Family Bible of Janet Howie and Isaac Roberts



The above copies are from the Isaac Roberts(10) and Janet Howie(16) family bible.  I received the family bible from William Henry "Billy" Meacham(51) who received it from his mother, Letitia "Lettie" Roberts Meacham(35) who is the daughter of Isaac and Janet.  On 5 July 2001, my father and his wife, myself and Joe, my husband all traveled down to meet with William Henry Meacham, or Billy as he wanted us to call him.  Billy and his  second wife, Ella Mae Eaton(407),  lived in Henderson, Nevada which is just outside of Las Vegas.    They were the friendliest and kindest people and Billy was full of information about the Roberts family.  It was July and very, very, very hot and Billy and Ella Mae had  no air conditioning and although my family and I  thought we were going to melt, Billy kept us entertained with stories and exaggerations about the Roberts family and life in Rock Springs, Wyoming.

Quite frankly, Billy was happy to have an audience and my father was happy to reminisce and learn more about Rock Springs and his Roberts family.  My husband, Joe, was in charge of the scanner which he set up and balanced with the laptop on the small counter and sink.  Billy would show us a photograph or document and I would hand it to Joe to scan.  My Dad kept Billy talking by asking questions as I recorded the conversation and took notes.  

Billy had gathered some documents that he thought I would like to take and get copied at the local copy center, and one of the documents was the family register from the family bible.  The bible is quite large and so he ripped out the page for easier copying.  Yes, you heard me correctly!  He ripped out the page.  Although I was in disbelief, I was grateful for the copy!  

We spent a long hot day with Billy and Ella Mae and were getting ready to leave.  As I gathered up the bible pages to go and get copies of, as they were oversized and would not fit on the scanner, Billy handed me the bible.  He said, "I have never seen anyone so excited about our family and I want you to have the family bible.  I know you will appreciate it and take good care of it."  I was humbled and honored.  What a treasure.  What a priceless gift.  I gave Billy a big hug and in disbelief we all said goodbye but would return the next day.

My father was also in disbelief and  we could not believe  Billy's generosity.  After leaving Billy's, we entered the hotel and walked through the casino, and as Joe carried the bible and I whispered to him, to carry it more protected, as it was priceless.  Joe looked around the casino at the many gamblers awaiting a big win and assured me, "No one wants your family bible!"  The rest of the trip was spent protecting the family bible.  I did not dare leave it in the hotel room and I was afraid it would be stolen from the trunk of the car.  I feel so honored and blessed to be entrusted with this great family heirloom.  I share it with everyone, because I want everyone to love this great treasure as much as I do! 

The bible is 15. 2 pounds, 
12 inches by 9 1/2 inches and stands 4 inches high.

I do not know who recorded the names and dates in the bible.  I do not know anything about the bible but what Billy told me.  He said the bible came from England with the Isaac and Janet family and it has been in the family ever since.


The original color digital photograph of what the family register bible page looks like today.

I was able to meet a cousin a couple of days ago and share the bible.  When questioned about who wrote in the bible, I said I honestly did not know.  Four days later, as I am working on re-analyzing my documents I come across document number 408, which is the family register of the Isaac Roberts and Janet Howie family bible.  

I enter a source citation in my genealogy program and then attach the citation to the individual facts when I suddenly realize. . .there are so many wrong dates!

Here are my findings after a day of analyzing the original  document, zooming in on my digital copies, and re-photographing the document several times.

I know dates may be transposed, forgotten, etc., so I can be generous, however, as I examine the pages in depth I am surprised by the errors and the missing information.  I have highlighted the incorrect information and the missing information is the three children that died in childhood:  William Roberts(33), Mary Elizabeth "Lizzie" Roberts(38) and Sarah Ann Roberts(39) all died and were buried in Rock Springs, Wyoming.

Death dates for   Isaac, Sr., Janet (Howie), and James Roberts are all written month/day and year is written out.  
Making it look like the month and day was added at a later date.

It is interesting that William, Mary Elizabeth and Sarah's names are missing, but what is recorded is Janet and Isaac's marriage date, citizenship year, and the second time  Isaac came to Rock Springs.

Mr. & Mrs. are used before Isaac and Janet's names respectively.

Written in pencil beneath "Mr." it looks like the
name John was written?

The first four lines are written in the same blue color ink.  
There is a slight variation in the blue ink, which looks exaggerated on the above photograph.   

In the above picture, there MAY BE a variation in ink 
after the line married.  
The pen looks like it writes thinner than the pen used 
in the writing above "PAPERS. US. 1893"

Isaac and Janet's marriage year is corrected in the above picture.

Jacqueline's name is rewritten and the writing underneath is unreadable, it feels like it has been erased by the rough texture of the page and the thinness of the paper in only that one spot, even though it is  written in ink.  Interestingly, I have never seen her middle name used any where else.

Isaac Roberts, Sr. has no birth day and the number "24 - 1940".  The year 1940 is the year Isaac died, as per his death certificate, but the date 24 does not match anything.  
Isaac was born 1 September 1863 and died 6 Jul 1940. 

I find it odd and interesting  when and where periods are used.  
In the photo above, I have circled the odd period placements.

PLEASE, as you read this blog and if you see anything I missed please contact me and give my your analysis.  It is not about being correct in my analysis, it is more about a correct analysis.  I know after examining something for so long, I become "blind" to some peculiarities.   

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