The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-08-07

thusiastic antiauary and promptly de- nounced the will forgery. The colo nel, astonished and grieved, but relying on his friends opinion, pushed the ln- vestigation closely, with the result that every one of the ancient deeds, records and certificates used in bolsterlng up the pedigree was proved to be spurious the old watch and chest in the bargain The genealogist was sentenced to three years penal servitude. There are cases similar in nature, though not in enof- nlity, known to the genealogical ex- perts in this country. But undoubtedly the greater part of the pedigrees made are verified with the utmost care
 "All through the country to-day there are family histories partially prepareu' and others all finished, but lacking the means to be published One genealoS- ical society at least, that of New 1ork, has under consideration the project ot reseuing and assuming responsibility for these delayed records and making such inducements to the authors that valuable data now being lost or oe- stroyed may he put in permanent and available form.
 "As a general thing, only few mem bers of a family, one branch perhaps cares anything for the family history The others would not contribute cent to the books publication even It they gave any verbal assistance to the sum- ming up of the data. So the volunteer compiler, realizing the thankless nature of the undertaking, stops work, though reluctantly.
 "There are family histories issued Ill the last few years gotten out Tn a sumptuous dress, editions so exquisite in paper, binding and illustration that they are worth fifty dollars copy. l T am reminded of the history of the B. family on which I worked. The tracings were tolerably easy in this country, the kingpin of the line having been colonial governor and other members conspicuous in Revolutionary affairs, but the descendant who em- ployed me wanted an authentic coat or arms, only procurable through the an- cestry across the water.
 "The name figured in the records of an English shire and I identified the first Francis B., who came to Amerlca with a certain Francis B. of that shire, the data of whose baptismal record fit- ! ted in with the circumstances. Think | ing all was right l set about getting the coat of arms from the Herald's college, when, To! a deposition turned up prov | ing that the particular Francis Is. ar eued from had died the very day after his baptism, and so could not possibly to Ar1pric1 and f0lln0eu a | family.
 | "This disappointed me much and 1 left the ground, Later, however, on rereading the American Francis will, l found an allusion to relative late or q certain place on certain heath m England. I took heart again and on my next visit abroad, two wears later, investigated. In the quaint church at this place were memorial tablets to an old Fscuire Francis B. and his wife, but nothing to indicate that the family ever had connections in America,
 "Realizing bod disappointed my em- 1 blower would be at this outcome or the search, I devoted several days to rigid scrutiny of that church and it's sur ro1lndings, and at length found stone leaning against the church-yard wall which bore the inscription l sought, That part of the stone in plain sight bore only the record of the death of Francis E. and the date, 1876, but after pushing away the grass and mold from the base I found a further statement to the effect that this memorial had been nlaced at the instance and cost Of Francis B. of Blank county, Maryland
 merchant, the son of the deceased. Here. then, was my long wished-tor link. The coat of arms was assured beyond doubt. Since that happening
 attach much importance to tombstones and no toppled-over old slab or moss backed headstone but is inspected closely with a magnifying glass
 Besides her regular genealogical
 tracings the genealogist often has the
 chance to design original, individua
 crests to be used for book plates ane
 family appurtenance. Some men o1
 good descent are independent thinkers
 and prefer to have crest and arms
 distinctly American or in lllustfatlor
 of some place of their individual h1sto
 ry. rather than adhere to the stand
 ards of older countries. Book plates O.
 this original type are much sought af'
 ter by the collectors. "-NeW York sun