Aside from the actual vital statistics contained therein, there is nothing much more dreary reading than the so-called family history, which records only the births, marriages and deaths, and places of residence of the members of a particular family. I am thankful to note that there has been a decided move away from this sort of thing in the published genealogies of the last quarter century. In making this statement I do not mean to give the impression that I minimize the importance of these vital statistics, for nothing annoys me more than to fail to find them in a printed genealogy, unless it be to find them inacurrately given. It is essential that this data be accurately and faithfully compiled, with the exact source of the information carefully cited.

     Possibly this is too high an ideal to be fully attained in a published history of a given family; but it is not too high an aim for the amateur who is working out his or her own

     With our scarcity of records of the right sort, it is virtually impossible to attain this ideal throughout one's entire lineage, just as it is practically impossible to learn the names of all of one's forebears. Nevertheless, it adds to the zest of the pursuit, if one attempts it. Certainly, in the way of a partial attainment of the ideal, it is possible to acquire a general knowledge of the history of the times of all these ancestors, for any one can obtain acquaintance with the community, county, or state, in which they lived, either by reading published works, or by a personal visit. Cognizance of their social standing and political position is not so easy to acquire; and knowledge of their personal characteristics (unless they were decidedly outstanding one way or the other) is the most difficult to obtain. But, an assiduous study of town and court and church records will frequently shed an interesting like on these points.

     In taking up the editorial work on this magazine, I want to say a few words about the preparation of a genealogical history, whether that history be designed for the private archives of the family, or for publication in this magazine or elsewhere. Much that I have to say has been said many times, but it cannot be reiterated too frequently, for there are always new generations of genealogists coming to the fore to whom a few words of advice are necessary in order that certain pitfalls may be avoided.

     One can never emphasize, or hear emphasized too much the need for accuracy in copying data and details, especially names and dates. The transposition of the figures in a date may make a legitimate line of descent seem entirely wrong, and relationships impossible. The misspelling of a name may mislead future genealogists.

     Next to accuracy in importance is the necessity for a careful notation of the exact source of one's information. Most of us, I think, have a desire to be accurate, if we are genuinely

     In regard to unpublished manuscripts, documents, etc., I feel very strongly that one should always quote the source and ownership of such material as one may secure in this way, for it tells the future genealogist that you had access to hitherto unpublished material, and tells him where you found that material. It is important that an attested copy of all such documents should be made for inclusion in one's own papers or for deposit in some historical or genealogical collection. Such references should be cited in this way: "John Smith died at Fairmont, Vt., 23 Jan. 1888, aged 77 years (Record from gravestone in the Bradley Cemetery at Fairmont)." Or, " Ellen Smith, born 2 Apr. 1830 (Bible record in the possession of Mrs. Ellen Smith Watson, copy in the Fairmont Historical Society library)."

     A word of warning should be said regarding discretion in the use of published sources. Not all genealogies are reliable or accurate. The amateur must learn, through experience, to judge these points. It is much better to be too sceptical than too ready to accept a statement made in any genealogy published before 1890, and many issued since that date. If you do doubt a printed statement, try to find the proof of it, one way or the other.

     One more word, and that about orderliness. Study the form in which printed genealogists have been compiled, such

     The Editor will be glad to consider contributions in the form of genealogies, Bible records, records from graveyards, church records, vital statistics, etc. He reserves the right to bring them into conformation with the style used in the magazine.

Wililam (sic) Nees married secondly about 1859 Eliza (Leatherwood) Zink.

James Matison Nees died as his step-brother was bring (sic) him home from the Civil War.

William Nees died shortly after the close of the Civil War in Worth County, Missouri.

     He married, 3 December 1663, Mary Severance, daughter of John and Abigail Severance, of Salisbury, Massachusetts.

     Issue (all but the third child born at Nantucket) :

     NATHANIEL COFFIN, son of James and Mary (Severance) Coffin, was born in Dover, New Hampshire, in 1671; he died there 29 October 1721. He married, 17 October 1692, Damaris Gayer, daughter of William and Dorcas Gayer, of Nantucket, who was born 24 October 1673, and died 6 September 1764.

     Issue: (all born at Nantucket)

     BENJAMIN COFFIN, son of Nathaniel and Damaris (Gayer) Coffin, was born in Nantucket, Massachusetts, 3 April 1705; he died there 3 November 1780. There were many people in Nantucket, who, although not advocating war, aided the struggling colonies with contributing money. Among these was Benjamin Coffin. A list of these men may be found in the Third Report of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Oct. 1898 to 1900, p. 316-45.

     He married, firstly, 5 February 1726, Jedidah Hussey, daughter of Batchelder and Abigail Hussey, who was born 27 July 1708, and died 6 August 1759. He married, secondly, 29 April 1762, Deborah Macy, daughter of Thomas and Deborah Macy, who was born 17 April 1726, and died 23 November 1803.

     Issue, by the second wife, born in Nantucket:

     WILLIAM COFFIN, son of Benjamin and Jedidah (Hussey), was born in Nantucket, Massachusetts, 13 November 1730; he died 20 October 1816. He married, at Nantucket, 4 February 1754, Heptizibah Barney, daughter af Benjamin and Lydia Barney. He married, secondly, Lydia Gardner, daughter of Zaccheus Gardner, who was born in 1744, and died in 1778. He married, thirdly, Mrs. Elizabeth (Moores) Macy, daughter of Robert Macy, and widow of Alexander Moores.

     On July 21, 1755, William Coffin removed from Nantucket. Some of the people who left Nantucket at this time went to North Carolina, thence through eastern Tennessee to Indiana and Ohio.

     Issue, by the first wife:

     Issue, by the third wife:

     ALBERT COFFIN, son of William and Heptizibah (Barney) Coffin, was born 12 November 1766; he died 17 May 1849. He married Mrs. Mary (Fay) Griffin, who was born 12 April 1770, and died 17 February 1849.

     Issue:

     CHARLES GRIFFIN COFFIN, son of Albert and Mary (Fay) (Griffin) Coffin, was born 28 May 1801; he died 12 December 1878. He married, firstly, 16 October 1823, Miranda Hastings, the adopted daughter of S. Tubbs. She was born 25 November 1805 and died 12 October 1830. He married, secondly, Margaret Ann Hughes, who was born 18 January 1806, and died 27 September 1863. He married, thirdly, 15 September 1864, Mrs. Esther Dimmick (McCullock) Stone, daughter of John and Dorothy McCullock, and widow of George W. Stone.

     Issue, by the first wife:

     Issue, by the second wife:

     The family of Charles Griffin Coffin signed a temperance pledge at Easton, N. Y., in 1838. As it contains the names and addresses of so many members of his family the text and signatures are given in full:

Easton, Washington County, New York, 1838.

     He married, 26 September 1771, Catherine (called Caty) Stone, daughter of Uriah and Mary (Blunt) Stone, who was born at Oxford, Massachusetts, 15 November 1752. She died at Madrid, New York, 10 May 1817, and was buried beside her husband.

     Mr. Whitney was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, serving in a company commanded by Capt. Andrews, of Shrewsbury. In 1805 he removed to Madrid, whehe (sic) he spent the remainder of his life.

     Daniel⁵ and Catherine (Stone) Whitney had issue:

     2. Luther⁶ Whitney (Daniel ⁵) was born in Marlborough Massachusetts, 23 February 1781; he died at Madrid, New York, 8 June 1822 and is buried there. He married Hannah Whitney, who was born 27 December 1777. She, as a widow, removed to Ohio in 1832, and died at Toledo 8 February 1876. Her parentage has not been traced.

     Luther Whitney and his family removed from Adams, Massachusetts, to Madrid, New York, and later to Fairfield, New York. The highest point in New York State is near Fairfield on the old Whitney farm, where it is designated by a marker. Luther Whitney was a soldier in the War of 1812.

     Luther⁶ and Hannah (Whitney) Whitney had issue:

     3. Roxanna⁷ Whitney (Luther ⁶) was born at Adams, Massachusetts, 30 October 1805; she died at Elyria, Ohio, 9 July 1887. She married at Madrid, New York, 25 December 1825, Admiral Nelson Gray, who died 22 June 1862. They removed to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1836, where he and his brother founded the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

     Admiral Nelson and Roxanna⁷ (Whitney) Gray had issue:

     4. Luther⁷ Whitney (Luther ⁶) was born at Fairfield, New York, 8 April 1817; he died 27 January 1880. He married at Cleveland, Ohio, 25 September 1836, Louisa Amelia Wood,

     Mr. Whitney was a prominent architect and builder in Ohio. At one time he was architect and superintendent of building for the Michigan Southern & Northern Indiana R. R. Co. He was a councilman of the City of Toledo from the second ward, and was successively vice-president and president of that body.

     Luther⁷ and Louisa Amelia (Wood) Whitney had issue:

     6. Henry Milton⁸ Whitney (Luther ⁷) was born at Chillicothe, Ohio, 16 December 1843; he died at Toledo, Ohio, 2 March 1921. He married at Toledo, 27 December 1869, Mary Jane Shaw, daughter of Isaac and Sarah Shaw, who was born at Manchester, England, 10 August 1849, and died at Toledo, 2 August 1927. He served in the Civil War.

     Henry Milton⁸ and Mary Jane (Shaw) Whitney had issue: