The Barnes-Logan Bible

The Barnes-Logan Bible GSP Bible Records Collection First of an Occasional Senes By Kay Haviland Freilich, CG* F AMILY BIBLES are one of a group of records genealogists refer to as home sources: those documents that might be found among per¬ sonal papers. Usually they offer dates of births, deaths, and marriages. Often the information originates from those time periods when civil vital records are not available. Sometimes they also include a place name that helps to locate other records. Information from a family Bible, while usually considered highly re¬ liable, still should be evaluated and documented. The history of the Bible who owned it originally and who owned it when it was used as a source must be considered. If possible, the publication date should be determined. The highest degree of reliability is given to those entries made at or near the time of the event recorded. Some points to consider when evaluating the entries in a family Bible include: • Did the events happen after the Bible was published? • Are all the entries in the same handwriting? • Are all the entries in the same ink?1 Entries that predate the publication must have been made after the event. Entries in the same ink and the same handwriting indicate they were made by one person, possibly at one sitting. Entries in the same — * Editor's Note: Kay Haviland Freilich, CG, is a director of the Federation of Genea¬ logical Societies, Book Review Editor of the Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine, and former secretary of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania. Sandra Hargreaves Luebking and Loretto Dennis Szucs, “The Foundations of Family History Research,” in The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy, rev. ed., Szucs and Luebking, eds. (Salt Lake City: Ancestry Inc., 1997), 11. % 139 The Bames-Logan Bible 141 [In first handwriting] Eli Hayes Barnes son of John and Mary Ann Barnes Died February 17th 1889 Aged 40 years John Barnes died March 21sl 1890 in the 75,h year of his age. Mary Ann Barnes died June 6th 1891 In the 80th year of her age. Page 2 Births Philip Henry Barnes son of Philip H. and Mary Barnes born August 28th 1871. Deaths th Barnes Barnes Died of son and May Henry Mary Ann Philip 24 John 1896 In the 53rd year of his age. Page 3 Marriages John Barnes and Mary Ann Logan of East Fallowfield Chester Co. Pa. Were Married on the 25th day of February 1841. William Pyle Barnes and Elizabeth Jane Fairlamb of East Fallowfield, Chester Co. Pa. Were Married on the 27th of June 1864. John and Mary Ann Barnes were still living in East Fallowfield Town¬ ship, Chester County, when the 1850 census was taken. John was 33, a farmer, whose real estate was valued at $1500 while his wife was 31. Completing the household were three boys: William P., age 7; Philip H., age 6; and Elijah [sic], age 1. The two older boys attended school and all members of the family were born in Pennsylvania.3 On 13 March 1866, John Barnes held a public sale of his personal property at his home in East Fallowfield, one mile south from Cain Station of the Pennsylvania Railroad and about the same distance from Mortonville. The sale ad listed horses, milk cows, steers, swine, ajenny Lind carriage, a two-horse carriage, and farm utensils among the items to be sold. Q ; John Barnes household, 1850 U.S, Census, Chester Co., Pa., population schedule, East Fallowfield Twp., p. 377, dwelling/ family 208; National Archives micropublication M432, t roll 766. 4 Village Record, West Chester, Pa., 20 Feb. 1886. All newspaper articles are from the Newspaper File at the Chester County Historical Society, 225 N. High St., West Chester, Pa. 19380. The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine 142 On 25 March 1886 John Barnes wrote his will. He left “to my beloved wife Marey An Barnes” all his personal and real estate to use and control during her lifetime. After her death, one-third was to go to son Philip Barnes and the remainder was to be divided between sons William P. Barnes and son Eli H. Barnes. William P. Barnes was named executor. The will was proved 25 March 1890 on the affirmation of witnesses Harey Carver andjos. F, Hill, Jr. The final account was filed 4 March 1892. Obituaries of several of the individuals named in the Bible provide further information about the family. Barnes: On the 26th October, after a lingering illness, Hannah A., only daughter of John and Mary Ann Barnes, in the fourth year of her life.6 “■ -a. — William P. Barnes at the age of 76 years, William P. Barnes died Sunday in Darby. He was formerly of this county. A widow, Elizabeth F. Barnes, survives him. + * Eli Barnes, West Chester died sifter a long illness from consump¬ tion. Deceased was a moulder by trade and was the son of John Barnes, watchman at the bank. He was about 40 years old.8 — Last night John Barnes, the kindly old watch¬ man of the National Bank of Chester County, died after a prolonged illness. Deceased leaves a wife and one [sic] son, the former being an invalid for many years. Thirty years ago he worked for Hugh Steele at Laurel, and was a puddler. Since that time he has been employed at the bank as messenger and John Barnes watchman.9 Mary Ann Barnes: At about 11:35 o'clock last night Mrs. Mary Ann Barnes, widow of the late John Barnes, died at her resi¬ dence on South Walnut street after a lingering illness. The deceased was a daughter of William and Hannah Logan, of Newlin township. She was born May 18th, 1811, and was consequendy 80 years of age at the time of her death. She has been Barnes Probate Files, #22, 785; Chester County Archives, West Chester, Pa. 5John 6 Record, West Chester, Pa. 6 Feb. 1855. Note that this date is several Identified as Village months after the event. 7 Daily Local News, West Chester, Pa., 1 Oct. 1918. 8 Daily Local News, West Chester, Pa,, 19 Feb. 1889. 9 Daily Local News, West Chester, Pa., 21 Mar. 1890. The Bames-Logan Bible 143 in feeble health for more than a year past. Her ailment was of the brain and for several weeks she was unable to recognize anyone. She leave to survive her two sons. Her husband, John Barnes, was for 25 years bank messenger at the Bank of Chester County.10 10 Daily Local News, West Chester, Pa., 8 Jun. 1891. Note that the date of death differs frm the Bible entry by one day.