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Demeré family bible
Descriptive Summary | |
| Repository: | Georgia Historical Society |
| Creator: | Demeré family. |
| Title: | Demeré family bible |
| Dates: | 1733 |
| Extent: | 0.1 cubic feet (1 volume, 1 folder) |
| Identification: | MS 1702 |
Biographical/Historical Note
The Demeré family bible, nicknamed the “Mary Musgrove Bible”, was printed in 1733 in Oxford, England. The bible was brought from England to America by Reverend Thomas Bosomworth (circa 1720 - 1782), the third husband of Mary Musgrove Matthews Bosomworth (circa 1700 – circa 1763.) Together, Bosomworth and Mary Musgrove lived on St. Catherine’s Island, Georgia, which had been given to Mary Musgrove in 1760 as a compromise for relinquishing her claims to Sapelo and Ossabaw Islands. Mary Musgrove was well known as the liaison between colonial Georgia and the Creek Indians. She had a bicultural upbringing; she was the child of an Englishman and a Creek Indian.
Scope and Content Note
This collection contains the Demeré family bible, a letter of provenance found folded within the pages of the bible, and a note card of provenance also found in the bible. The bible, though printed in 1733, has since been rebound (date unknown). The pages appear to have been trimmed around the edges, which may have been done as part of the re-binding process. Therefore, no marginalia or annotations are present. Occasional pencil markings exist - perhaps indicating significant passages for one of the many readers of this bible.
The title page of the bible reads, “The Historical Part of the Holy Bible or the Old and New Testament Exactly and Compeatly Describ’d in above Two Hundred Historys Curiously Engrav’d by J. Cole from Designs of ye Best Masters.” A second title page reads, “The Holy Bible containing the Old and New Testaments: Newly Translated out of the Original Tongues: And with the former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised. By His Majesty’s Special Command. Appointed to be Read in CHURCHES.
In the front of the bible, there are tipped in pages with a hand-written account of how the bible had once been in the possession of Mary Musgrove. It also gives an account of the life of Mary Musgrove. Photocopies of this information, along with a photocopy of the title page, are available in Folder 1 for researcher copying.
The letter found within the bible recounts the same information almost word for word. Also found within the bible was a single note card reading, “This Bible was the property of the Indian Princess Mary Musgrove. 1733.” The note card was the personalized stationery of Mrs. E. H. Demeré of Atlanta, Georgia.
Index Terms
Physical and Technical Access Restrictions
The bible may not be photocopied.
Administrative Information
Custodial History
The bible remained in the Demeré family until 2005.
Preferred Citation
[item identification], Demeré family bible, MS 1702, Georgia Historical Society, Savannah, Georgia.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Thomas Ashley Demeré and Edward Houstoun Demeré, 2005.
Restrictions
Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright has not been assigned to the Georgia Historical Society. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Division of Library and Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Georgia Historical Society as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.
Sponsorship
Encoding funded by a 2012 Documenting Democracy grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.Container List
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| 1 | Bible, 1733 | ||||||||||||