welcomed the generous support of all the branches of John Despain's other descendants. |
| Recently [1998] as the younger generation has matured and the older generations continue to be depleted, there has been a renewed drive to regenerate the organization. The principle drive in this activity has been
Glenna Yocum formerly of Orem, Utah. With help from Janet Carlson of Sandy, Utah, they have initiated a genealogy committee to collect and make available the massive results
and material uncovered by research done in the past. Their work has motivated me to finally put out what I have done over the years. |
| Many thanks go to my family and in particular my wife Mary for her patience in allowing me the long hours it has taken from other activities so I could work on my own genealogy projects.
This work was a major part of my early genealogy experience. I dare say it is what brought me to genealogy as a profession for much of my life. Without the many associates and associations
with other genealogists, clients, and a broad exposure to many kinds of genealogical challenges, this work would undoubtedly have taken a much different form. |
