Just wanted to share something that recently happened to me. I was contacted on Ancestry by someone I don't know (nor am I related to) asking if I was related to a particular person, because they had a book which had belonged to this person and wanted it to go to a living relative. Naturally, I was a bit suspicious at first, but checked my tree and I was the 5th cousin, 3x removed and as far as I could tell, there were no others living (at least none which could be identified).
I finally responded and eventually agreed to accept the book. The person was thrilled and said he would 'pop it in the post' right away. The book arrived about 12 days later (UK to Canada).
The original owner received the book on his 29th birthday - 16 January 1875! Considering its age, it is in pristine condition, leather bound, about 3" by 5" and 1" thick, with gilding on the edges of the pages.
Each page has three days on the left with quotes from plays and sonnets, and on the right he has had relatives and friends write their name (and year of birth) beside the relevant day. He has most of his siblings and his wife's family as well. I have started researching and adding what I now know are the exact dates of birth (and occasionally death).
I am so grateful to this man for contacting me and entrusting me with this little book. He never asked for a penny (not even for the 5.30 cost of postage) and I made sure to send him back a picture of the book to let him know it had arrived safely.
I will keep it in a safe place together with my great grandfather's hymn book which my mother left me.
Hope everyone is well,
Cheers,
Ms_C
