We are beginning the tenth year of our Society. It is wise to summarize the accomplishments of a decade before we proceed into a second period.
Nobody can estimate the effort that Cousin Walter exerted to organize this Society. We must all agree that the realization that we are a family, descendants of John and Jane Clough, was achieved while Cousin Walter was living among us. This is his reward.
Next, he conceived the plans for the Clough Book. He decided upon the contents, selected the personnel to compile it, and hurried us to complete it while he expected to promote the sale. It is to be regretted that he did not learn about our discoveries at Salisbury. What a surprise it was when we saw the headstone of John-2 which not one of our present family knew was standing on Salisbury Plains during the past two centuries. Then we seemed to feel the roots of our family tree were firmly planted in the soil of New England.
We felt the desire to honor our pioneer and placed a tablet on the Clough lot in Salisbury Plains Cemetery in 1946, and we visited there the Rocky Hill meetinghouse that Cloughs helped to erect. We increased the fund for perpetual care of the cemetery.
We are a self-supporting Society because of the faithful services of our treasurer, Joseph L. Clough, who collects our dues and carefully confines our expenses within the assets of the funds. Members are willing to contribute their clerical abilities without expense and the genealogists have delved into records without remuneration, or due recognition.
Our next ambition is to prepare and publish a complete genealogy. Because of his loyal affection for the Society, Cousin John bequeathed his legacy for the above purpose. Cousin Samuel has copied and collected hundreds of records for this time-consuming task, with the assistance of many members.
At the last meeting of the Board of Governors, intensive research was authorized to discover the birthplace of John Clough in England. There is a possibility that through the kindness of the niece of Cousin Jane and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Wright of London, England, that an experienced genealogist will attempt to follow the few clues that we are able to supply. Meanwhile, whatever records are available in this country will be thoroughly combed.
These are our tangible assets over a decade. Far greater are the inspirational values that have accumulated through our reunions, and a nation-wide correspondence that circulates-continually, and by means of our Clough Bulletin that is read twice a year by at least a thousand members of our clan.
The future is bright, our loyalties are strong, and we pay tribute to that great soul, Cousin Walter, who taught us to love the Clough-Cluff Family. Grandfathers Percy and Clarence should be exchanging snap shots of these boys.