| PREFACE |
| There is a growing interest in one's roots today more than ever before. There has been a great deal of research resulting in more and more published genealogies, and here is another one. It appears that the trend will only continue; authors are taking to the internet to let their work be more widely known. Eventually even this work has found its way there. |
| The usual practice in America is to focus on the immigrant, cover his ancestry (at least on the surname line) and then take up each descendant in turn with their families. In this case we have departed somewhat from the common practice. We take up a number of different families in general, then one in particular, each time concentrating on descendants. The result is that there is not very much information included on the many ancestors of each individual, even though very much may well be known; principally there is only information on the Despain lineage. |
| Portions of this work have appeared in various forms previously. I have updated a good deal of the wording and amended a number of details. I have added extracts of some of the documents used, since they will give a flavor for the cultural environment in which the people lived. Unfortunately much of the transcription and even the scholarly apparatus may seem a bit arcane to the uninitiated. I will try to apologize for this. I realize that I have been engrossed in technical research for many years. What I have come to take for granted may seem confusing and obscure to the novice. I suppose that in reality it is probably aspects of my personality showing through. Perhaps this work will peak your curiosity. Perhaps you too will raise your interest if not vicarious involvement in your ancestors' lives. |
| Since publishing this work on the internet I have gotten numerous inquiries from descendents and interested parties expressing their desire to have a printed copy. My intent is that at some future time such a request can be fulfilled. However, in the meantime the best I can recommend is to make printouts of the most pertinent portions. Please let me know when you do so. If the reader is interested in procuring copies of documents, the vast network of Family History Centers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would be the best place to do so. In most cases my citations refer directly to the call numbers in their Family History Library (FHL), microfilms of which may be ordered, viewed, and duplicated. If you are a descendent and desire to have your lineages included in this work, I would be very happy to receive the data, including source information, on those of your ancestors whose privacy would not be violated through such publication as this. I do reserve the right to publish those portions of your data whenever and to the extent I deem appropriate. |