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Transcribe Martha Powell page 03a
in Martha Powell
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She Deseas'd young - at the 5th year
of my age & in my tender years
I drank in the delights of the world
as Dancing & mirth, with all viggous
yet often in Church I was Disolv'd
in tears in hearing the Epistels
& Gospels Read & perticuler such
as mention'd the Passion & suffering
of our Dear Saviour
But on my being under a step-
mother, at my 15th year I left them
hiering myself out, from place
to place in Oxford where on Account
of my fIne aire in Dancing I was
much esteem'd by the Rich jentrey
About the 1735 & the 31st year of my
age I became at times trubilled &
uneasey by means of som Law preac-
hers that kept Society meetings
in the citty at which time I liv'd
with the Rever'd Mr. Wilder whos
Wife on perceiving my Behaviours
chang'd her temper us'd all possible means to
to turn & Divert me from it. but as
she therby avail'd nothing she chan'd
her
NEW PAGE (same photo)
her behaviour to all reviling cursing
& the most vulger scandellous
expresuins, on which I left her
After this I once being sent for
earnestly desiering Ide com to a
great Ball of Gentelmen & Ladies
but on my refusing there came to
me on of these asshewering me
the Ball could not be properly carri'd
on without me, on which I consent'd
but just in the beginning of this my
last Dance I was struck with such
Anguish, pain, & Horrours that I with
hast got out, earnestly beseeching
the Lord to bare & have mercy on
me, in so great a sin, against Better
knowledg - this was the heaviest
Night I as yet ever felt # now I
kept dilligent to my sociatey meeting.
as also to Church, & sacrament, every
sonday with, & amoungst the so cal'd
Methodists. at which time Brother [Keswich?]
J. Gambold & som others kept the Meetings
once about the year 39 I had the
most Hellish Night wherin my eyes
were