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Samuel
Merrill, 1928, reprint 1983
Preface
 ITH
regard to this work I entertain no illusions. It is incomplete,
but it will save from possible oblivion the records of
early generations, which could not again be easily gathered,
and it will assist many to determine their own lines of
descent. Furthermore, I make no confession of failure.
Intermittently for many years, as I have had leisure,
I have studied the family history, but at no time have
I undertaken the compilation of a genealogy more complete
than that herewith presented.
This
work was multigraphed as follows: Pages 159 to 289 in
1917; pages 1 to 152 in 1921-22; pages 291 to 412 in 1925;
pages 413 to 644 in 1927. In May 1917, I gave partial
copies of this work, comprising the record of the first
four generations of the family in America (pages 159 to
289), to the library of the New England Historic Genealogical
Society, the New York Public Library, the Newberry Library
of Chicago and the library of the California Genealogical
Society. In each case I requested readers to send corrections
and additions to me. The fact that in ten years no material
errors or omissions have been brought to my notice is
evidence of the substantial completeness of that portion
of this work.
For
the faults of this work I can offer few excuses. I have
done the typewriting, illustrating and printing as best
I could, without assistance, also without instruction
in drawing, and without even an apprentice’s training
in a printing office. The standard of accuracy, however,
is probably higher than it would have been if I had sought
the clerical and mechanical assistance of persons unfamiliar
with the subject matter.
Many
books of family history published within the past thirty
years are disintegrating on the library shelves owing
to the presence of an excessive amount of wood pulp in
the paper on which they are printed. In some such books
aniline inks have been employed, and the text is fading
owing to action of sunlight. In this book the best linen
record paper has been used, and the ink after six months’
uninterrupted exposure to sun and rain has shown no loss
of color.
No
copies of this book have been sold, and none will be sold.
Copies, for public use, will be given to about twenty
libraries, including the following:
New
England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston
Boston
Public Library
Maine
Historical Society, Portland
New
Hampshire Historical Society, Concord
Connecticut
State Library, Hartford
New
York Public Library
Library
of Congress, Washington
Western
Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland
Newberry
Library, Chicago
Wisconsin
Historical Society, Madison
Minnesota
Historical Society, St. Paul
Missouri
Historical Society, Kansas City
California
Genealogical Society, San Francisco
Los
Angeles Public Library
In
the copies deposited in the library of the New England
Historic Genealogical Society and the New York Public
Library I shall probably make corrections and additions
not entered in other copies.
Cambridge,
Mass.
1
Feb. 1928.
Table
of Contents
If
you have further information on the book, "A Merrill
Memorial" and would like to share it with others,
please contact
me.
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