Long after we of the present, like former generations, shall have passed through life to our silent graves, some few may rise up, age after age, to bless the hearts and hands that formed and executed the purpose to collect the per ishable materials, just passing into irrecoverable oblivion, of which the work of the genealogist is composed. The future historian may gather thence some shreds for the web he may then be weaving, and the historical painter may catch some lingering lineaments of the stern old Puritans for his group, on the canvas of other days, of those represen tative men who have left the grand, effaceless imprint of their character on succeeding generations. Whatever may be the result, the consciousness remains of having labored long and faithfully to perpetuate the memory of the worthy ancestry of a great, far-spreadin g family who have achieved an honorable position among many other families descended from Puritan ancestors in New England. Reposing in this quiet consciousness this work is commended to the attention of all of this family who would learn something of their ancestral history or cherish the memory of their honored ancestors.