Book, Work of the English Puritan Divines - M Henry, Early 1840s

Historical information

This book was given in 1847 to E. Callender by an unknown person (‘C.E –‘). There is a reference in the Warrnambool Examiner newspaper to an Adam Callander, a Port Fairy baker whose wife Alice committed suicide in 1870 and, more importantly, a reference to a Miss Callender arriving as a ship passenger to Warrnambool in July 1854. There is a record of Eliza Callender marrying Peter McFarlane in 1858. The book may have been a New Years’ Day present or a birthday present or a presentation to someone leaving England to migrate to Australia.

Significance

This book is kept because of its inscription and its early date (1847 – some months before Warrnambool was founded). Further research may reveal the extent of the book’s significance.

Physical description

This is hard cover book of 320 pages. The cover is dark brown with embossed scrolls on the front cover and gold lettering on the spine. The book has eight chapters, including a biography of the author, Matthew Henry, and two black and white sketches. On the first page is the stamp of the Warrnambool and District Historical Society. The inscription is handwritten in black ink. The cover is slightly stained.

Inscriptions & markings

‘To E. Callender with kind love from C.E- (the last letter is not clear – it could be an ‘E’ or a ‘D’ or merely a decorative flourish)
‘1st January 1847’

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