West Bible

This Bible was transcribed from The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. XXXII, 1908, pp. 118-119.

This Bible has an example of a custom that might have been common then but is not now. This family had "a son" who lived nearly two months, but was not named. Was a child not considered named until baptism? What did they call the baby in the meantime? Or did they sometimes take that long to make up their minds?

SURNAMES:
WEST
SMITH
OSBORN
HODGE
NIXON

Below is transcribed as printed, with slight formatting changes. The original was well-typeset, with superscripts and other subtleties that are lost in my transcript.

The Bible records are in the "notes and queries" section of the periodical.

Please keep in mind that the "in possession of" comments refer to 1908.

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DATA FROM THE WEST FAMILY BIBLE, printed in Edinburgh in 1722, by James Watson, printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty. Cum Privilegio. Now in the possession of Mrs. Cooper Smith, of Philadelphia.

William West the son of Willm West and Ann Osborn of Urlar, near Sligo in Ireland, born the first. June 1724.
Mary Hodge alias West, the Daughter of William Hodge of Philada. Born the 7th Day of Novbr. 1737, Polly was married to William West 18th Augt. 1757 and had issue: --

Mary West born the 13th. Novr. 1758
William West Jr. born the 1st. Febry. 1760. Died 5th Janry. 1763.
Frans. West Born the 14th. Septr. 1761 at 6 o'clock in the morning.
John West Born the 26th. Novembr. 1762 at 11 o'clock in the morning.
a son -- -- -- Born the 24th. August 1765. died 10th. Octr. 1765.
William Hodge West Born 24th Decr. 1766 at 5 in the afternoon.
James West Born the 22nd. Novr. 1768 at 4 in the morning.
Ann West Born the 19th Novr. 1769 at 4 in the morning.
Andw. West Born the 14th Febry. 1771. Died Aug. 1772.
Benjn. Fuller West Born the 29th. Augt. 1772 at 9 o'clock in the morning.
Harry West Born the 1st. Aug. 1774 at 10 at Night. Died Febry. 7th. 1775 6 in the evening.
Helen West Born Fryday the 4th. April 1777 at 4 o'clock in the afternoon.

Francis West the son of William West of Philadelphia
Mary Nixon alias West, the Daughter of John Nixon of Philadelphia was married to Francis West January the 10 1793 & had issue:

* Mary West born the 4th of Nov. 1793 at 9 in the morng.
Elizabeth West born September the 28th. 1795 at 11 A.M.
William West born March the 16 1797 at 8 P.M.
John West born October the 24 1798.
Ann West born July the 12th. 1800.
James West born May 16th. 1802.
Helen West born March 25 1804. 6 P.M.
Caroline West born November 24th. 1805. died
Francis West born March 5th. 1810. 1/2 past 3 A.M.
Caroline West January 5 1812

* Mary West died February 13th. (Tuesday) 1838.

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