Genealogy Chat

The Molden Family Bible was lost during a house move about 30 years ago in the Newcastle on Tyne area. Does anyone know of its whereabouts?

Hi Derek It probably found it's way to a local jumble sale.......... Have you tried putting an add in the local paper?? If you contact them, they may even run a feature for you, especially if you can put a news worthy story behind it? Worth a shot I'd say Elly

Have you tried keeping an eye on eBay? Family bibles seem to turn up there quite a bit. Also www.abebooks.*co.uk (remove *) has family bibles advertised, e.g. The Bible Bookseller: Greenhousebooks (Faversham, KEN, United Kingdom) Price: £ 5.00 [Convert Currency] Shipping within United Kingdom: £ 2.75 [Rates & Speeds] Add Book to Shopping Basket Book Description: John Walker. Soft cover. Book Condition: Poor. Name on inside "J Ovenden 1886" black leather is splitting at base of spine and torn at bottom end, pages are good with some light marks, contains postcard with Ovenden family tree from 1834 to 1878. also a card for thanksgiving service dated 1939. Bookseller Inventory # 233g Christine

Thank you both for your suggestions. I have been watching the Ebay threads on here, but nothing as yet. My wife remembers that it was a large Bible, not the sort of thing someone would throw away, and it had all the family history in the front. It would be really good to find it again. Derek.

Hi Derek, Is it worth contactng the 'removal Company', or the people who now live in your 'old house', (or those who bought the house from you),in case you left it behind? Dea

Hi Dea. As far as I know this was rented accommodation in the early 70's, so probably it has had many occupants since then. My wife and her mother were living there. They realised it had been left behind some time later, but did not go back for it. Only now does my wife realise the significance and the value of the information it contained. It's a bit of a long shot looking for it, but it would be great if it turned up. Derek

If you can narrow it down a bit to a specific place, such as a village, or a suburb of Newcastle, it might be worth googling to see if there is a local online forum, and if so, put an enquiry on it. There is such a forum where I live (well, actually the server is down at the moment, but that's another story!) and from time to time we do get enquiries about genealogical or local history matters, and usually someone can give at least a partial answer, or perhaps suggest a line of enquiry. There could even be someone who remembers your rellies - 30 years is not all that long.

Rather than being 'lost', I would think it much more likely that another member of the family may have it. Have you tried asking other members of the extended family, i.e. cousins, in-laws etc. Sometimes families like to keep such items for their 'side' of the family if they can. Kath. x

Thanks for that idea, Roger. I will ask my wife the area they were living in. Not much chance of it being in the family, Kathleen. No other family members in the area. Thanks all for your replies. I will keep my fingers crossed, but I don't hold out too much hope. Derek.