Publisher's Synopsis
Something more than twenty-five years ago, the compiler of this work, at the solicitation of Robert II. Chapman, of Saybrook, commenced making researches witli a view to publication of the history and genealogy of the Chapman family in America. As the family were extensively connected with other families of the early settlers, a thorough examination of the records led to great familiarity with all of the families of the town whose ancestors located there previous to 1700. After the " Chapman Family " appeared in print, the author was led to prepare the genealogy of the families of Pratt and Buckingham, who were contemporary with his Puritan ancestors. The " Pratt Family " was issued from the press in 1865. At about that time the author was employed by Senator William A. Buckingham, to complete his collections, which had already been commenced, of the descendants of Thomas Buckingham, who settled first in New Haven, and removed to Milford in 1639, and whose son, the Rev. Thomas Buckingham, located at Saybrook in 1665. After having made very extensive researches, he found that Rev. Dr. Samuel G. Buckingham, of Springfield, Mass., and Charles Buckingham, of New York, had, in concert, some twenty years ago, made quite large collections, with a view, at the time, to publication at some future day.
