The Wadsworth Family
In America
The Wadsworth Family
In America

Where is Xtopher Waddesworth's Bible?

Missing Bible May Hold Key to Family Origins

Wadsworth_Bible (18k)

In the book "Genealogical and Family History of the State of Maine", published by Lewis Historical Publishing Company, New York, In 1909 we find the following history of the early Wadsworth family:

Christopher Wadsworth, or as his name was early written, Xtopher Waddesworth, landed in Boston by the ship "Lion", September 16, 1632. His birthplace in England has not been ascertained, nor his positive parentage. The name of Thomas Wadsworth is written before that of Christopher in a family Bible printed in London by Benham Norton and John Bell, 1625, formerly the property of Rev. John Pierce, of Brookline, Massachusetts, and descended to his son, John T. Pierce, of Geneseo, Illinois, which Bible is now in the possession of Mr. Samuel W. Cowles, of Hartford, Connecticut, and was examined by Mr. Horace A. Wadsworth, of Lawrence, Massachusetts. Mr. Wadsworth copied the inscription found in the handwriting of Christopher Wadsworth, the immigrant, which reads:

Christopher Wadsworth His Book

"Christopher and William Wadsworth landed in Boston by ye ship Lion. 16th September, 1632, together in ye ship."

And elsewhere in the same Bible he found the name of Thomas Wadsworth before Christopher's in such a way as to convey the idea of its being the name of his father.

Where is this Bible? Does the Cowles family still have possession of this important historical document? Was Horace A. Wadsworth correct that Thomas Wadsworth's name along side Christopher's indicated that they were father and son? If you can answer any of these questions, please contact me.