In the 1980s and 1990s Henry Dale Twitchell Jr. (1921–1995) collected large amounts of data to prepare a new edition of the Twitchell Genealogy published in 1929. As part of that work, he formed a relationship with Robert “Bob” Mack Twitchell (1925–2015) and Brent Lynn Twitchell (1949–2007).
As part of that work, Henry determined to reprint the 1929 work, and Bob contributed to the effort, purchasing numerous copies for his family. Henry inserted the following as a preface to the reprint.
PREFACE
This “GENEALOGY OF THE TWITCHELL FAMILY’ was compiled during the period of approximately 1880 and 1920 and printed in 1929. Many individual records were totally lacking, incomplete or inaccurate. Assumptions that were made regarding a number of lineages have been challenged or disapproven. The compiler, Ralph Emerson Twitchell, observed that such faults “cannot be attributed to any lack on the part of the compiler, and must be charged in most instances to a lack of cooperation on the part of the descendants themselves”. Also, some federal, state, county, town, church and personal records were themselves inaccurate, illegible or missing.
The reprinted genealogy herein is an exact copy of the original volume. As family genealogists and other readers of this book identify missing or inaccurate information, they are urged to describe such in writing as completely as possible to the undersigned.
This current compiler is in the process of updating the 1929 genealogy to the early 1990s. It is intended that all of the reported corrections and additions to the 1929 edition will be contained in the updated genealogy to be printed, hope-fully, in the mid-1990s.
Regarding the updated genealogy, and to paraphrase Ralph Emerson Twitchell, “It is hoped that it will be possible to incorporate the name of every person of the name (with the several variations of spelling) now living in the United States (and Canada).” The results will be only as good as the responses to the thousands of letters to family members. The data MUST come from each family or they will not be included.
It is hoped that family members with additions or corrections to or comments about the 1929 genealogy as well as family records for the updated genealogy will send them to the current compiler.
Henry D. Twitchell, Jr., 4 Hawthorne Road, Winchester, MA 01890
[Signed] Henry D Twitchell
Bob (and likely Brent) were enthusiastic evangelist for Henry’s efforts. Bob drafted summaries of his and all his descendants, made forms to give to others and collected the results, and attended Twitchell reunions outside his state. He visited Henry’s home. He helped Henry donate the original 1929 manuscript to the University of Utah Marriott Library Special Collections.
Bob’s children are not sure what became of Henry’s research notes. Bob retained a box of family summaries collected at family reunion which his children inherited, but without direct knowledge of those who wrote them, in the interest of privacy, disposed of the handwritten papers.
The advent of Family Search in the early 2000’s provides a much more effective means of gathering accurate family data while protecting privacy concerns. This blog is a supplement to and source for Family Search, supporting Ralph Emerson, Henry D., Bob, and Brent’s efforts to connect family.
Twitchell Ancestry 
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