A stroke of luck enabled me to open an interesting little
correspondence with my genial neighbour, Petherton, which resulted in
one of those delightful passages-of-arms in which Petherton, at least,
excels.
DEAR MR. PETHERTON (I began),--I have made a discovery which
will, I am sure, interest you, though I am uncertain whether
it will be as pleasing to you as to myself.
During certain research work at the Record Office I came
across incontrovertible evidence that we are in some
way related through a Petherton in the early part of the
eighteenth century (_tempus_ GEORGE II.) being sufficiently
far-seeing to contract a marriage with a Fordyce. This
Petherton, by name Edward, lived at Kirkby Lonsdale, and his
wife, Emily Jane Fordyce, at Dent, in the same district.
I haven't a family tree by me, but know the late-lamented
Emily Jane by name. She was part of the issue of one Henry
Fordyce, who is in the direct line, absolutely non-stop,
without changing, from the earliest known Fordyce to myself.
What a field for speculation is here opened up! With your
scientific bent you will grasp the possibilities of the
hereditary influence of my family on yours, supposing Edward
Petherton to be a direct ancestor of your own. To me the
unexpected result of my researches will give an added interest
to our correspondence, and I await with eagerness your views
as to the value and interest of my discovery.
Your kinsman,