The STRONG Family Bible
Family Bible leather book plate My family asks why I started this research task? The answer is probably the family bible. The bible remained relatively unopened when I inherited my father's books… until I realised its significance. My great grandfather had entered birth and death dates of his family… he had even written down some regular censuses of his family. Add to this some newpaper clippings and even a cross-stitch sampler with my g-grandmother’s name. See here for an image and a discussion of the sampler. All this information meant a flying start to our family history! However, one aspect of this bible still gives us some conjecture… there is an inscription on leather which says: "Presented by David SLOANE to David STRONG September 1859". Who was David SLOANE?
- Robert conducted a census each 5 years in New Zealand and recorded it in his family bible.
- On 3/4/1881 Robert (aged 50 years) lived at Wellington St. Auckland, with his wife Jane (40 yrs) and five children Joseph (12 yrs), David (10 yrs), Mary (8 yrs), William Aberdare (6 yrs) and John Taylor (1.5 months).
- Robert’s second census was in 28 Mar 1886 at Victoria Ave, Eden Terrace, Auckland. See the image on the right. The same people were present: Robert & Jane, with five children, Joseph, David, Mary, William Aberdare, John Taylor.
- Robert’s third family census was also at Victoria Ave on 5 Apr 1891, which showed that Robert and Jane were present with only three children remaining. By this stage Joseph (22 years) and David (20 years) had left home.
- Front page of Bible:
Rejoin the Story
- Return to: Robert STRONG (Snr) of Drumbo & Holywood
- Or continue on to: Chapter 2: The story of Robert STRONG (Jnr).