Wesleyan Hymn Book

Introduction

This book was handed down through descendants of Esther's brother William and probably came from Minnie Smith's house at 16 Malvern Road, Acocks Green. It measures 4" x 6" and has attractively patterned red wine coloured binding both front and back with the inscription "Wesley's Hymns" in gold lettering on the spline. The pages are thin but strong and edged in gold. The Title Page is worded : -
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 SUPPLEMENT.

LONDON:
PUBLISHED BY JOHN MASON, 14 CITY-ROAD;
SOLD AT 66 PATERNOSTER ROW.

Date of Book

The Title Page omits to give a date. However an introduction to the Hymn Supplement dated "LONDON. Nov 9, 1830" appears in the body of the book after hymn 560. The 1876 Wesleyan Hymn Supplement in Anne Trease's (?) Bible appears to supersede the 1830 supplement. If so, the book would have been in print from 1830 until 1876.

The First Page

The following words, written in ink, are at the top : -

"Annie Oliver
From RR"
Neither "Annie Oliver" nor "RR" appear elsewhere in Trease family history so the book could be a random secondhand purchase, but at the bottom right of the page is an oval embossed stamp worded:-

STATIONERY AND BOOKBINDING
MITCHELSON
BOOKSELLER
BERRY STREET
LIVERPOOL

A bookseller, George MITCHELSON, married Helen HEALEY, Elkanah's youngest sister, at St Bride's church in Liverpool in January 1849 and this Hymnbook is thought to have come from his bookshop. References to his business quoted below tally with the conjectured 1830 - 1876 publication period.
The London Gazette
29th December 1865 p 6997
Deed whereby he covenants to pay 10s in the pound by four equal instalments on 17th Jan, 17th Apr, 17th Jul, 17th October 1866 and assigns all his personal estate to trustees as collateral security for the due payment thereof.
24th May 1867 p 3305
George Mitchelson, residing and carrying on business at 42 Berry-street, Liverpool, .. , Bookseller and Stationer, having been adjudged bankrupt ..
9th August 1867 p 4469
George Mitchelson .. adjudicated bankrupt on 22nd May 1867 .. Order of discharge granted on 19th July 1867.

The Second Page

A further inscription on the second page has been scratched out. A cursory examination reveals that: -

The inscription may have contained five lines
The first letter of the first line begins with a large flourish and may be a letter like "P"
The inscription may show the name and address of the owner

A more detailed examination will be carried out and is expected to reveal a little more of the original inscription. The page as it appears when seen from the front and when held up to the light are shown below.