My life : a record of events and opinions - Wallace-online.org

MY LIFEA RECORD OF EVENTS AND OPINIONSCHAPTER IMY RELATIVES AND ANCESTORS*Our family had but few relations, and I myself neversaw a grandfather or grandmother, nor a true uncle,and but one aunt—my mother's only sister. Theonly cousins we ever had, so far as I know, were thatbut two of whomsister's family of eight or nine, allemigrated to South Australia in 1838. Of the twowho remained in England, the daughter had marriedMr. Burningham, and had only one child, a daughter,who has never married. The son, the Rev. PercyWilson, had a family, none of whom, however, I haveever met, though I have recently had a visit from ason of another cousin, Algernon, with whom I had aconsiderable correspondence.My father was practically an only son, an elderboy dying when three months old ; and as his fatherdied when he was a boy of twelve, and his motherwhen he was an infant, he had not much opportunityof hearing about the family history. I myself lefthome beforeI was fourteen, and only rarely visitedmy parents for short holidays, except once during myB