Frederick Alexander Canfield History of Thomas Canfield and of Matthew Camfield

Annotation

This task was not commenced a minute too soon, as the last traces of tradition, necessary in several instances to enable the compiler to classify and fasten the many isolated names on the proper branches of the family tree, were memories in the posses sion of elderly people, nearly all of whom have passed away. In some families the lack of records and tradition, as to events and dates, at one time formed a cloud so dense, that it seemed to be impenetrable, but gradually as one fact after another was placed in its proper position, the atmosphere became clear and the task easier. It is a pleasure to record that, while a few individuals were indifferent, there was but one family that displayed a positive objection to this genealogy. Fortunately this family could not withhold the records of its ancestors, who formed a distinguished and honorable line of descent for seven generations.