Genealogical Information from the Spencer Family Bible
The images below are photographs of the family Bible of John O. Spencer and Lydia Bunn.
According to the
C. G. Brisee Genealogy Library,
this Bible was sold at auction from Ithaca, New York. The current owner, Regina L. Hunter,
bought the Bible on ebay.com in 2007. Genealogical information from the Bible is posted here.
In addition, the Bible has eighteen illustrations; two are in color, and the rest are black and
white woodcuts. Dr. Hunter is posting the illustrations on her website,
Daily Bible Study Tips, as appropriate and
as time permits. Links to the posted illustrations are provided below. Dr. Hunter may be
reached through the
Ducks in a Row contact page.
|
|
The front and back covers of this Bible are
in good condition, considering its age. The front cover is detached; it
appears to have been scotch-taped to the rest of the book at one time. The book measures roughly 9 1/2 by 12
inches, a common size for Bibles of this time period. The spine is attached only to the back
cover, but other than that it is more or less intact.
|
|
|
The Spencer Family Bible is dated 1858. Many
of the pages are torn or stained, suggesting that the family read this Bible regularly.
The pages are foxed, the edges more so than the interiors. The Bible is, however, perfectly
legible throughout.
|
|
|
The slight change in handwriting between
the birth records of Otto Julius and Fannie Adellah supports a conclusion that the
Bible was in the family prior to 1861. All entries on this page are in the same handwriting, a
beautiful copperplate hand. All words are spelled correctly, suggesting that either John or
Lydia was educated.
|
|
|
Given the publication date of 1858 and the
earliest marriage date of 1857, we could assume that this Bible was in John and Lydia's
possession early in their marriage. The final copperplate entry was made in 1883, although the
handwriting appears to remain the same through 1895. The final entry in the Bible was made
in 1939.
This Bible is a beautiful example of the genealogical value of a well-maintained
late-19th-century family Bible.
|
The Spencer family Bible contains the following illustrations (woodcuts
unless otherwise indicated):
Joseph Sold into Slavery
Balaam's Ass
Samson Slaying the Lion
Samson and Delilah
Saul and the Witch of Endor
David Playing the Harp
Nathan Reproves David
Elijah's Burnt Offering
Mordecai Honored
The Visit of the Magi (color)
Massacre of the Innocents
Jesus Preaching (color)
Jesus Walking on the Water
Jesus Raises the Son of the Widow of Nain
Jesus Raises Lazarus
The Crowning with Thorns
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
The Blind Bar-Jesus