Searches in the offices of the Register of Wills, and the old Probate Courts of Pennsylvania, and the Doctors' Commons and the Herold's College, of London, as well as of the files of old Pennsylvania newspapers, and the archives of the various historical societies of Pennsylvania should throw more light on the early history of these immigrant ancesters, and possibly discover collateral branches which are now seemingly hopelessly lost. Such searches require the expenditure of more time and money than the writer now (1892) has, and if never done by him, it is to be hoped that some family historian will come to the front with the necessary abilities. The family history, then, really begins thus: FIRST GENERATION 1. EVANS AP ----, (1), a member of that ancient race, the Welsh, the lineal descendants of that most ancient race, the Kelts, who inhabited western Europe from time immemorial, lived in Wales, the territory reserved for this branch of the Aryan family. He had a son: SECOND GENERATION 2. STEPHENS AP EVANS, (2), who lived and died in Wales, and was the owner of considerable estate. The liberal terms of Penn's grant in America attracted the attention of his three sons: THIRD GENERATION 3. JOSHUA AP STEPHENS AP EVANS, (3), the immigrant ancestor of this family. 4. EBENEZER AP STEPHENS AP EVANS, (4). 5. DAVID AP STEPHENS AP EVANS, (5). Who left their native home in Wales, and embarking in a sailing vessel, after a voyage of something like thirty days, landed at Philadelphia; this sometime prior to the year 1733. The three brothers selected lands in what is now Berkes County, which was not set off from Philadelphia County until 1752. There are traces of them in Union Township, where a David Stephens held land in 1728; he was probably (5), (This from a letter I have from the secretary of the Pennsylvania Historical Society). In 1752, a "David Stephens, Jr.," died in Britain Township, Bucks County, not far from Union, who had a brother Samuel, and a "Cousin John," (probably 7), which fits our history. (From documents in my posession from Register of Wills, Philadelphia). His father, David Stephens, Sr., was probably (5). Nothing would be more natural than that David Stephens, (5), should have a son named for him, and that that son should seek lands over in Bucks, and that the family name of John should descend, as it has through many generations in our own lines, to his. David's brother Joshua had a son John, (7). It was while the three brothers, Joshua, Ebenezer and David, were living under the jurisdiction of Philadelphia County, that they received their shares of the Welsh estate. Hence, searches for this should be confined to records prior to 1752, the time Berkes was set off from Philadelphia. FOURTH GENERATION JOSHUA STEPHENS, Sr., (3), the name now being changed, lived in what is now Berkes County, and probably in Union Township, near the David Stephens above mentioned. His children were: