The collection consists of one Holy Bible belonging to William and Carrie Sherwood Gilmore Upjohn and two Cottage Bibles belonging to Maria and Cyrus Sherwood.

The Cottage Bible was first printed in London in 1825-27 and was reprinted many times. Rev. William Patton (1798-1879) added extensive notes and edited the American edition, where it was first published in 1833-34. The Bible was primarily designed for home use, and a home Bible study today is still sometimes called a “Cottage Bible Study.” The notes were designed for teachers of Bible classes and Sabbath schools who were not able to afford the more expensive Matthew Henry or Thomas Scott versions.

The Cottage Bible Volume 1 of the collection was printed in 1861 and Volume 2 was printed in 1862. Volume 2 includes pages for marriages, deaths and births. The Sherwood family recorded their family’s information for a few family members. Both bibles belonged to Cyrus G. and Maria C. Sherwood. The invitation included with Volume 2 was for the “Service of Installation of the Rev. Walter B. Dickinson as Pastor” at the First Congregational Church. The other handwritten note included with the bible is a family description by Loyal Williams, describing his relation to the Gilmores. In his note he explains that his grandfather, Oreb A. Williams, “…was the brother of the Gilmore boys’ mother’s mother,” (their great uncle).

The Holy Bible published by Thomas Nelson & Sons, New York, 1901, belonged to William E. Upjohn and Carrie C. Upjohn. This is inscribed on the inside cover in gold lettering. “March 18th, 1917” is also included, but the significance of the date is unknown.