Record Number: 23080

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'The last time that Mrs Fry was on board the Maria, whilst she lay at Deptford, was one of those solemn and interesting occasions that leave a lasting impression on the minds of those who witness them. There was a great uncertainty whether the poor convicts would see their benefactress again. She stood at the door of the cabin, attended by her friends and the Captain; the women on the quarter-deck facing them. The sailors, anxious to see what was going on, clambered into the rigging, on to the capstan, or mingled in the outskirts of the group. The silence was profound - when Mrs Fry opened her Bible, and in a clear audible voice, read a portion from it. The crews of the other vessels in the tier, attracted by the novelty of the scene, lent over the ships on either side and listened apparently with great attention; she closed the Bible, and after a short pause, knelt down on the deck, and implored a blessing on this work of Christian charity from that God, who, though one may sow and another water, can alone give the increase. Many of the women wept bitterly, all seemed touched'

Century:

1800-1849

Date:

Between 1 Jan 1818 and 31 Dec 1818

Country:

England

Time

daytime

Place:

city: London, Deptford
specific address: Maria convict ship
other location: on a convict ship

Type of Experience
(Reader):
 

silent aloud unknown
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown

Type of Experience
(Listener):
 

solitary reactive unknown
single serial unknown

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Reader / Listener / Reading Group:

Reader:

Elizabeth Fry

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Female

Date of Birth:

21 May 1780

Socio-Economic Group:

Professional / academic / merchant / farmer

Occupation:

wife of merchant

Religion:

Quaker

Country of Origin:

England

Country of Experience:

England

Listeners present if any:
e.g family, servants, friends

female prisoners (convicts), sailors, Captain, friends of E. Fry

Additional Comments:

nee Gurney

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Text Being Read:

Author:

[n/a]

Title:

Bible

Genre:

Bible

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

owned

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Source Information:

Record ID:

23080

Source:

Print

Author:

Elizabeth Fry

Editor:

Katharine Fry

Title:

Memoir of Elizabeth Fry, with extracts from her Journal and letters, edited by two of her daughters

Place of Publication:

London

Date of Publication:

1847

Vol:

1

Page:

321

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

Elizabeth Fry, Katharine Fry (ed.), Memoir of Elizabeth Fry, with extracts from her Journal and letters, edited by two of her daughters (London, 1847), 1, p. 321, http://can-red-lec.library.dal.ca/Arts/RED/record_details.php?id=23080, accessed: 18 April 2024

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Additional Comments:

None