| I will add excerpts from the two "Green Books"
of Shriver history (originally published in 1888; abridged, expanded,
and revised in 1976) as time permits. - J D Klein
DEDICATION. This
brief history of the Shriver family is respectfully and affectionately PREFACE. Part
first of these annals of the Shriver family is the narrative (slightly
abridged) prepared, 1826, by Judge Abraham Shriver for his immediate
family. The desire to secure the preservation, in good form, and
transmission of this valuable document, for the future service of the
family, was the main incentive in the compilation and publication of
this volume. The
original, record, as will be noticed, gives the German name Schreiber
which, by usage, was changed to Schriver and Shriver, the latter being
that adopted by the descendants of David Shriver, senior, the patriarch
of the Maryland family, and is so used in this history. Others who are
lineal descendants of the Conewago family, in Pennsylvania, write the
name Schriver. The
name Schreiber signifies writer, a notable characteristic of the
family. The
aim has been, in the present compilation, to secure authentic data
through the representative members of the several branches of the
family. In this connection thanks are due General Edward Shriver, J.
Alex. Shriver and Calvin S. Shriver, of Baltimore; Peter Forney,
Hanover; Dr. Fairfax Schley, of Frederick; Commodore W. S. Schley and D.
Shriver Stewart, of Washington; Francis Shriver, of Westminster, and
others, who have kindly responded to the request for information. In
some instances it was impossible to obtain the desired information, and
the brevity noticed in parts of the history, and the meagerness of the
records are due to this fact. The hope is indulged, nevertheless, that
the work, though imperfect, may avail to maintain an interest in the
family lineage for generations to come, and, also, tend in some slight
degree to perpetuate the cordial relations which have ever characterized
the [8]
family in all its branches. "God setteth the solitary in
families," that the members may be mutually interested and
concerned in the promotion of the common weal. Nor should the
"departed" be forgotten, for, as has been remarked, "It
is no waste of time or money to perpetuate by suitable memories the
influence of lives that were good and great. Without inspiration from
the past it is barely possible for men to touch in character or
achievement the level they might otherwise reach." While we should
not live upon the "glory of our ancestors," it is well to
cherish their history and antecedents as an incentive to progress. The
narratives accompanying the records have been necessarily restricted to
brevities. Much of interest in detail has been omitted so as not to
exceed the prescribed limits. It
should be borne in mind, when reference is made to current events, that
these pages were prepared for press during the summer and fall of the
present year, 1888. Our
friend, Lawrence B. Kemp, has kindly given attention to the pecuniary
interests of the publication, and to him, and to those friends who have
generously encouraged the work, special thanks are tendered. S.
S. SHRIVER. The Green Book Table of Contents: |
