Transcript below of the fragmentary image of Mary Dyer's letter to the Boston
court, 26 October 1659. Image courtesy of Massachusetts Archive. |
from marie dire to the generall court now this present 26th of the 8 moth 59assembled in the towne of boston in new Ingland greetings of grace mercyand peace to every soul that doth well : tribulation anguish and wrath to all that doth evell.Whereas it is said by many of you that I am guilty of mine owne death by mycoming as you cal it voluntarily to boston: I therefore declare unto every onethat hath an eare to hear: that in the fear peace and love of god I came and in weldoingdid and stil doth commit my soul and body to him as unto a faithful creatorand for this very end hath preserved my life until now through many trialls andtemptations having held out his royal scepter unto mee by wch I have accesseinto his presence and have found such favoure in his sight as to offer up mylife freely for his truth and peoples sakes : whom the enimie hath moved you against...
Yes, I have the scan of the entire document, front and back, which I'll be transcribing in my historical novel (now published, see http://marybarrettdyer.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html ).
Mary came to the end of the large sheet of textured paper, and turned it over to write six more lines, the ghost image you see behind the words in the middle of this fragment. On the right vertical edge of the paper are water stains which smeared the ink. Perhaps it was raining when the messenger carried her letter from the jail to the Massachusetts General Court, presided over by Governor John Endecott. The letter was folded at some point, and the paper has flaked away at some folds and edges, but for the most part, it's legible, even after more than 350 years!
For a look at William Dyer's handwriting, visit this link: a plea to Massachusetts General Court to redeem Mary Dyer from the death penalty. http://bit.ly/KZvbWN
For a look at William Dyer's handwriting, visit this link: a plea to Massachusetts General Court to redeem Mary Dyer from the death penalty. http://bit.ly/KZvbWN
What an amazing find! To think that handwriting is becoming a thing of the past...
ReplyDeleteComments from Facebook:
ReplyDeleteStacey Sellards-Robinson
Veeeerrry Niiiice Christy! excited for you! I would have LOVED to have seen you make that discovery! ;)
Kai Starr
I am never annoyed by exclamation marks, when they are used to represent true excitement or joy! ♥
Christy K Robinson
Thank you for understanding, Kai and Stacey. I'm so excited to have this primary source: my transcription bears little resemblance to the transcripts I've seen on the genealogy pages--NO SURPRISE THERE.
Jo Ann Butler
Holy Guacamole!
Carolyn Stone
Very exciting, Christy!!!
Christine Crocker
Wonderful! oh, how exciting Christy !!
Carolina M Capehart
HUZZAH!
Richard Cross
That's some interesting stuff! Really cool.
Gwynn Bell Coffey
That is wonderful.
Stephen Lillioja
Interesting lady. Is she family?