Ann Trease's Bible & Hymnbook?

This Bible was retained by the late Marjorie Mitchell along with a few other Trease family mementos when she cleared the contents of 16 Malvern Road, Acocks Green after her Aunt Minnie Smith (nee Trease) died there in 1955. The book itself appeared to be of good quality and in good condition. No annotations were found on the pages. It is possible that it had been kept for special occasions. The front cover measured 5.75" x 3.75" and the book was 1.75" deep including about .125" each for the front and back covers which were quite thick. The spline had a pronounced curve on it. Inside was a beautifully written dedication which read : - "Presented to Miss Trease by the members of her class as a token of affection and esteem on her leaving the Wesleyan Sunday School, Burton on Trent - February 9th 1879"

In 1879 there were two Miss Treases in Burton-on-Trent, who were known to be school teachers, namely Mary Trease and her younger sister Annie. In later life Mary and Annie lived together and were in Headcorn, Kent when Mary died in 1913. After her sister's death, Annie Trease went up to the Midlands to live with her nieces Louie and Polly in Malvern Road, Acocks Green, on the outskirts of Birmingham. As the Bible came from the house at Malvern Road, it is most probable that it was Anne's.

The Wesleyan Chapel in Horninglow Road, that was almost opposite the residence of the Trease household, closed in 1871 and was replaced by a larger chapel in Station Street, Burton on Trent. It is thought that the Sunday School referred to in the dedication was held at the Station Street Chapel. Although another Methodist Chapel opened at Byrkley Street, Burton-on-Trent in 1874, this was specifically for railway workers and thus inappropriate.

Further Notes

The Bible section contained exactly 1,000 pages and had a frontispiece stating : -

OXFORD:
PRINTED AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS,
LONDON: HENRY FROWDE,
OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS WAREHOUSE, 7 PATERNOSTER ROW,
NEW YORK: 42 BLEEKER STREET

Pearl 16mo. Refs. Cum Priviligio.
[This edition corresponds page for page with Oxford Minion Svo. Refs. Bible.]

The Hymns section contained 250 pages and had a frontispiece stating : -

A COLLECTION
of
HYMNS
for
THE USE OF THE PEOPLE CALLED
METHODISTS.

BY THE REV. JOHN WESLEY, M.A.,
sometime Fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford.

WITH A NEW SUPPLEMENT.

LONDON:
WESLEYAN CONFERENCE OFFICE,
2 CASTLE-STREET, CITY-ROAD;
SOLD AT 66 PATERNOSTER-ROW.
1876

and an introduction stating that the original collection of hymns published by John Wesley in 1780 "has been circulated by millions". The new supplement "has been drawn up by a committee appointed by the conference in 1874". The reason was that "altered circumstances" . . "have rendered additional hymns necessary". .

The supplement commenced on page 129 and contained hymns numbered 540 to 1,026.