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Before the outbreak of the War, the writer, fired by the example of his fifth cousin, sat down to write a "History of the House of Jesper," which should vie in bulk and erudition with "The Thistlethwaite Family."
It is not absolutely impossible that this magnum opus will ultimately see the light of day, but its advent is so uncertain that I thought it desirable to give to the world--or to the Jesperian portion thereof--the material constituting the present pamphlet before the lapse of time destroyed its accuracy and value.
Let me at the outset disarm the criticism of the professional genealogist by stating that this is no serious contribution to his science; it is a simple tale of our ancestry, told by an amateur to his cousins, in whom he hopes to find a not-too-critical audience.
It is my intention in the final tome, if and when it comes to be written, to follow up the history of the female lines, but the booklet confines its attention to male descent. No information is given in regard to the distaff side beyond particulars of the marriage--and in some cases of the immediate offspring--of the female Jespers. It will be seen, too, that as we approach the present day, the biographical details become more and more meagre; this is due more particularly to the exigencies of space, but I had in mind also the fact that the information, if given, would be of less general interest than in the case of the older generations from whose members a larger number of us could claim descent. Friends--and this applies particularly to those whose name is no longer Jesper--will, I trust, forgive me for leaving out in this place particulars which they were kind enough to place at my disposal.
My thanks are due to many members of the family for the extremely kind manner in which they have received and replied to enquiries which at times verged on the impertinent, to J.J. Green, of Hastings, the authority on Quaker genealogy for many helpful letters, to the Staff of the Society of Friends' Reference Library at Devonshire house for assistance in research, to J.J. Gill and A.G. Linney, the editors of the A.S.O.A. reports, for permission to use material that has appeared in the memorial notices of their publications, and to others to whom due acknowledgement is made in the text.
The lack of genealogical tables will, I am afraid, be felt to be a blemish. These were prepared, but it was found they would add so much to the cost that the price of the booklet would become prohibitive. I venture to hope, however, the general arrangement of the little book will render the compilation of a genealogical chart for any section of the family a perfectly simple matter for anyone who wishes to take it in hand.
Let me close in the words of the gentle Isaac:--
"I might say more, but it is not fit for this place; but if this discourse which follows shall come to a second impression, which as possible, for slight books have been in this age observed to have that fortune, I shall be glad to correct what is faulty, or by a conference with any to explain or enlarge what is defective:..... Farewell."
W.A.J.
CHAPTER IV-THE CHILDREN OF JOHN
CHAPTER V-THE CHILDREN OF THOMAS