Family Bible | Scottish Genealogist

Sentimental Sunday – Stevens notebook reveals more

Aug 152010

Could findings in the little Scottish book could lead to a “research trip” to Antigua for this Scottish genealogist? Please?

I’ve already posted (here and here) about this fascinating little book which lists the descendants of Richard Stevens and Janet Forsyth who married on 11 March 1787 in Falkland, Fife and on Friday I showed it to some friends who are archivists, as I wanted advice on conservation. The main result of this (besides the good advice) was HUGE EXCITEMENT AND CURIOSITY. We chatted about who may have started keeping the book, and why, and concluded that I am lucky, as the family “record keeper” to have landed up with it.

I hadn’t paid a lot of attention to the inside cover, but got a bit nosy about the little everyday notes that had been made. There are a few sums in pounds, shillings and pence, and on the first page a name, which could be Christian Stevens (born 9th Feb 1794 in Falkland – this is her actual birth date, rather than her baptism date which is recorded in the Old Parish Registers held at General Registers of Scotland in Edinburgh). If it was Christian who started the book, how would she feel knowing that I had it in my possession? I hope that whoever it was who thought it important to keep the family records would be delighted that I hold it so precious. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy just to hold it! Continue reading »

Treasure Chest Thursday – Stevens bible

General Ramblings 1 Response »

Aug 122010

I’ve already blogged about the little notebook I inherited which gives some family history details on the Stevens family from Fife, Scotland, and since then I’ve had contact from two relatives (hello Chris and Paul!) so I thought I would add some more details in the hope that we find more people researching these names

page 1 of the Stevens Family Bible showing children of Richard Stevens and Janet Forsyth

I’ll do the first page on this post:

Treasure Chest Thursday

General Ramblings 7 Responses »

Feb 112010

Names and Births

This little leatherbound book came into my possession via my Grandfather and relates to his mother’s family. It seems to have had a brass fitting on the front to keep it closed. The earliest entries relate to “Names, Times of Birth of Richard Stevens and Janet Forsyth’s Family” and begins with John born March 31^st 1787. Richard and Janet were my 4 x Great Grandparents and their children were baptised in Falkland, Abdie & Markinch in Fife, Scotland.

As well as listing the births and deaths of members of the family, it gives a cure for warts involving “corrosive supplimate, sweet spirals of Nilor and a few drops of lavinder”, an address for Boswil Stevens in New York, the serial number of a Hollison (Liverpool) watch purchased from R Stevens on 31^st October 1839 and a handy “Recipe for killing Rats and Misse”.

Wonderful!