Genealogical notes of Barnstable families - citizen hylbom blog

INTRODUCTION.
For several years past, I have spent much of my leisure
time in examining records and collecting materials for a history
of my native town. Old age is "creeping on" and I,
find I have done little towards arranging the materials I;
have collected. There are more difficulties to be surmounted
than the casual observer dreams of. Records have been de-,
stnwed, lost, mutilated,—tradition is not to be relied on;
and the truth can only be arrived at by diligent inquiry and
comparison of various records and memorials of the past.
The fact is, the writer of a local history finds himself environed
with difficulties at every step in his progress, and is,
compelled to use such words as perhaps and probably, much
oftener than good taste would seem to require. If the readeri
would be satisfied with facts chronologically arranged, the,
task would not be so difficult, diligence and industry would
soon accomplish it. But something more is required. A
dull monotonous array of facts and figures would soon tire
and disgust all, excepting perhaps a few plodding antiqua-
rians who are never happier than when poring over a black,
letter manuscript. The page to be made readable must be
enlivened with descriptions, narratives and personal anecdotes.
When writing history, I often feel that I am in the
condition of the children of Israel, when they were required
by their Egyptian taskmasters to make bricks without
straw. Three times I have written the first chapter of a history
of the toAvn of Barnstable, and three times have thrown
the manuscript into the fire. Progressing at. such a rate my
head will be whiter than it now is, before the last chapter is
written.
My friends are constantly urging me to do something
and not let the materials I have collected be lost, and I have