Jane started a family bible that was brouth to this country by her brother David as a gift from her parents Mark & Ann (Hancock) Strattan, Jean recorded the traditional family info throughout her life. When she died the bible was passed to her youngest daughter , Rebekah, the start of the bible's tradition of being passed to the youngest daughter in the next generation. She also included info about her father's second wife Theodocia Briggs (King) Norcross and their three sons. Rebekah's marriage to Andrew Helverston, and the records of their children, was recorded. The bible then went to Rebekah's youngest daughter, Theodocia. It was Theodocia who recorded the deaths of her parents. At that point the records cease. Theodocia never recorded her own marriage or the names of any children, perhaps because all of the blank pages had been filled or she started her own family bible.
Recorded in Jeans own hand her name is" Jean", it was later recorded by her daughter Rebekah as "Jane". That is not the only place the names have changed in that family. Many of the "Strattans" eventually became "Strattons", with the exception of one line , that of Jean's brother David. His family still maintains the Strattan spelling. The Helverston name appears to have been changed by Rebekah's family to "Elberson"
Family legend has it that the bible was displayed in a glass and velvet case at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, but has not been proven as of yet.
Jean's bible came to J.A. Hammonds through his mother as it went to her through her mother. He has since passed it to his daughter. He has been unable to find the connection between Thedocia Helverston and his mother Marion Perkins.
