A BIBLE which once belonged to a Kirkheaton family in the early 1800s has been found in a box of junk in London.

The Family Bible lists members of a local family and was passed down through generations of the Jessop and Halstead or Holstead family.

Amateur genealogist Sally Connor was handed the bible by her brother-in-law who found it in an old warehouse.

Mrs Connor, who lives in Cumbria, has now traced the names listed in the bible. She hopes to find living descendants of the family and hand it back to them.

Mrs Connor said: “I think it was found while an old warehouse was being emptied and was among a box of other things.

“It was passed on to me because I love seeing things like it and I’ve had it for a couple of years.

“Over the last few weeks I’ve started to do a bit of research and looked up the family and found out some interesting things.

“It would be good to hand it back to this generation of the family if they can be traced.”

The bible once belonged to a David Jessop who married Martha Dyson in 1793 at Kirkheaton.

The bible then lists their son Richard Jessop, who was born in 1812.

It goes on to name a John Halstead (Holstead) who was born in 1829 who married Martha Jessop who was born in 1828.

It lists their children ending with David Jessop Halstead who was born in 1864. Through her research, Mrs Connor has since discovered that the Halstead’s lived in Elland and Greetland on the census dated as late as 1881.

She added: “The bible is not in the best condition, but it is a wonderful thing and I am sure somebody out there must know they descend from this family and would like it.”

If anybody has information about the bible they are asked to contact Sally Connor at connor.s2@sky.com