IV 



MISS ELISABETH E. DANA TO PROF. E. S. DANA 

 A note on the Dana Pedigree 



152 BRATTLE ST., CAMBRIDGE, MASS., Sept. 14, 1899. 



I have been much interested in my correspondence with Pres. Gilman 

 this summer in regard to the origin of our ancestor Richard Dana, and am 

 hoping to hear from you when you can spare time from your College duties 

 and other occupations. I understand that you are strongly inclined to- 

 wards the theory which your father adopted, that his origin was Italian, and 

 I should be very glad indeed to learn the arguments on that side. 



I find among our old family papers a manuscript account of Richard the 

 emigrant, written by William Ellery, the Signer of the Declaration from 

 Rhode Island, who knew well Richard's grandson, Judge Richard Dana of 

 Boston, which contains, the following reference to Richard's origin " who 

 came from England into Cambridge, being a French refugee." This paper 

 is endorsed by Chief-Justice Francis Dana (son of Judge Richard), who 

 married Ellery's daughter Elizabeth. I think this is coming pretty near to 

 " the original Richard," Judge Richard having been born in 1700 and being 

 the own grandson and named for him. I think Ellery would hardly have 

 written out these particulars for Francis and the descendants if he had not 

 got them from Judge Richard himself, and the son Francis evidently agreed. 

 They were all three educated men, and Francis was Secretary of Legation 

 to France, so that he knew something of that country. If they had only 

 written out more particulars ! 



I have written to an English genealogist to make inquiries about the 

 chances of tracing Richard Dana in England, and am intending to make 

 investigations myself in this country, this autumn, about the wife, Anne 

 Bullard. 



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