Bailey, F: Early Connecticut Marriages as Found on Ancient C

Excerpt from Early Connecticut Marriages as Found on Ancient Church Records Prior to 1800, Vol. 2

Encouraged by the unexpected interest taken in our first book of Early Connecticut Marriages which now seems to be fulfilling its purpose; and desirous of assisting still further the efforts of persistent seekers scattered all over our vast country who would know still more of their early Connecticut ancestors. This second book is so soon issued; being well assured that if original data is required this will prove to be even more useful than the first.

While certain to be of service to many in supplying needful facts and dates long sought for, it will necessarily prove disappointing to others, who finding not just what they want, must still longer struggle with the old and perplexing problems.

Realizing too truly how humble our effort is thus to bring to view a portion of the valuable genealogical matter hidden away in obscure quarters of the state. Our own regret is that with what is even here dis closed absolute completeness in every detail cannot be secured. For not only have the years left their destroying impress upon many a page, but in other cases difiicult indeed would it be to tell just what was there in written. If in this particular we seem to criticise the pastor's scrawling hand, that in some cases was quite unique, we stand ready to defend him against critics who in reading herein will see instead a spelling of names seemingly unjustified. So far as our endeavor is concerned we have followed closely the text. And in defense of the minister's apparent mistakes here it might well be agreed that in those days there was no standard for the spelling of surnames, however much the Holy Scrip tures may have guided all in the construction of Christian names. Educated though he was, the art. Of printing, so limited in its employ ment then, had not touched a subject which, by the common use of the printing press to-day, is fixed in every man's mind. On some of the old town records a single page will bear the same surname spelled in several different ways, merely from the want of a standard which even the owner himself could not set. However, it is a matter deserving fuller treatmenthistorically by some able specialist, who may settle forever some such questions as thus stand in the way to successful search. Our desire is to warn the reader not to allow any peculiar spelling of a name to throw him off the track, nor fail to give due weight to every name that in any degree could resemble that sought for. It has been observed that in a few extraordinary cases marked changes have occurred in some names to puzzle and bewilder the seeker; but in the large majority of instances it were well to follow the slight variations to their legitimate end.

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