Year
1669
Sender Place
Manchester, England
Receiver
Ralph Pemberton
Receiver Place
[Aspull, Lancashire, England]
Repository holding original letter
Historical Society of Pennsylvania
Full Date
1669-02-09
Document Type
Transcription
Country, State, Location 1
53.480759, -2.242631
Country, State, Location 2
53.565216, -2.585102
Keywords
Phineas Pemberton, Manchester, Ralph Pemberton, Aspull, Nehemiah Poole, Roger Longworth, Quakers, Society of Friends, Imprisonment, Religious faith, Persecution
Abstract
Letter dated February 9, 1669 (January 30, 1669 Old Style) from Phineas Pemberton to his father, Ralph Pemberton, concerning his impending appearance at court following his arrest with several others for holding a meeting at Nehimiah Poole's house. Phineas asks if his father can come to Manchester in nine days. The purpose of the visit will be to assuage Phineas' mistress before his upcoming trial and to assure her that his father cares about him. Phineas makes it clear the visit is not for his sake as he views imprisonment as a test of faith. Phineas warns his father that his mistress might try to get Ralph to appear on Phineas' behalf. However, he does not want his father to appear on his behalf because of an oath his father might be required to take. Quaker belief prevented Friends from taking oaths, and not taking the oath subjected Friends to fines, forfeiture of goods, and imprisonment.
Transcription
Manchester January ye [the] 30th day 1669
Lo ffather [Loving Father] [Ralph Pemberton]
my duty to you remembered this is to acquaint you yt [that] I would have
you to be here ^Just^ 9 days hence for by that time I believe my
master will bee [be] att [at] home but how ever [however] whether he be att [at]
home or no I would have you be sure to com [come] because it
is my mistress mynd [mind] to speake [speak] with you before I go for
if you do not she it will make worse with mee [me] shee [she] will
but say yt [that] you ^are^ ne^c^ligent [negligent] of me or carless [careless] or to that purposse [purpose]
do not think yt [that] I send be=cause [because] I am any ways or in the
least dismayed for I am not, for by the strength of the Lord
I hope I can under go [undergo] greater afflictions then [than] this will bee [be]
for I can clearly say yt [that] I can go as chearfully [cheerfully] to the prison as
ever I went any Jorney [journey] [ink blotch: illegible] upon what ocation [occasion] so ever in all
ye [the] time of my life; for I canot [cannot] but reioyce [rejoice] to think yt [that] I am
counted worthy to suffer for ye [the] Lords sake, if you should com [come]
& [and] my mistress should put upon you or aske [ask] you whether
you would not be willing to give in bond for mee [me] to apeare [appear]
att [at] ye [the] sessions, I know yt [that] shee [she] will ^not^ be very urgent with you
for shee [she] is prettey [pretty] well satisfyed [satisfied] as it is & [and] I belive [believe] will be
willing to let me go, but I would have you be sure to com [come]
for if I should shee [she] should aske [ask] you to be bound for mee [me]
att [at] ye [the] sessions I would not have you for if I do apeare [appear]
att [at] sessions there are many snares for they may put the
oath upon us & [and] if wee [we] will not sweare [swear] then they may
ffine [Fine] us then who will & [and] if wee [we] do not pay the fine those
that have goods they will take there [their] goods & [and] those that
have none they must go to prison like wise [likewise], the ^wee^ [we] are
to be tryed [tried] by a Jury & [and] if thy [they] bring us in convicted
then they will fine us; so then if you shee [she] should aske [ask]
you as aforesaid your answer is but this you should
willingly give bond but you belive [believe] that it will my bring
in greater trouble so I would have ^you^ be sure to com [come] & [and]
there by [thereby] you may cleare [clear] your self [yourself] & [and] then shee [she] can hav [have] [page tear]
no ocation [occasion] to speak against you in saying you are necligent [negligent]
for shee [she] knows that I sent to you before to com [come] ^so^ do not
think that I shall beare [bear] the least thought in ^any^ case that
you ^will^ be necligent [negligent] of me for [page tear: I am not], but I would have
you to com [come] with=out [without] faile [fail] 9 days [henc?] [hence] for I do belive [believe] it
will be for the best so with my deare [dear] love to my
& [and] the rest of freinds [friends] & [and] neighbours [neighbors] & [and] Ellin I Rest your
Dutyfull [dutiful] son
Phinehas Pemberton [Phineas Pemberton]
HSP DAMS ID
15738
Language
english
Type
article
Format
application/pdf
Collection
PRINT Migration Network: Pemberton Correspondence Transcriptions
Citation
Phineas Pemberton, Manchester, England, to Ralph Pemberton, [Aspull, Lancashire, England], 1669-02-09, vol. 1, pg. 24, Pemberton Family Papers, 1641-1880, 0484A, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PRINT, 15738, https://stars.library.ucf.edu/printmigrationnetwork-pemberton/11/.