Historical information

This King James version of the Holy Bible, with Old and New Testaments, was published in 1866 in London. The large Bible contains family records of Joseph Bell (born 9-5-1829) and Elizabeth Bell (born 22-101833).

Joseph and Elizabeth Bell were married on 12-09-1854 in St Paul's church, in Bristol, England. The loose endpaper within the Bible is headed 'Singleton, 2nd day of 1st month 1869" It records their marriage and the birth of their ten children. between 1856 and 1878. It appears that the entries up until their 8th child were written at the same time, 2nd January 1869, with the last two entries for children number 9 and 10, written at a later date. This fits with the Bible being published in 1866. The children were Thomas, Mary, James, John, Ruth, Andrew, Joseph, Elizabeth, Lewis and Hannah.

Further research is being carried out to connect this branch of the Bell family with local history.

Significance

The Holy Bible is significant for being published over 150 years ago when printed books were very expensive. The book contains handwritten records of the Bell family of Bristol and is a significant source of the Bell family history.

Physical description

Book, black hard cover with embossed pattern and gold test, metal locking clasp. King James Version of the Holy Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments. It was published by Oxford University Press in 1866.
Inscriptions on the loose endpaper list the marriage of Joseph and Elizabeth Bell in 1854 at St Paul's, Bristol, England, and their ten children born from 1856 to 1878.

Inscriptions & markings

Spine: "HOLY BIBLE"
Fly: "THE HOLY BIBLE CONTAINING THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS: TRANSLATED OUT OF THE ORIGINAL TONGUES:: AND WITH THE FORMER TRANSLATIONS DILIGENTLY COMPARED AND REVISED, BY HIS MAJESTY'S SPECIAL COMMAND" "APPOINTED TO BE READ IN CHURCHES"
"OXFORD: PRINTED AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS FOR THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY, INSTITUTED IN LONDON IN THE YEAR 1804."
"SOLD TO SUBSCRIBERS AT THE SOCIETY'S HOUSE, EARL STREET, BLACKFRIARS, LONDON."
"MDCCCLXVI" (converts from Roman Numerals to the number 1866)
LOGO with a motto: [shield with scroll, three crowns and test] "dominus illuminatio mea" (Latin, translates to "The Lord is My Light")
On endpapers: Heading in script: "Singleton 2nd day of 1st month 1869" and listed below " Joseph Bell, born 9/5/1829 married Elizabeth Bell, born 22/10/1833 on 12/9/1854 at St Pauls, Bristol, England."
(Numbered 1 to 10, their children and their birth dates, from 1856 to 1878, are also listed. The children were Thomas, Mary, James, John, Ruth, Andrew, Joseph, Elizabeth, Lewis and Hannah.)