{"id":30305,"date":"2018-04-03T11:39:19","date_gmt":"2018-04-03T15:39:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=30305"},"modified":"2020-05-27T14:26:11","modified_gmt":"2020-05-27T18:26:11","slug":"genealogy-stories-lost-and-found-family-bibles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/genealogy-stories-lost-and-found-family-bibles.html","title":{"rendered":"Genealogy Stories: Lost \u2013 and Found \u2013 Family Bibles"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/em><\/strong>: In this article, Mary Harrell-Sesniak searches old newspapers to find some interesting stories about family Bibles that were lost \u2013 and found. Mary is a genealogist, author and editor with a strong technology background.<\/em><\/p>\n

I recently wrote an article about some exciting genealogy finds, namely, family Bible records that have been quoted in newspapers. (See: Genealogy Tip: Find Family Bible Records Printed in Newspapers<\/a>.) Most of those newspaper stories have to do with lineage and genealogy, but did you know there is another reason why a family Bible might be written about in a newspaper?<\/p>\n

\"Photo:<\/a>
Photo: an old family Bible. Credit: Thomas Jay Kemp.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It has to do with lost and found Bibles. Here are some examples you may enjoy reading.<\/p>\n

Lost, but Now Found<\/strong><\/p>\n

During the Revolutionary War, the family Bible of the Reverend Mr. Caldwell of New Jersey was taken as an act of vengeance by a British soldier. Mrs. Caldwell was at prayer when she found a musket at her head and the Bible she relied on was taken away from her. More than 60 years later, in 1840, it was returned to one of her grandchildren, with an interesting twist: the soldier who stole the Bible had added his own family lineage to it, and subsequent possessors added their own notes!<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Public Ledger (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 26 September 1840, page 1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lawsuits<\/strong><\/p>\n

A TV ad in my area reminds potential litigants to keep records and take photos, as records tend to go missing. Apparently, this is nothing new. In 1889, a reward of $75 was offered for a missing family Bible in order to prove a clandestine marriage. Without it, the heirs to a large property would miss out on their inheritance. It\u2019s an interesting story, so I\u2019ll leave it to the readers to garner all of the details from the article.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
New York Herald (New York, New York), 27 May 1889, page 3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Battlefield Find<\/strong><\/p>\n

During the Civil War, a Union soldier, Charles E. Miller, became wounded \u2013 and while trying to reach the \u201crear,\u201d he threw away his knapsack which contained a Bible given to him by his brother.<\/p>\n

The inscription read: \u201cCharles E. Miller, born in the town of Acton, Me.\u201d His knapsack was picked up by a Confederate soldier, Alexander R. Oliver. For many years after the war, Oliver was unable to find the Bible\u2019s owner. Eventually, his daughter wrote to Acton, Maine, and was able to establish communication with Miller\u2019s sister.<\/p>\n

From that correspondence, they learned that Miller was now living and working in Boston. Faced with such a long and expensive journey, it took some time until Oliver was able to go to Boston to return Miller\u2019s Bible to him. Almost 40 years to the day the Bible was lost, the two veterans met in 1904 for the \u201cGrand Army\u201d reunion, and this is what they had to say to each other:<\/p>\n

The scene of the presentation was interesting. One lone rebel, surrounded by two score Union veterans, who more than a generation ago were thirsting for his blood, but were now treating him with the love of a brother, stood up and said:
\n\u201cYank,\u201d he said, \u201cI\u2019ve brought back your Bible.\u201d
\n\u201cReb,\u201d responded Miller, \u201cI\u2019m much obliged.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"An<\/a>
Springfield Republican (Springfield, Massachusetts), 22 August 1904, page 4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Bible Prank<\/strong><\/p>\n

This last story also has a happy ending, but it took 30 years for a prank to be resolved.<\/p>\n

Some seniors at the University of Michigan locked a decrepit old horse in their school chapel. Not wanting the Bible to be damaged, they removed it. However, their prank aroused such a storm that none of the tricksters dared to admit their guilt and return the Bible \u2013 that is, until 30 years later when it was finally returned.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Omaha World-Herald (Omaha, Nebraska), 21 June 1906, page 6<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hope all was forgiven!<\/p>\n

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