Judith Alsop commonplace book, late 18th century

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Judith Alsop commonplace book, late 18th century

https://hdl.handle.net/10079/bibid/7040806

Manuscript, in a single hand, of a collection of verse, prose, and copies of letters from friends and family members, many of which contain religious sentiments. Poems include "On the Shipwreck of Edith Lovell and Joseph Sparrow," a poem by Job Scott addressed to Mary Leadbeater dated 1793 as well as her reply in verse; "On the Death of a Young Woman," "On the Death of a Child," and the epitaph of Benjamin Franklin, "written by him, many years previous to his death." The author also copies of letters by Mary Peisly to her friends concerning "this subject of Faith, it is a Favourite theme which I can never to much ponder" and letters written to her by her brother Othniel, including several describing his journey from England to Philadelphia. He apologizes for not writing sooner, "the communication being stopped between Philadelphia New York (from whence the Packet sails for England) occasioned by the present dreadfull calamity which prevails at Philadelphia," of which calamity he notes, "At first it twas reported that neither Quakers, nor Negroes died of the disorder but the mortality has of late, been very considerable amongst friends...According to accounts the mortality is much greater in proportion to the Population of the Place, than dureing the plague at London when it was there." He also mentions hearing Joshua Evans, a Quaker minister: "this was the first person I heard preach in America, & a very lively minister he appears." The manuscript also contains several descriptions of deaths of acquaintances, including "A Short Account of Abigail the Wife of Henry Smith of Felsted in the County of Essex, left in wrighting by her son Peter Smith" and "A Short Memorial of Rachel Feith, with some Expressions she dropt dureing her last Illness."

1 v. (178 p.) ; 20 x 15 cm.

eng, Latn

Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library

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SNAC Resource ID: 8024649

Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Related Entities

There are 3 Entities related to this resource.

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6bs9j71 (person)

Benjamin Franklin FRS FRSA FRSE (January 17, 1706 [O.S. January 6, 1706] – April 17, 1790) was an American polymath who was active as a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher and political philosopher. Among the leading intellectuals of his time, Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, a drafter and signer of the United States Declaration of Independence, and the first United States postmaster general. As a scientist, he was a major figure in ...

Alsop, Judith.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6jq1mhk (person)

Leadbeater, Mary, 1758-1826

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6zc8n06 (person)

Mary Leadbeater [née Shackleton], Irish author. From the description of Mary Leadbeater manuscript material : 1 item, 1802 (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 697291983 ...