Samuel Breck Genealogy of the Breck Family

Annotation

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. Veneration for an honorable ancestry is closely akin to religious feeling, and ought to give to life's ambitions the same character of aspirations, for the good, the true, the noble and the pure; for true manhood and true womanhood; for a truly worthy and honorable place in the world. The hope that this record may have something of such an influence upon those of our blood to whom it may come has been to me a strong incentive for its preparation and publication. I take the liberty of reminding those who feel no interest in their ancestry that they may reasonably expect the same indifference from their descendants, if they have any. Can they look upon that prospect without regret? Do they not lose a strong incentive to an honorable career when they fail to recognize their obligation, not only to their descendants, but also to their progenitors, to transmit without stain the name they have received in honor?<br><br>My original design was not to publish this book until entirely complete, but as the size of the manuscript increased the dread came that something might occur to damage or destroy it, and thus defeat the object for which so much time and labor had been spent. It was therefore decided to publish it now, and later, from time to time, as I can accumulate sufficient additional data, to publish a supplement which can be bound with this book.<br><br>It is regretted that efforts in obtaining particulars of the Sherborn Branch were not more successful. Comparatively few of that branch have shown much interest in the book. It is hoped they will furnish data to complete the work in the supplement, and all are requested to do so.<br><br>The illustrations (portraits) are from drawings made by the well known artist and expert in such pictures, Mr. Jacques Reich, No. 2 west Fourteenth street, New York City. I am very much indebted to him for his painstaking efforts to revive in his drawing the merits of old portraits and pictures, as w