I love doing this kind of research...would you mind?

I love doing this kind of research...would you mind?

Thank you for your offer, Leslie - as yet, I am not quite sure in which direction I should research! Of course, I have already done quite a bit on the author. I really would appreciate any other opinions as to the appropriate course of action, if any.

salix, quite an interesting conundrum!
I had never heard of Spencer Hall but found he was quite an interesting Dr. who called himself a hydropathetic Consultant (1871 census). I realise you have probably done lots of research on him but I did check the English 1871 census for John Gaukroger who might be 'yours'. He and his family were living in Castle Lodge Todmorden Yorks and he was described as a 'cotton manufacturer'. There was one other John Gaukroger listed but he seemed to be of a very humble family unlikely to have been in contact with Dr Hall.
There are certainly several Gaukroger's living in the Yorkshire area today (several obits in the northern papers) so maybe you could get in touch with one of them and see if they are interested. As the book is in bad condition a family member might be interested for sentimental reasons only . . . although Yorkshire folk are known to be practical and possibly 'hard-headed' ;-)
I'm not familiar with that part of the country so don't know if I could do more to help.

Great topic Salix. Don't mean to highjack this thread, but I actually have a similar dilemma with an old book, and anyone who wants to research it for me is welcome! I've tried so far in vain. Here's the info:

Gorgeous 1845 Ladies National Magazine, ed. Ann S. Stephens (Philadelphis: Charles J. Peterson). Bound in leather with spectacular illustrations/colored plates.

First inscription on inside cover: Miss Charlotte T. Hatfield, July 1846, New York

Second inscription on facing page: Harry Perceval Garthwaite, from his mother, October 2nd, 1864.

In another hand, printed above this inscription: Garthwaite old Manse, "Wattisfield" in Suffolk, meeting house here where Great Grandfather Garthwaite preached.

I would love to know the connection between Miss Hatfield and Harry Garthwaite (presumably mother and son?) and the connection of the Garthwaites' to Suffolk. I looked carefully through the book and could not find a story or illustration of the "meeting house," so it is unknown why someone referenced it in this inscription.

Veer, thank you very much for your input, and particularly your information on the Gaukroger family. Yes, it would probably be of historical or sentimental value only - but thought it would be the right thing to do, or at least to make the attempt.

marita, I can't find your Miss Charlotte T Hatfield but had more luck with 'Great Grandfather Garthwaite'.
He was William Garthwaite, the minister of the Congregational Church in Wattisfield Suffolk (refereed to in your book as the 'Meeting House'.

He is listed in the 1841 census as about 53 years old, Sarah 53 years and with a daughter Ann 20.
His occupation is Dissenting Minister
(dissenting in this context means he was not ordained in the C of E)

I found this about him by typing into google "Garthwaite Wattisfield"

The Rev. William Garthwaite, from Cratfield, accepted
an unanimous invitation from this church, and came to Wattis-
field with his family, August 5th, 1817. He was recognized as
pastor on the 15th September, 181 8. The Rev. J. H. Cox, of
Hadleigh, introduced the service ; the Rev. W. Ward, of Stow-
market, delivered a discourse on the nature of a gospel church,
and asked the questions ; the Rev. C. Dewhirst, of Bury, offered
prayer; the Rev. J. M. Ray, of Sudbury, addressed the pastor
and people ; and the Rev. T. Hickman, of Lavenham, concluded
by prayer.

On December 19th, 1827, Mrs. Garthwaite died suddenly
whilst her husband was gone to bring his daughters home for
their holidays. This melancholy event produced a great excite-
ment, and evoked a considerable sympathy for the bereaved
family. The Rev. W. Ward, of Stowmarket, officiated at the
funeral and preached, on the following Sabbath, to a crowded
congregation, from Matt. xxiv. 44.

Mr. Garthwaite continued in the pastorate till 1847, when he
resigned. He afterwards, November nth, 1847, married Ann,
widow of the Rev. J. Elborough, formerly of Thetford. He died
at Great Ayton, Yorkshire, November 20th, 1854.*

When I have more time I'll look up the later census returns for other family members . . . it has a VERY slow search engine. ;-(

veer, thanks so much for the response. After posting, I decided to try the search again. I had done it a few year's ago, and found SO much more on the web this time, including the information you posted above. I worked for about 12 hours over several days, and also searched ancestry online. The result was that I found out the following: when the English Garthwaite's emigrated to America,when Charlotte Hatfield married Harry Garthwaite in New Jersey, when Harry Percival and his several siblings were born, and when the family moved to Alameda CA--where they were considered pioneers of the state. While Harry Percival Garthwaite seems to have died fairly young without marrying or having children (he went mining in Mexico and drops off all records), I did trace the lineage of the several other siblings successfully to--well--about a million living Garthwaites (and related names by marriage), many of whom are still in and around Alameda. I tried to find any of them who might be doing genealogy online, to no avail. So I'm in a moral quandry: which one of the many descendents would I contact? And do I want to give up my very nice old book to someone who may not care in the least about either the book or family history??

Yes, I sympathize with your moral quandary, just as with my dilemma - do I send it off to someone who "does not care in the least about either the book or family history"? I would hate to think of the lovely illustrations torn out for sale and not kept with the book and inscription.