Reading Experience Database
1450-1945

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Record 23118

Reading Experience:

Evidence:
Journal of Miss Fraser, Newgate prison visitor, dated 29 Nov 1834: 'I spent an interesting time in Newgate, Mrs Fry and I went there together for several hours. She went with me to the cells and read to the men just sentenced to death. Amongst them, there were two brothers, convicted, I believe, for housebreaking. The youngest was drawn into the commission of the crime by the elder brother. James, the youngest, could not read; he was married to a very pleasing looking young woman, and had two children. I recollect Mrs Fry told the poor men who could not read that if they would try to learn while they were in Newgate, she would give those who succeeded, each a Bible. James took very great pains, and before he left the prison to be transported he could read tolerably. On the 7th of January following, Mrs Fry again went with me to the cells. James then read the 7th chapter of St Matthew's gospel, and received his Bible. He became a valuable servant to the gentleman to whom he was assigned in New South Wales'
Century: 1800-1849
Date: 29 Nov 1834
Country: England
Time: daytime
Place: city: London
specific address: Newgate Gaol
other location: prison
   
Type of Experience (Reader):
silent aloud unknown
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown
Type of Experience (Listener):
passive reactive unknown
single serial unknown

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, workmates)
male prisoners in Newgate, those sentenced to death, Miss Fraser (lady prison visitor)
Additional comments: nee Gurney

 

Text Being Read:

Author: [n/a]
Title: Bible
Genre: Bible
Form of Text: Print: Book
Publication details: n/a
Provenance: owned

 

Source Information:

Record ID: 23118  
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: 2
  Page: 199
  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), 2, p. 199, http://can-red-lec.library.dal.ca/Arts/reading/recorddetails2.php?id=23118, accessed: 29 March 2024

Additional comments:

 

 

Reading Experience Database version 2.0.  Page updated: 27th Apr 2016  3:15pm (GMT)