PREFACE

It is said that "an ungrateful generation neglects the memory of its fathers," but Moses, the inspired lawgiver, cherished the memory of his fathers and made a record of them and of his people for the benefit of future generations. Let us do likewise.

The people of the United States of America, with their enterprising and impetuous spirit, ever in quest of new discoveries and greater acquisitions, have somewhat neglected the things of the past, but a new era is now being inaugurated of National expansion and world-wide improvements, and it behooves us as a Christian and a progressive people to treasure up the valuable things of the past and make provision for the future.

Among the leading nations of Europe, genealogies have long been recorded and kept, while in this country they have been neglected, but during these latter days of invention and discovery and progress, birth records are being made in the States, and family genealogies are being multiplied, and, since the Rosenkrantz family is a titled and a distinguished one in Northwestern Europe, and is at least honorable in this country, why should not the names and doings of the American branch be recorded?

In offering to the public this genealogy of the Rosenkrans family in this country, the compiler does not claim to have found and recorded the names of all the descendants of Harmon Hendrick Rosenkrans, our first American ancestor, yet he hopes in this volume to contribute materially to the reader’s knowledge of the family both in Europe and America from the beginning of the family, 1227 AD, to this closing year of the nineteenth century and probably near the closing one of the present dispensation.

The information concerning the family in Europe having been received by letters from public officials, will appear in letter form, followed by a summary, and the genealogy and history of the family in this country, obtained from various sources, will appear in individual form, generation by generation, according to the number of the name, while that of the children and grandchildren of Rosenkrans women will be given in connection with their parents. In giving the family name of individuals, many of whom have changed the orthography, that form of spelling it will be given as far as known that was last used by the person mentioned.

Some mistakes will undoubtedly appear, as some have failed to answer letters of inquiry, and reports concerning them have been received from others, frequently fragmentary and conflicting, besides changes have taken place in some families since the reports were received. To the many who have courteously and kindly answered letters of inquiry and have thus aided in the formation of this genealogy, the writer herewith tenders most grateful acknowledgments. In the undertaking and execution of the work, covering a period of about seven years, the compiler trusts that he has not been actuated by mercenary motives, but has had in view the interests of the entire family, as well as his own, believing that a genealogy and history will not only afford the reader a better knowledge of the family, but will tend to produce increased fraternal relations among the scattered members and give pleasure and satisfaction to coming generations.

Having completed the work with a realizing sense of the Divine guidance from Beginning to End, I now dedicate this volume to "SELAH,"* imploring upon it the Divine blessing, and upon all whose names are herein recorded.

THE AUTHOR.

* - [Ed. Selah may possibly be derived from the ancient Hebrew word, calah, which means to hang from. It invokes the imagery of a balance, which is used to weigh, value or measure against something. It appears very frequently in the the Book of Psalms, where it seems to imply that the reader should consider carefully (weigh, evaluate) the meaning of the preceding Psalm. It also appears in the Book of Job, where it clearly means to measure against. It also is found in Lamentations where it is translated "hath trodden underfoot," implying that the Lord has taken the measure of all of the mighty men in Jerusalem. In the passage above, it appears that Allen may have had yet a different understanding of this word, where he seems to imply it is an entity of some sort.]