THE

 

FELT GENEALOGY

 

A RECORD OF

 

the descendants of George felt

 

CASCO  BAY.

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Compiled by John E. Morris.

HARTFORD,  CONN.

press of the case, lockwood & brainard company 1893

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PREFACE.

    There is a healthy and growing interest in the subject of gene­alogy, although by many it is still regarded as a "fad," and looked upon as a pursuit for crack-brained old fogies, whose life moves altogether in the past, and for whom no such thing as the present exists. Whether or not this aspect of the subject was ever true, it cannot be gainsaid that many bright historical minds are now interested in this fascinating study, and giving to it much valuable time and attention.

 

    The work constantly being done by these, and others of more humble attainments, well illustrates the claim of an increasing interest, and gives the lie to the smart assertion that the modern man lives for the present and strives for the future only, and does not care a rap who or what his grandfather was. This same modern, if his ideas should be carried out by his descendants, might be somewhat chagrined could he observe the mental attitude of his great-grandchildren toward himself.

   

    Those who affect to despise the egotism of genealogy may read with interest and profit the following extract:

 

    "The preservation of pedigrees is hot the mere pastime of the idle and curious; it is the honorable employment of the student and historian, for it has always formed the basis of true history. In the ancient records of Assyria, Egypt, and Arabia, the pedigree of an individual is usually the thread upon which is strung the stirring events of centuries; and so important a place did the preservation of a pedigree occupy among the Israelites, that it was estab­lished as' a positive obligation upon every Levite in the temple. Josephus regarded genealogical study as of the utmost importance, and, in giving an account of his personal history, boasts, ' I have traced my pedigree as I found it recorded on the public tablets.' Nor is the genealogical form of history peculiar to Semitic races. The earliest Greek records were also those of pedigrees. The histories of Acusilaus of Argos, and Hecataeus of Miletus were entitled genealogies; the fragmentary histories of Xanthus, Charon of Lampsacus, and Hellanicus are strongly marked with the genealogical element ; while in the Greek Testament the whole-structure of Christianity is based upon the established pedigree of its founder.

 

    It is true, many lineages contain nothing save the simple records of uneventful generations, but they preserve facts which would otherwise be lost in the history of the American nation. Examples illustrative of this are seen in a comparison o£ two lineages of historic value as regards Columbia (N. Y.) county history : That of Martin Van Buren, eighth President of the United States, who was born at Kinderhook in 1782 ; and that of Samuel J. Tilden, governor of New York State, and candidate for the presidency in the great political struggle of 1876, and who was born in New Lebanon. The records of the Van Buren family have not been preserved, and we have therefore no information regarding the pedigree of Martin Van Buren beyond that of his father, although he was undoubtedly descended from an old Dutch ancestry ; whereas, in the case of Samuel J. Tilden we are able to trace the lineage of one who is an important figure in American history to the original English stock. Some affect to be indifferent to such matters, on the principle that we judge of a man as we find him, and not on the merits of his ancestors; but such feelings are not in harmony with those of the student of history and of hereditary genius."

 

    Rev. Joseph B. Felt, the distinguished historian and annalist of Salem, once said that in his opinion a genealogy of the Felt family could not be compiled. He himself had spent much time and research among the family archives, and accumulated a .large collection of papers pertaining to the history, which has been largely drawn on in preparing the present work. While Mr. Felt's view of the difficulties in the way of a family history may have been overdrawn, there can be no question but that this family is an exceedingly difficult one to reconstruct, from the fact that but little information concerning the earlier generations can be derived from persons now living. It has been necessary to compile almost altogether from ancient public documents and records the facts that appear, and the noticeable absence of dates and minor details result from this fact. It will also be understood that, with the destruction of once existing records, many facts have been lost beyond recovery.

 

    While attempting to produce a record embracing all the male descendants of George Felt of Casco Bay, incidentally one generation of the descendants of Felt daughters has been included when practicable; and, while not attempting to follow their descendants, the compiler has tried to give such information concerning their children as will be of service to the future searcher. That this information is not equally complete in all cases, there are two reasons: one, where a personal and expensive search of records would have been necessary without a reasonable assurance of even partial success; and the other, where parties solicited for the information have persistently failed to respond.

    There can be no question but that the fact of marriage of some members of the Felt family has escaped record, or at least eluded the observation of the compiler. This is well attested by the finding in later times of the record of many bearing the name, to whose progenitors we have no clue. These are numer­ous in the vicinity of Salem and Boston, the early home of the family. It will be understood that a few progenitors, or perhaps even one, might account for these " strays." For the convenience of his successor in this work, the compiler refers to Appendix A, where will be found such stray records and families as he can render no intelligent account of.

 

    Every effort has been made to induce persons bearing the family name, but who have not been enthusiastic concerning the idea of a genealogy, to furnish the information relating to them­selves so much needed to make a perfect record; and the compiler has no doubt but that he is even now regarded with asperity for his persistent attempts to investigate into what they undoubtedly consider nobody's business but their own. At least the latter surmise is tenable, judged by the success attending their determination to keep it to themselves.

 

    The compiler has had access to a file of directories of the principal cities of the country, and is prepared to say that while a city directory is sometimes a source of information regarding the existence of individuals, it has been his rather remarkable experience that nearly all attainable information concerning them stops right there. But few of those whom he has addressed through this medium of introduction have seen fit to respond. Undoubtedly, could a free communication have been established, with ail whose names have been thus discovered, many family lines now imperfectly recorded might have been completed. It is but justice to add, however, that whenever it has been possible to present the matter in person, no difficulty has been experienced in establishing the legality of the enterprise, and in winning the former recalcitrant as a friend and cooperator.

 

    Biographical accounts in a work of this kind must necessarily be brief, but are of value as preserving for the knowledge of future generations the movements and characteristics of their ancestors. It is not always, nor indeed frequently, possible to obtain information of this character ; but where nothing is given, the suggestion that at least the movements of people may be traced by observing the birthplaces of their children, may not be inapt. The compiler has endeavored to secure biographical and historical data relating to all the older members of the family, but is compelled to acknowledge failure in a large per cent, of the cases approached. Undoubtedly a large proportion of the delinquents justify their silence on the ground of having nothing of interest to communicate. This is a mistaken idea; for though their history may be so meager that it may be compressed into two lines of printed matter, still even this is of interest to those for whom the work is compiled, namely, their descendants. We can understand that in the case of people that have long since passed away, more difficulty may present itself to those who are asked to contribute concerning them ; for often they do not know where to look for the information sought, and perhaps in some instances do not feel a sufficient personal interest in the matter to prompt them to any effort The compiler cannot undertake a personal search for every item needed, for this would require an enormous outlay of both time and money; and if his written appeals are unheeded, nothing remains but to pass the matter by.

 

    It is the custom for compilers of genealogies to apologize to their readers for the shortcomings of the work, taking upon themselves the onus of all delinquencies. The compiler of this work, however, is unwilling to assume such a position; and positively asserts that he has used every means in his power to render it complete, and how far soever it may fall short of this end, the blame does not all rest with him. He has followed the well-known method pursued at Donnybrook Fair, " When you see a head, hit it." Whenever the name of Felt has been brought to his attention, he has not refrained from following the clue until at least three letters, and sometimes five, have been sent to the address indicated, and it has become thoroughly apparent that the person addressed is too modest -or indifferent to lend any aid to the work. The compiler is positive that if each letter he has written had successfully elicited such information as could have been given in reply, the family record would be practically perfect. There are, undoubtedly, errors and blunders in the book, due to the compiler's own carelessness, or his inability to decipher the idiosyncrasies of a strange chirography, aided, perhaps, by that of the compositor and proof-reader. For such sins of commission as can be laid at his door he is willing to be for­given, but the sin of omission he repudiates.

 

    It should not be forgotten that the compilation of this work extends over a period of five years, and that naturally changes have occurred in families, no knowledge of which has reached the compiler.

 

    The origin of the felt family is unknown, neither have we any certain knowledge of the former home of George Felt, the immigrant, though there is reason for believing that he came from Wales.

 

    It has been suggested that the name is of Flemish or Dutch, origin, and that the family settled with others of like nationality in Wales or on the border.

 

The name seems to signify the same in various languages, and to be derived from words meaning "field" or "open country." There is a probability that its earlier form was Felch, perhaps from " fells " (moor). No early trace of the family in England or Wales has been found, though the name is said to be still extant there.

 

That the family had some standing appears probable, as a " Coat of Arms " is recorded to it in Berry's Encyclopaedia Heraldica ; viz.: — " FELT. — gu. a buck's head couped at the neck, ar, attired or. Crest, on a mural coronet or, a stag, passant, ppr."