GINGEALOGY.BLOGSPOT.COM: William Gingell of Bath

I received an email from Alex Gingell in Malta back in December 2006, but somehow managed to mis-file it until now. My apologies to Alex, but here as promised is his email -

Back a couple of years ago you had forwarded to me a contact from Helsinki, Louise Ahonen-Park, who thought that we have same distant ancestors. Well that was true, and from then on we kept in touch to these days.

Sometime after, Louise informed me that her parents, Robert and Elizabeth Park, were to visit Malta for a holiday and asked me if I was ready to have a chat with them over a drink. With pleasure, I responded that I will look after them during their holiday in our splendid island. Together with my wife Joan, I called for them at the airport on their arrival and drove them to the hotel. Robert kindly offered us a drink at the lounge. Robert carried a leather case that appeared heavily loaded. On sitting at table, Robert placed the case on the table, ceremoniously opened it and pronounced that he had a gift for me. The object was wrapped in paper that left little space around in the case. Unfolding the gift, a voluminous old Bible was revealed. Robert disclosed that he had inherited the bible but only kept it due to its antiquity. William Gingell was a nonentity for him, but only recognised the connection when his daughter Louise started delving into the family history.

Turning over the board cover, on the cover-inside Robert pointed to pasted ornamental bookplate. Printed on the bookplate was ‘Wm. Gingell’. Drawing his index finger towards the flyleaf, there was written with a steady hand in black ink ‘Wm Gingell Bath 1767’ possibly William’s own hand-writing. I could not believe it. I wondered if I was in a trance. Joan later told me that never did she ever see my face glowing red as at that particular moment. Robert selflessly uttered “This must belong to you”. Never did I ever dream that I would be in possession of such a family treasure.

The Bible – or more appropriately – The Evangelical Expositor or a Commentary on the Holy Bible – is the work of the Reverend Thomas Haweis (1734 – 1820) and printed in London in 1766. It contains no pictures but it is occasionally embellished with elegant ornamental engravings. I have a feeling that Haweis contracted William Gingell to do the engravings and later presented him with a copy, taking into consideration the closeness of the date of printing and that inscribed in ink. For many years Haweis was chaplain to Lady Huntingdon’s Chapel at Bath, where he died in 1820, a few months after the demise of William and, likewise, was buried in the Abbey.

Robert and Elizabeth are indeed two adorable persons. We spent memorable days taking them to the most interesting places of historical interest and hosted them for dinner at home where we also had our children and their spouses and grandchildren; another time at a restaurant together with my brothers and sisters and their spouses.

I will remain indebted to Robert Park and his family for his most generous gesture of parting from a family heirloom to a distant relative whom he had never met or known before. My gratitude is also directed to Louise who certainly gave her share in her parents’ decision. Honestly, I am not sure if I would have been able to do likewise, but since then I did not find it hard to part with a few original old photos and other artifacts that had somehow found their way to my family but should really have been in possession of the direct descendants.

The Bible, a precious family treasure, is now standing prominently at home on a mahogany book-stand.