THOMAS HIBBEN born 1760 & MARY ENTRIKEN born 1762

BIBLE PEDIGREE

The Thomas Hibben Family Bible is a quarto edition (9 inches by 12 inches) printed and sold by Isaac Collins in Trenton, New Jersey. The Bible is dated M. DCC. XCI. (1791). The best cotton rag paper available was used. It was made by an acid free process and the inks, except for the iron based ink used to make the hand written inscriptions, have not degraded the paper. So, the Bible has survived 212 years thus far without becoming brittle and illegible. The center sheets are yellowed (brown) more than other pages in the Bible due to the ink used, handling and more exposure to light. The original cover of the Bible was badly worn, probably while it was used by Thomas and Mary between 1793 and 1833. It was recovered during that time by stitching on a hand finished sheet of leather over the original leather cover. Some animal hair remains on the newer leather. The four page signatures are hand stitched and sewn into a cloth backing.

The title page reads as follows:

The Holy Bible containing the Old and New Testaments: Translated out of the Original Tongues: and with the former Translations diligently compared and revifed. Trenton: Printed and Sold by Isaac Collins. M. D C C. X C I.

FAMILY PAGES

Inserted between the Old Testament and the New Testament were two blank sheets of paper. On the front side of the first sheet, the deaths of Thomas and Mary Hibben and Jane Entriken are recorded. On the reverse side of the first sheet and on the front side of the second sheet, the births, marriages and deaths of Thomas and Mary's thirteen children are recorded. On the reverse side of the second sheet, the births of several of Thomas and Mary's grandchildren are recorded. As the births of Thomas and Mary's first six children appear to be recorded at the same time in the same hand and format, it is surmised that the Bible was purchased between September 1793 and March 1795, between the births of children number six and seven, Thomas and James.

BIBLE VERSION

The Bible is the King James Version. The New Testament was translated out of the original Greek and, with former translations and, reportedly, was diligently compared and revised.

POSSESSION

After the death of Thomas and Mary Entriken Hibben in Wilmington, Ohio, eldest son, John Hibben, was one of the executors of their estate. It is assumed that the Bible passed to John who, at that time, was living in nearby Hillsboro, Ohio. When John Hibben died in 1853, all of his surviving children had left Hillsboro, except his daughters, Sarah Jane and Harriet. John's youngest brother, Samuel E. Hibben, born 1804, was also living in Hillsboro at that time. It would seem logical to assume that the Bible passed from John Hibben upon his death in Hillsboro to Samuel. In turn, when Samuel died in 1885, the Bible most likely remained in his house on North High street, which then became the home of his son Joseph Mathew Hibben. Joseph's sister, Lavinia (Hibben) Dill, a widow, lived nearby.

In August, 1922, Samuel E. Hibben, born 1870, and his three sons drove his automobile from Chicago to Hillsboro to visit with his first cousins, once removed, Joseph and Lavinia. This Samuel E. Hibben was a descendant of Thomas Hibben, born 1793, another brother of the elder John and Samuel E. Hibben. The Bible may have passed on to Samuel E. Hibben during this visit.

It is known that the Bible was in the possession of Samuel E. Hibben when he drew up a family tree, shortly before his death in 1927. His wife, Grace, passed it on to Virginia (Hibben) Becker, born 1902, their oldest child. Sometime in the 1970s Virginia gave the Bible to her brother, George N. Hibben, born 1909. In addition to the Bible, there was a trunk of other source documentation which Samuel E. Hibben had accumulated. George gave the 'trunk' to his son, Thomas M. Hibben, born 1934. In 1983 Thomas' home in DeSoto, Wisconsin burned to the ground, destroying the trunk and its contents. Fortunately, Thomas' mother still had the Bible at her home in Winnetka, Illinois. After Thomas died, the Bible passed to Thomas' widow, Patricia. In November, 1997, Patricia delivered the Bible to George C. Hibben, born 1931, for preservation and documentation of the Hibben family history.

PRESERVATION

The Bible was evaluated by the Northeast Document Conservation Center in Andover, MA, and the recommended preservation actions were completed in May, 1998: 1) De-acidify the center pages with a non-aqueous alkaline vapor solution; 2) Construct an acid-free box for its storage; and 3) Photograph the center pages to provide duplicate documentation and a means of reproduction for distribution.

BIOGRAPHY OF ISAAC COLLINS

Isaac Collins was the premier printer in New Jersey during the last quarter of the 18th Century. Before the Revolutionary War, he was engaged by the British Crown and later by the State of New Jersey to print official documents.

The following excerpts about Isaac Collins are quoted from The History of Printing in America, with a Biography of Printers, and an Account of Newspapers.

Isaac Collins, was a native of Delaware. His parents were from England, and died in early life. He served his apprenticeship, until he was twenty years of age, with James Adams, at Wilmington. He then went, by the consent of Adams, who had but little business, and finished his apprenticeship with William Rind at Williamsburg, Virginia. When of age, he was employed by Goddard and others in Philadelphia; and for his extraordinary attention to business, received twenty-five per cent. more wages than other journeymen in the same printing house. For a short time he was the partner of Joseph Crukshank, in that city.

By the death of James Parker, there was an opening for the settlement of a printer in that colony. Collins embraced the opportunity; and, being supplied with a press, types, etc., by his late partner, he removed to, and began business in Burlington in 1770, and resided there for several years after the commencement of the war. In 1770 he was appointed printer to the government, or, 'to the King's Most Excellent Majesty,' as appears from the imprint of proclamations, etc., which issued from his press. In 1777 he began a newspaper.

He afterwards removed to Trenton, and there prosecuted his business for a number of years. He continued to be printer to the state, and at Trenton he printed a handsome and very correct quarto edition of the Bible; also, an edition in octavo of the New Testament; and several other books.

Collins was of the society of Friends, and was a correct and neat printer. He received much assistance from the Quakers in printing the Bible, particularly from those in Philadelphia, New Jersey and New York. He subsequently removed to New York, there set up his press, and continued active in book printing for some years. His parents dying when he was very young, he had nothing on which he could depend for his advancement in life, but his own exertions. After an attention to business for thirty-five years, he was enabled to retire and enjoy, in the society of his friends, the reward of his industry. He brought up, and educated in a reputable manner, a large family, and had a son a printer in New York. He died in March, 1817, in Burlington aged 71 years.

NEW JERSEY

Newspapers were not published in this colony before the declaration of independence.

THE NEW JERSEY GAZETTE,

was published at Burlington, December 3, 1777. It was printed weekly, on Wednesday, with a good, long primer type, and on a sheet of crown paper, folio. Imprint, 'Burlington: Printed by Isaac Collins. All Persons may be supplied with this Gazette for Twenty-six Shillings per Annum. Advertisements of a moderate Length are inserted for Seven Shillings and Six Pence for every continuance; and long Ones in proportion.' This paper was neatly printed, and well conducted. Its publisher, although of the society of Friends, was a firm supporter of the rights of his country; and he carefully avoided publishing any thing which tended to injure the religious, civil, or political interests of his fellow citizens. It was discontinued in 1786.

HISTORY OF BIBLE PRINTING INCLUDING THE ISAAC COLLINS BIBLE

The following information was found in The Bible In America, Versions that have played their part in the making of the Republic. It describes a shortage and the first printing of bibles, during and shortly after, the Revolutionary War. It also offers further insight into the publication process and the marketing of the Isaac Collins Bible.

Three efforts to publish English Bibles in America failed because the colonies were sparsely settled, in an early day, and the difficulties attending such work in a new country were great. Bibles, however, were imported freely from England and Holland, but when the colonies declared their independence, the matter soon became serious. Books could not be so easily imported, and there soon followed a general destitution of Bibles, as well as other books, which was keenly felt. How long such conditions would continue nobody could say.

The matter was considered of such importance that it was brought to the attention of the Continental Congress. . . .by petition in 1777 which stated: 'The use of the Bible is so universal and its importance so great, that your Committee refer the above to the consideration of Congress, and if Congress shall not think it expedient to order the importation of types and paper, the committee recommend that Congress will order the Committee of Congress to import 20,000 Bibles from Holland, Scotland, or elsewhere, into the different parts of the States of the Union.' Accordingly, Congress resolved to import 20,000 copies of the Bible, which, however, was never done.

Unsatisfied, Robert Aitken of Philadelphia announced in 1781 his intention to publish the whole Bible, not just the New Testament. Congress concurred:

Resolved, That the United States Congress assembled, highly approve the pious and laudable undertaking of Mr. Aitken, as subservient to the interest of religion as well as the progress of the arts in this country, and being satisfied from the above report, of his care and accuracy in the execution of the work, they recommend this edition of the Bible to the inhabitants of the United States, and hereby authorize him to publish this recommendation in the manner he shall think proper.

The Robert Aitken Bible, published in Philadelphia in 1782, was the King James Version, and the first English Bible printed in America openly and with an American imprint, is now being the rarest of all the early American Bibles. His New Testaments are also rare. Most of the copies of the Bible are more or less defective from excessive use or abuse. This Bible is important because it is part of our national history, having been the only Bible ever recommended by Congress. The action of Congress in voting to import 20,000 Bibles, and in recommending this Bible to the public, indicates the fact that the founders of the republic were believers in the Bible.

Mr. Aitken's Bible was not a financial success. After the withdrawal of the British, less expensive imported bibles were again available. In an attempt to recoup his investment, he appealed in 1789 to Congress to grant him a patent giving him the exclusive right to print bibles in American for fourteen years. Congress denied him the patent, opening the door to printers in each of the new States, including, of course, Isaac Collins.

The publication of the King James Version spread very rapidly, twenty editions of the whole Bible. . . .being published before 1800.

The dates of the first printing of the whole Bible by states are as follows: Pennsylvania - 1782 by Robert Aitken; New Jersey - 1791 by Isaac Collins; Massachusetts - 1791 by Isaiah Thomas; New York - 1792 by Hugh Gaine; Connecticut - 1798; Delaware -1812; New Hampshire -1815.

The first printing in New Jersey was done at Woodbridge, but the first publication of the Scriptures was at Trenton. Bible printing began here in 1788, when Isaac Collins, a Quaker, published a New Testament. In 1789 he issued a proposal to publish the whole Bible when he received 3,000 subscriptions. The undertaking was endorsed by the governor of New Jersey, William Livingston. Various Christian bodies also endorsed it, among which were the Quakers, the Presbyterian General Assembly, Protestant Episcopal Convention, and the Baptist Association. His Bible was published at Trenton in 1791, in an edition of 5,000 copies.

Instead of the usual dedication to the King James Version, this Bible is provided with an address 'To the Reader' by the Rev. Dr. Witherspoon. This address was printed in numerous Bibles in America by different printers over a period of thirty years.

Collins took unusual care to prevent printer's mistakes. Committees were appointed to correct the proofs, and, in addition to this precaution, the proofs were read eleven times by his own children. It is said that only two errors were ever found after its publication�one a broken letter, the other a punctuation mark.

Another book, Early Bibles of America, describes in detail Isaac Collins' solicitation of endorsements for the Bible from the Governor of New Jersey, the Friends, the Presbyterian General Assembly, the Protestant Episcopal Church, and the Baptist Association. It also provides his 1789 proposal which reads as follows:

Proposals for publishing by Subscriptions, by Isaac Collins in Trenton, The Holy Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments; with the Apocrypha and Marginal Notes.

CONDITIONS.

I. This work, to be contained in one large volume, quarto, of nine hundred and eighty-four pages, will be reprinted page for page, with the Oxford edition on a beautiful new type and good paper. An Index and a Concordance will be added; and also the Scripture measures and weights and coins.

II. The price to Subscribers for the Volume, well bound, Four Spanish Dollars; One Dollar to be paid at the time of subscribing, the remainder on the delivery of the book.

III. The Work to be put to press as soon as three thousand copies shall be subscribed for and to be finished without delay.

CONCLUSION

While the Isaac Collins Bible was not the first whole Bible printed in America, it is the oldest edition which, due to the fine quality of the paper, inks, binding and workmanship, remains in usable condition. The value of the Hibben family's copy is enhanced by the records it contains of the Thomas Hibben and Mary Entriken family.

TRANSCRIPTION OF FAMILY PAGES

Page 1.

Mary Hibben wife and Consort of Thomas Hibben Departed this Life on the 14th day of July in the year of our Lord 1830 in the 69th year of her age.

Thomas Hibben Departed this life on Sunday 12th May in the year of our Lord 1833 in the 73d year of his age.

Jane Entriken Departed this life at her residence in Union Town Fayette County Pennsylvania on Tuesday 12 September 1843 in the Sixty seventh year of her age.

Page 2.

1) John Hibben Son of Thomas and Mary Hibben was born July the 4th In the year of Our Lord 1785 Was Married the 15th of September 1808 - Died Nov. 13th 1853

2) Samuel Hibben Son of Thomas and Mary Hibben was Born March the 17th In the year of Our Lord 1787 Departed this life July 3d 1797 about sunset --

3) George Hibben Son of Thomas and Mary Hibben was Born July 20th In the year of Our Lord 1788

4) William Hibben Son of Thomas and Mary Hibben was Born February the 14 In the year of Our Lord 1790 Being Valentines Day --

5) Rebeckah Hibben Daughter of Thomas and Mary Hibben was Born the 24 of November In the year of Our Lord 1791 Was married the 10th day of May 1810 Departed this Life on May the 14 1827

6) Thomas Hibben son of Thomas and Mary Hibben was Born September 13 In the Year 1793

7) Jas: Hibben Son of Thomas and Mary Hibben was Born March 23d 1795 at Ten at Night

Page 3.

8) Mary Hibben Daughter of Thomas and Mary Hibben was Born January the ninth One Thousand Seven Hundred & Ninety seven at 6 O'clock in the Morning 1797 Was married on the 14th Day of December 1830 to Charles Burr --

9) Phebe Hibben Daughter of Thomas and Mary Hibben was Born the Fifth Day of August in the year of Our Lord 1798

10) Ruth Hibben Daughter of Thomas and Mary Hibben was Born the Fourth day of April in the Year of Our Lord 1800 Departed this Life On the 19th of August 1802

11) Betsy Hibben Daughter of Thomas and Mary Hibben was born the fifth Day of November In the Year of Our Lord 1802 Was married to Charles Kelley on the 18 day of February 1830

12) Samuel E. Hibben Son of Thomas & Mary Hibben Was Born the First Day of April in the year of Our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred & Four 1804 Married Margaret Galloway _____ 1827

13) Jane Hibben Daughter of Thomas & Mary Hibben Was Born the Last Day of February in the year of Our Lord 1807 Married on the 28th day of September 1826

[Note: The children are numbered on the Bible pages].

Page 4.

Mary Miller Daughter of James and Rebeka Miller was Born the 12 day of June in the Year of Our Lord 1811 -- And Departed this Life the 17 day of Decbr 1812 Aged One year Six Months and five Days --

Eliza Miller Daughter of James and Rebecka Miller was Born the 3d Day of June in the Year of Our Lord 1813 --

Mary Elizabeth Sesler Daughter of Thomas & Jane Sesler was Born the 5 day of September 1827

William H. Stanton Son of William and Rebecka Stanton was Born October the - 15 - 1825

John Stanton Son of William and Rebecka Stanton Was Born April - 28 - 1827

Rebeka Burr Daughter of Charles and Mary Burr was Born Novbr 12th 1831

Back To Home