MARCH 30, 1980
I am Reta Page Bailey Bartell, daughter of Robert Geary Page and Dora Halterman Page. My father's mother was Sophia Ann Geary Page ---- my grandmother.
In the early 1920's, when I was about sixteen years old, Grandma Page came to visit us in Pleasant Grove, Utah. She had with her a family bible that had been passed down to the oldest child in each generation --- for many generations.
The back of the bible had been torn off and the leaves were charred around the edges. Grandma wanted my father to take her to Salt Lake City to have the bible re-bound. He took her to the Deseret Book Company where they made arrangements for this work to be done. Grandma stayed with us in Pleasant Grove until the book was finished.
The bible had been published in 1629. The following is quoted from the fly leaf:
Quote:
"The Holy Bible, Containing the Old Testament and the New."
"Newly translated out of the original tongues, and with the former translations diligently compared and revised by His Magisties special command. To be read In the Churches."
"Printed by Thor and John Buck, printers to the University of Cambridge."
End of Quote.
When they brought the bible back from Salt Lake City, Grandma gave the bible to my father, because he was her oldest child. With the bible was a family seal depicting a musician's lyre with an olive branch across it, and the words: Harmony and Peace, written around the outer rim. The seal was made of Cornelian Agate in A gold setting. This seal had accompanied the bible from generation to generation. In those days important documents and letters had to be carried and delivered by hand. Sealing wax was used to seal the documents or messages. While the wax was still warm a family seal made the "family stamp" in the warm wax. When the wax hardened, the document or letter could not be opened without disturbing the sealing wax. This insured privacy in correspondence. With the seal and the bible were two blue and white plates resembling "Blue Willow" plates.
On the back of each plate was the name George Jones England
My father, during the remaining years of his life, impressed upon me the importance of these gifts from his mother. He des~red that, upon his death, the bible, seal, and plates be given to me, because I was his oldest child.
My father passed away on Nov. 6, 1945. After his estate was settled, mother gave the bible, the seal, and the two blue plates to me. They have remained in a safety-deposit box in the First Security Bank at Monticello, Utah until this time.
As time went by I realized that I knew very little about the history of the four precious items in my care. Father had written a few words/on a scrap of paper and place it inside the fly leaf of the bible. This is a copy of what he had written:
Quote:
"Salt Lake City Jan. 6th, 1929 Sunday
"Joseph and I want to Sunday School this morning. He will enter the Mission home in the morning, to prepare for his mission. Dear (mother) and he went to Fast Meeting this afternoon. His Farewell program will be tonight.
"This seal has been handed down to the oldest child in the family for many generations. I wish it to continue. It belongs to Reta when I am thru. These little shoes were made by my Grandma Geary when she was a little girl.
"This seal is pure gold, and is hundreds of years old. "Was brought from England by my Great Grand Parents. "I humbly pray the blessings of the Lord upon all my loved ones."
(signed) Robert G. Page
End of Quote.
I have had this scrip of paper laminated and have placed it in the bible where he left it.
I realized in 1974 that if I was to learn anything more about the bible I had better get busy and contact father's only sister with whom the family had k~pt in contact. So, on Sept. 27, 1974 I took my mother, a tape recorder, tapes, and genealogy family record sheets to Farmington, Utah to visit with my father's youngest sister, Golda Geary Page Smith. I made a tape recording of our conversation concerning the bible. I also made copies of some of her sheets of genealogy. I will enclose a transcript of that tape with this account.
I have decided to make a Pedigree Chart tracing the eight generations that we know who have (or will have) owned the bible and seal; and the ten generations through which the blue plates have descended.
On Sunday, March 30, 1980 I will present the bible, the seal, the blue plates, the pedigree chart, the transcribed tape, and this account to my oldest son, Kenneth Rone Bailey. In time they will all go to his son, Jeffrey Shumway Bailey - then to his daughter, Page Bailey.
My desire is that they be passed on to the oldest child in each generation in tnis same manner. Each owner may add any pertinent information to the collection if they so desire.
Affectionately,
(signed. Reta Page Bartell)
Reta Page Bailey Bartel
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| 1629 Geary Family Bible |
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