Linwood Dyer Collection
Family Bible Sunday
By Don Taylor
Introduction
Family Bibles are great for genealogical research. They are historical records that typically are primary sources. Also, The information is usually provided by someone with firsthand knowledge of the event.[i]Sometimes, Bibles record information not documented elsewhere.
This Bible is from the Linwood Dyer Collection[ii].
Marriages
John Stone of Limington and Elizabeth A. Haskell of Cape Elizabeth were married Sept 16th, 1835, By Elder Wm Pierce.
Births
John Stone was born June 9th, 1815.
Elizabeth A. Haskell was born Aug. 16, 1819.
John J. Stone was born Nov 14th, 1845, in Cape Elizabeth.
Susan E Stone was born Feb 2nd, 1849, in Cape Elizabeth.
Alice A Stone was born April 5th, 1852, in Cape Elizabeth.
Deaths
Comments & Conclusions
The Bible appears to be that of the family of John and Elizabeth (Haskell) Stone. The 1850 US Census confirms the family living in Cape Elizabeth.
Family Search has profile 2S2L-YTH for John (senior). It indicates he was born on 10 June 1815, a day after this Bible indicates. There may be a conflict between several sources regarding his place of birth. This Bible and some researchers indicate he was born in Limington, while his family Search profile suggests he was born in Cape Elizabeth.
Family Search has profile MYNL-4DD for Elizabeth Alice Haskell. That profile suggests she was born in Biddeford, York County, Maine. The Bible and several other researchers suggest she was born in Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland County, Maine.
Family Search profiles for John (the younger) and Susan are consistent with this Bible entry; however, Family Search indicates Alice as born in April 1845. The 1880 Census indicates she was 29 years old, suggesting her birth in 1850. The conflicts with her birth year and the birth of her first child bear much further analysis and assessment of the various sources available.
Endnotes:
[i] Be careful about the source author. Occasionally, Bible record recorders do not have first-hand knowledge and fill in the information years after the event.
[ii] Scarborough Historical Society, Linwood Dyer Genealogy Collection – Accession No. 2023.01.403.
