RECORD: The Darwin family Bible. EH88203302. (John van Wyhe ed., 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Photographed by Down House volunteers, with thanks to Sabrina Villani. Transcribed and edited by John van Wyhe 12.2025. RN1
NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with the permission of English Heritage (Darwin Collection at Down House) and William Huxley Darwin.
Introduction by John van Wyhe
The Darwin Family Bible has never been reproduced before. Here Emma Darwin's notes on the children are transcribed. The Darwins may have acquired this Bible around the time of their marriage in 1839 as it was printed only the year before. Like many English families, the inside front cover and end papers were used to record the births of the children, their vaccinations and diseases. A few passages are marked in pencil in the Gospel of John, also by Emma Darwin. Darwin's granddaughter, Gwen Raverat (1885-1957), mentioned the Bible when writing of her eccentric and hypochondriac Aunt Etty (Darwin's daughter Henrietta):
"Aunt Etty wrote to Charles [Galton Darwin (1887-1962)] at Cambridge, asking him to look in the Down family Bible to find out whether she had had the disease herself, as she did not want to catch it. He was not able to find the Bible at once—it was in a box at the bank—so she wrote again, very urgently. Upon which he had the satisfaction of replying by telegram: 'Yes, you had chicken-pox in August 1845.' (All the illnesses and vaccinations are carefully recorded in the Down Bible, but it does not look as if it had been much used for anything else.)" Period piece (1952)
There are a few annotations made after Emma Darwin's death in 1896, showing the family tradition of recording personal details continued. The Bible was presented to Down House by Mr George Darwin in 1968. It's widely known that Darwin was once intended for the clergy by his family. He lost his faith shortly after the voyage of the Beagle, as recounted in his Autobiography (CUL-DAR26.1-121). Emma Darwin was indeed a devout Christian, though of the very liberal Unitarian persuasion like her Wedgwood family. The modern idea that there was religious disagreement between the couple or that Darwin had any notion of upsetting her with his scientific theories is pure fiction.
[spine]
[scroll up to see introduction]
HOLY BIBLE
[front cover]
[front inside cover]
William Erasmus Darwin born 27th. Decr. 1839 registered St Pancras.
Vaccinated twice . . . . . . . . Feb & Dec 17 1840
Chicken Pox . . . . . . . . . . . . . Aug. 1845
Measles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nov. 1855
Scarlet Fever . . . . . . . . . {April 12th 1853. Decr 1st 1854 May 1855}
Hooping Cough . . . . . . . . reg. St Pancras
Anne Elizabeth Darwin born March 2. 1841.
Died Malvern. Ap. 23d. 1851
Vaccinated . . . . . . . . . . May 26. 1841 Ap 6 1844
Chicken Pox . . . . . . . . . . . . Aug 1845
Measles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Scarlet Fever . . . . . . . . . . . Nov. 1849
Hooping Cough . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Mary Eleanor Darwin born Sept 23d 1842.
Vaccinated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . died Down
Chicken Pox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oct. 16th. 1842.
Measles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Scarlet Fever . . . . . . . . . . .
Hooping Cough . . . . . . . . . .
Henrietta Emma Darwin born Sept 25th. 1843 reg. Down
Vaccinated Ap. 6 1844 & Dec. 1845: July 1854. June 59
Chicken Pox . . . . . . . . . . . Aug. 1845
Scarlet fever – Nov. 1849
Hooping Cough Mar 1855
Measles Jan. ? [entry scratched out]
[page i]
George Howard Darwin born July 9 1845 registered at Down
vaccinated Dec 1845 & again Aug. 27
Chicken Pox — Aug. 1845
Measles June. 1858
Scarlet Fever
Hooping Cough Mar 1855
Died Dec 7th 1912
Elizabeth Darwin born July 8 1847 registered Down
Vaccinated Aug. 27 & {again in 1849 again in 1850 & June. 59. & May 63.
Chicken pox
Measles
Scarlet fever Nov. 1849
Hooping cough Mar 1855
Measles. Jan. 1860
Francis Darwin born Aug 16 1848 Down
vaccinated 4 times tho did not seem to take perfectly last June 1849
again in 1850 and again in 1851 : vaccinated with trace of effect, July 1854. June 59 May 63
hooping cough. Mar 1855
Measles Jan. 1860
Leonard Darwin born Jan. 15. 1850. Down
vaccinated June 1850 & Aug. also May 63 with effect. June 59
Hooping cough Mar 1855
Measles Jan. 1860
Scarlet fever June. 1862
Horace Darwin born May 13 1851 Down.
vaccinated Dec 1851: July 1854: June. 59. May 63
Mar. 1855 hooping cough measles Jan. 1860
Charles Waring Darwin Dec 6 1856
vaccinated same year. Died June 28th. 1858
[page ii]
Horace Darwin born May 13 1851
vaccinated Dec. 1851 July 1854
hooping cough March 55
Charles Waring Darwin born Dec 6. 1856
vaccinated June. 1857.
[page iii]
George Darwin I
[title page]
THE
HOLY BIBLE,
CONTAINING THE
OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS:
TRANSLATED OUT OF THE ORIGINAL TONGUES; AND WITH THE FORMER TRANSLATIONS DILIGENTLY COMPARED AND REVISED, BY HIS MAJESTY'S SPECIAL COMMAND.
APPOINTED TO BE READ IN CHURCHES.
CUM PRIVILEGIO.
CAMBRIDGE:
PRINTED AT THE PITT PRESS
JOHN WILLIAM PARKER, UNIVERSITY PRINTER.
M.DCCC.XXXVIII.
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Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 26 December, 2025