Page 40 - Hindsight Issue 26 April 2020

BooKs
Both Michael and Kaye emphasised the historical importance of this book and its author. Hall’s religious ideas were very different from the religious thinking of the period. this was at a time when religious argument and debate would contribute to the beginning of the english Civil War, when it was thought, by some, that King Charles I was taking the country back to Rome and Catholicism.
Who was samuel Harlock sharp? Carolyn informed me that samuel was born in Finedon on 30 March 1789 to Benjamin and Catherine sharp and that one of his siblings, Mary, was married to Richard Jaquest, of Finedon. this additional information was to send me on another path of research into this significant book.
Samuel Harlock Sharp owned the book in the 19th century. (Photo Courtesy of Dr. Ruth Groome Kertz)
By a very fortunate coincidence I met Dr. Ruth groome Kurtz of toronto (now a society member) in september 2018. Ruth was visiting Finedon researching her Jaquest family line – Mary and Richard Jaquest were the grandparents of Ruth’s grandmother, Ruth emmeline Jaquest groome. since our first meeting Carolyn and I have exchanged emails with Ruth, assisting her with several family research and Finedon local history matters.
I contacted Ruth to tell her of the discovery of this book, inscribed by samuel, her 3rd great uncle. Ruth was delighted with the news and provided me with a photograph of samuel, annotated on the reverse, and copies of two letters, written by him in 1841 and 1862. these letters give a valuable insight into his work and life as an itinerant Baptist Minister and Lecturer of temperance in the coalfields of south Wales.
the next step was to decide where the book should go – it is too historic and valuable a book to be put away never to be seen again. Due to the obvious connection with exeter Cathedral I checked their online Library and Archive catalogue. they have five books and a large collection of papers and sermons written by Bishop Joseph Hall, but it did not list this specific book.
I considered that exeter Cathedral Library and Archives would be the best way forward as a suitable potential home for the book based upon the fact that it
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