In sending forth the Cowdrey-Cowdery-Cowdray Genealogy, to the family in particular and the public in general, I desire to say that while I know there is much more to be done in this line, I have simply come to the end of my nervous strength and must be content with what I have accomplished, leaving the rest for other hands to take up in the future years.  It was by sheer effort that I held on till the last pages were written.

   I offer no apology to the family because the work is not better done; I did the best I could under the circumstances.  I did not seek the honor of being family historian, it was thrust upon me, and for my mother's sake I have persevered to the end.

   The name of Cowdery or Cowdrey is undoubtedly of French origin, and signifies a Hazel Tree or Hazel Grove.  This will appear by examining many authorities.  The name is spelled Coudrill, Coudrette, Coudrail, Coudre, Coudraie, Coudrier, etc.  (see Boyer's French Dictionary, and Spier's and Surenne's Dictionary).  In a work on English surnames by Laun, third edition, 1849, Vol. 1, page 69, it is stated that the nameCowdray is derived from the French Coudraie, signifying a grove of hazel trees.

   We find the name in England spelled Cowdery, Cowdrey, and Cowdray. In the Peerage of England mention is made of Elizabeth Cowdrey, daughter of Peter Cowdrey, as the wife of one of the sons of the Duke of Bolton.  One form of the name, "Caudray", is used by Victor Hugo in his novel, "Les Travailluers de la Mer" (The Toilers of the Sea).  Ebenezer Caudray is a very spiritual and interesting minister, who marries the heroine, Deruchette.  He is supposed to be an Englishman, who comes, as minister, to the Island of Jersey.

   William Cowdrey, of Weymouth, England, who came to America in 1630, spelled the name at times, Cowdrey, and at other times Cowdery.  I have seen it in his own handwriting spelled both ways.  The old time Town Clerk spelled the name according to its pronunciation, Cowdry. Nathaniel, son of William, followed the example of his father; his name being found spelled in three different ways.  His descendants became more particular, however, and after the marriage of Nathaniel (1660), to Mary Bachelder, we find most of the descendants of Samuel, the son ofNathaniel's first wife, Elizabeth, spelling the name Cowdery; while the children of Nathaniel's second wife, Mary Bachelder, spelled it Cowdrey.  One family in Ohio have adopted the French form, Cowdray.

  The dates in this book have been obtained from old family Bibles; the Town records of East Haddam, Conn., Charlestown, Mass., Boston, Mass., Middletown, Conn., East Hampton, Conn., Sandisfield, Conn., Roxbury, Mass., Chelmsford, Mass., Westford, Mass., Reading, Mass., andTurnbridge, Vt.;  the records of the First Church of Charlestown, Mass., from 1632 to 1789;  Brattle Street Church records, Boston Mass., and First congressional Church Records of Reading, Mass.  Dates have also been taken from Savage's Genealogical dictionary;  Histories of Reading, Lynn, Westford, Acton, Billerica, Henniker, and Berkshire, Mass.,, and other works too numerous to mention.  In many instances two or more dates have been given.  Wherever this has occurred, the second date has been put in brackets. 

   With much gratitude to all who have aided and encouraged me in the the work,