Item 20 - Holy Bible containing the Old and New Testaments

• Textual record

1 bible, 32.5 x 25 cm; two embroidered bookmarks and one typed sheet.

The publication forms part of the collection of bibles, service books, and religious publications collected by the church over the years and brought together by St. Peter's Cathedral Archives volunteers. The original accession number, now used as a locator, is 090881

The bible was presented to Camp Kingston in June 1988 and was donated to the Archives by Lois MacLaren via Gloria Jay. The inscription in the bible reads as follows: "This bible is presented to Camp Kingston Anglican Chapel by descendents [sic] of George Robert Beer and Lenora Ann (Weatherbie) Beer, with grateful appreciation and thanks to our forebears for their endurance and tenacity in those early years. June 1988."

Two embroidered bookmarks and a typed "historical note" about the Beer family were included with the bible. The typed note reads as follows:

"Historical Note.

In 1832 George Beer, his wife Sarah, and their ten children, the eldest of whom (George) was married to Mary Ann Holland, emigrated from Barnstable, Devon, to Prince Edward Island. On December 24, 1832 a son was born to George and Mary Ann and he was christened George Robert. In May 1855 George Robert Beer married Leonora Ann Weatherbie, in Boston, Mass. and this Bible, printing date 1854, was their Family Bible. They had ten children, of whom one daughter, Mary Ella and five sons survived.

Mary Ella Married Joseph Robinson Brecken and they had a son, who died unmarried, and a daughter, Winifred Ella, who married John Orlebar Hyndman. To them was born a daughter, Constance Vimy, who married Alan Gordon Macmillan, present members of St. Peter's Cathedral, Charlottetown. Of the five sons only three have descendents [sic] living today: Mrs. Constance Lastewka of Vegreville, Alberta, with no children; Mrs. Leonora Powell, of Victoria, British Columbia, with two daughters, both married; Bessie Beer, unmarried, in the Atlantic Baptist Nursing Home, Charlottetown and a member of St. Paul's Church; Betty Jean Beer, unmarried, living in London, England, but, visiting Prince Edward Island annually.

From the 1830's this family were successful merchants in Charlottetown, Centreville Bedeque and Southport. They played a prominent part in civic affairs, as Justices of the Peace, members of the Legislative Assembly, City Councillors [sic] and members of the Local Militia. In 1877 Colonel Henry Beer was Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and in 1885-6 he was Mayor of the City of Charlottetown."