Want of a knowledge of the history of my ancestors and their families induces me to write this genealogical sketch. I am of the opinion that many of us do not know the names of all our parents' brothers and sisters, to say nothing of our grandparents' brothers and sisters. This ought not to be the case. If some one of the Stephenson family, one hundred and twenty-five years ago, had written something similar to this little work, it would now be of very great interest to generations of descendants. If I had now a written statement in regard to the life, manners, customs, names and place of residence of my ancestors and their kin, it would afford me a source of information which is forever lost.
It is not necessary that such a statement should be printed, but written in order to preserve the chirography of the writer. The paper might be pasted in this history, or placed in the family Bible with the family records. Thus it could be preserved for ages. Every day that passes, the paper will be one day older, and the older the paper becomes the more value is attached to it. The paper never dies. But the older it becomes the more lively it grows in interest. I suspect this booklet will be read a hundred years hence.
It will be impossible in a book of this size to mention even the names of all the relatives with whom I am personally acquainted. But I would advise that each relative paste some blank leaves in his book, on which he can write the names, and such family history as he may wish.
His writing, with what the book contains, will make the genealogical sketch of his own family tolerably complete.
I hope that some one of the relatives will rewrite, revise and enlarge this little Book, give a fuller history of the various families; also give a history of the country which the ancestors occupied and of the times in which they lived. A very extensive and interesting Book could be written on this line. The Plan of the Work.
The ancestors, or parent stock, will be considered, then their children and grandchildren in rotation, down to the present time, in like manner with the rest. But the European relatives will not be so considered.
January, 1906.