Family-histories and genealogies : containing a series of ...

Notes on tfie iFawflff of 3ie Wiolf
ing one of the gallant Spanish and English explorers of the sixteenth
century, without rashness, his adaptability to new conditions making the
best of everything, his self-possession and self-respect without assumption,
his modesty, and his hardihood of nature, softened by a tender sensibihty
which manifested itself now in a strain of humor and now in tears of affec-
tion at the remembrance of his far-away mother—formed a character
which his family may be justly proud of ; while his experiences by sea and
land, from 1804 to 1807, in regions then but little tried, form a tale which
later explorers must look back upon with special interest.
The De Wolf descent of the Griswolds is so remote that, beyond
collecting all the facts which could be learned of the earliest gene-
rations, it was never intended to give a full account of the De Wolf
family. But the writer has been for several years in pleasant occasional
correspondence with prominent members of the Nova Scotia and Rhode
Island branches of the family, and would have expected to give some
statements with regard to these, in any notes upon the descendants of
Balthasar.
It has been found very difficult to reach other descendants. They
are scattered through the United States, and have only been found as some
name in print gave an opportunity to write for information. From such
chance-sources enough has been learned to make us interested to know
more, but we have not time for farther search at present, nor would the
scope of this work allow us to give more space to the subject. From the
fragmentary statements that have reached us we can add some interesting
facts. The general family-characteristics are found to be alike everywhere.
The ancestors of all the branches left Lyme with few resources for their
future careers except what they carried within themselves, in their own
integrity, and the strength of their energetic and adventurous natures.
We find them in our wars by sea and land, in later years active in abolition,
and in other Christian movements, "ready to every good work." They
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