Family bible of Emily Thrall nee Bowhanan
Emily Thrall's bible. Click on image to enlarge.
In early 2006, I received an email from Jim Walsh about the family bible of Emily Thrall nee Bowhanan…
“I have in my possession a bible for some 50 years. I found it in a book store in the used book section some 40 to 45 years ago in Nassau County, New York. I have kept it all these years because I felt that some day I would find a relative who would love to have the book. It is a family bible that dates back to 1874. The bible belonged to one: Emily B Thrall 1874. In the book she list three births: Eugene B Thrall, July 25th 1875, Fred A Thrall Feb 21. 1877 and Lucien L Thrall Sept 29th, 1879. The book was her Bible with the old and new testament.
I have had this bible in my possession for more years then I can remember (I'm 76), and one of the reasons I held on to it is, that somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew that some day I would find a way to seek out the children or grandchildren of the person the bible belonged to. I just felt that they would be finding a lost treasure. And so, that day in my mind has arrived. I spent a lot of time searching the net until I found your site. For me, it will be the end of a long quest to find a proper place for the book. And I'm sure you will enjoy receiving it.”
Cover pages. Click on image to enlarge.
The bible was printed in 1850 by the New York: American Bible Society, and is inscribed on the inside cover - presumably in Emily's handwriting - as follows …
“Emily B. Thrall's Book 1874”
Cover page inscription. Click on image to enlarge.
Between the Old Testament and the New Testament is a blank page with the printed heading "Family record", Under this heading in the same handwriting is inscribed…
Eugene B Thrall
Born July 25th 1875Fred A Thrall
Born Feb'y 21st 1877Lucien L Thrall
Born Sept 29th 1879.
Inner inscription. Click on image to enlarge.
Before receiving this information, I only knew the birth years for the three children mentioned above, and had no dates about Emily. I have been able to use this information to update the stated dates. I also believe that the entries were written sometime between 1879 and 1789 (when a fourth unnamed child Fannie C. Thrall, was born). I have since used this information to updte the published family tree.
Unfortunately we have no information about the descendants of Emily's four children - three of whom are named in the family bible. If you have any information about other descendants, do please let me know.
Cover page inscription. Click on image to enlarge.
