diff --git a/gramps/gen/db/base.py b/gramps/gen/db/base.py
index 34933b967..b5ec2f6ac 100644
--- a/gramps/gen/db/base.py
+++ b/gramps/gen/db/base.py
@@ -1844,3 +1844,27 @@ class DbWriteBase(DbReadBase):
         person.birth_ref_index = birth_ref_index
         person.death_ref_index = death_ref_index
 
+    def remove_instance(self, instance, transaction):
+        """
+        Given the instance of an object, delete it from the database.
+        """
+        if instance.__class__.__name__ == "Person":
+            self.remove_person(instance.handle, transaction)
+        elif instance.__class__.__name__ == "Place":
+            self.remove_place(instance.handle, transaction)
+        elif instance.__class__.__name__ == "Event":
+            self.remove_event(instance.handle, transaction)
+        elif instance.__class__.__name__ == "Repository":
+            self.remove_repository(instance.handle, transaction)
+        elif instance.__class__.__name__ == "Citation":
+            self.remove_citation(instance.handle, transaction)
+        elif instance.__class__.__name__ == "Source":
+            self.remove_source(instance.handle, transaction)
+        elif instance.__class__.__name__ == "Media":
+            self.remove_object(instance.handle, transaction)
+        elif instance.__class__.__name__ == "Note":
+            self.remove_note(instance.handle, transaction)
+        elif instance.__class__.__name__ == "Family":
+            self.remove_family(instance.handle, transaction)
+        else:
+            raise ValueError("invalid instance type: %s" % instance.__class__.__name__)