William Whinfrey

[sophy]

I can well understand and approve your caution.
I have spoken to my eldest sister who is the real family historian. She tells me that after the death of my aunt her children may have given all her boooks to OXfam or were taken by house clearance people. Either could have put it on Ebay. These things happen!
By way of confirming my link with the Whinfreys, I can offer the following. At the front of the Bible there was a list of children, marriages, etc. My great great grandfather William married Eliza in December 1883, and their eldest daughter Florence was born in May 84. This embarassed her later in life, so she changed the marriage date to 1882. My maternal grandmother Ethel was Flo's sister, and her brother William was the one killed in 1916. Eliza Whinfrey died before her son William, before the Great War.
The letter from William's commanding officer was signed Alderson (or something very similar). It is the loss of this letter which has concerned us most.This is what we most regret losing, but we have no oidea what else might be in the Bible.
We are not especially bothered about the Bible itself, but any contents we would be most gratful for. 

[Teessearcher]

I am so pleased that at long last I have found William`s family.  I have for many years been looking for my own family bible, and had certain key word searches on eBay. One being Kitchener as it was one of my father's middle names.  Kitchener brought up your family bible as the condolence card signed by Lord Kitchener is also in the bible for the death of William.  I have traced his/your family tree and also put the message on rootschat which you found.
The contents are significant, Alderson was Williams friend (don't think he was Williams commanding officer) his note is written on the outside of an envelope in pencil. Inside the envelope is a pressed Lily which Alderson picture picked from near his grave.  Obviously now very fragile as almost 100 years old.
I want the bible and contents to be returned to the family, as you can understand my caution that it is not resold.  I did think it must have been taken in a house clearance.

[sophy]

I was about to send to you that unless you want to keep the bible we would be happy to take it and pay whatever it cost. We are so pleased to have discovered that the letter still exists, and we are all most grateful to you for trying to find William's family.
All that remains is to make arrangements. I would be able to pick it up as the safest way of transport, but I will leave that entirely to you. I am living near Nottingham, and I understand that you are in the north east - which I know quite well.
This is really exciting!

[Teessearcher]

My email is er.redfern (at) btopenworld.com

I think this is a better way to communicate now!  Then we can make arrangements for the safe return of your family history!

[JonnyCrawshaw]

Hello
I realise this is an old thread but just came across it and so posting on the off chance that you’re still active. I’d be fascinated to see pictures of the Whinfrey Bible and the letter to William (Snr) following William’s death.

My Grandad was born at The Red Lion and the William killed in WW1 was his Uncle (William the landlord was his Grandad but his mum and dad took over when William snr moved to Sheffield).

My mum knew Ethel as Auntie Et - my Grandad’s mum was her sister - and we have a lovely poem that was written about the Red Lion when William & Eliza had it that names all the (then) children and something of their character. I’d be happy to swap info / pictures, etc.