Images(5)

Pitcher Family Bible

Date1840

OriginAmerica, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

MediumPaper

DimensionsOW: 9 1/2"; OW: 9 1/4"; OH: 11 1/2"; OD: 2 1/2"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number2004-119,2

DescriptionThis is the Pitcher family bible entitled: THE HOLY BIBLE, CONTAINING THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS, TRANSLATED OUT OF THE ORIGINAL TONGUES, AND WITH THE FORMER TRANSLATIONS DILIGENTLY COMPARED AND REVISED. TO WHICH ARE ADDED, AN INDEX; AN ALPHABETICAL TABLE OF ALL THE NAMES IN THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS, WITH THEIR SIGNIFICATIONS; TABLES OF SCRIPTURE WEIGHTS, MEASURES, AND COINS, &c. Kimber and Sharpless Stereotype edition. Stereotype by E. White, New York. Philadelphia: Published and sold by Kimber and Sharpless, at their book-store, no. 8 South 4th Street.

The end papers of the bible consist of marblelized paper. The bible is signed: "HENRY PITCHER,/ PORTSMOUTH,/ VA/ August 22nd 1840." Within the bible are four pages of partially filled out family records giving marriage, birth, and death dates of Henry Pitcher, his wife Elizabeth Lufberry, and their children (see inscriptions). Also within the bible is one small newspaper clipping of the death notice of Miriam Pitcher Flack (see notes).
Label TextLike many bibles of the period, this one contains four pages of a Pitcher family register recording marriage, birth, and death dates between 1788 and 1866.
InscribedFour pages of family records are partially filled out:
"Henry Pitcher married/ to Elizabeth Lufberry,/ October 28th 1811."

"Henry Pitcher/ born June 18th 1788."
"Elizabeth Lufberry/ born August 6th 1790."
"Harriet Pitcher/ born August 17th 1812."
"Mary Pitcher/ born December 4th 1814."
"Samuel L. Pitcher/ born July 15th 1817."
"Elizabeth Pitcher/ born January 6th 1820."
"Jacob K. Pitcher/ born September 29th 1822"
"Sarah Ann Pitcher/ born August 26th 1828"

"Mary Frances Pitcher/ Born March 8th 1849./ Departed Aug. / 59"
"Willie H. Pitcher/ Born Aug 8th / 57"
"Virginia Pitcher/ born Nov 9th 1860"
"Ella Pitcher/ born Oct. 24th / 63"

"Harriet Pitcher/ died August 3rd 1822."
"Elizabeth, wife/ of Henry Pitcher, died/ December 24th 1824."
"Samuel L. Pitcher/ died February 22nd 1844"
"Elizabeth Pitcher/ died Jan 26th 1856."
"Mary Gale, daughter of Henry & Elizabeth Pitcher died/ May 11th 1866"
"Mary Frances Pitcher/ daughter of Jacob & Mary Pitcher/ died August 29th / 51"
"Willie H. Pitcher/ son of Jacob & Mary/ Pitcher died/ May the 8th 1865"
"Ella Pitcher/ Nov 3th 67"
"Willie 74 [?]s 9 mos"
ProvenanceThe bible was owned by Henry Pitcher, a shipwright listed in the Philadelphia city directory compiled in 1821 at an address at Queen and Bishop Streets, near the waterfront. "That was the last year that this family was recorded as living in the Philadelphia area; they subsequently moved to Portsmouth, Virginia, where Henry Pitcher continued to work as a shipwright." ("Samplings: A selected offering of antique sampler and needlework." Vol. XIV, M. Finkel & Daughter, p. 2.)

The bible with three family samplers were sold by M. Finkel & Daughter to Nancy Newhard Melton Ray in 1998. In 1999, Mrs. Ray donated the two small alphabet samplers from this group to CWF. In 2003-2004, the more decorative sampler and family bible were resold by Mrs. Ray to M. Finkel & Daughter, who offered them to CWF.