Museum finds living descendants of famed author

The Browns were presented with a specially printed version of the family tree

Living descendants of a famed author have been found, following an online appeal.

The family tree of 17th Century writer and preacher John Bunyan, best known for The Pilgrim's Progress, has been on display in Moot Hall Museum, Elstow, the Bedfordshire village in which he was born.

But it has now been updated after museum volunteer Clive Arnold identified a family with the surname Brown, directly descended from Bunyan's daughter Sarah and her husband William Brown.

The Browns were presented with a copy of the revised tree during a ceremony at Moot Hall on Wednesday.

For the first time the family tree shows living relatives of John Bunyan

The Pilgrim's Progress, first published in 1678, is considered by some to be the first modern novel and has never been out of print.

Mr Arnold began compiling Bunyan's family tree 35 years ago.

"This gradually grew, as I and others found more of his descendants. I hoped that, one day, I might just find some living descendants," he said.

In recent years, a local historian found that the previously last known decedents of the Brown family had children.

Mr Arnold appealed online for anybody suspecting they were related to come forward, then confirmed the lineage through parish records research.

Sarah Gallagher, Bedford Borough Council's Conservative portfolio holder for customer experience, leisure and culture, said: "This is a remarkable celebration of Bedford's rich literary and community heritage.

"Unveiling the living descendants of John Bunyan not only deepens our connection to his legacy but also highlights the importance of preserving local history for generations to come."