Chamblit's declaration, 1733Foxcroft's sermon about Chamblit, First Church, Boston, 1733
When she was 26 years old, an unmarried Chamblit became pregnant. In May, 1733, she gave birth to what was probably a stillborn. By her own account: "On Saturday the fifth day of May last, being then something more than eight months gone with child, as I was about my household business reaching some sand from out of a large cask, I received considerable hurt, which put me into great pain, and so I continued till the Tuesday following; in all which time I am not sensible I felt any life or motion in the child within me; when, on the ... Tuesday of the eighth day of may, I was delivered when alone of a male infant; in whom I did not perceive life...."[1]
At length the situation was brought before a jury, "who brought in their verdict, Guilty. Accordingly ... the poor woman received Sentence of Death."[2] Her "declaration," "read at the place of execution," September 26, 1733, may not have been in fact written by Chamblit herself; scholars suggest the text represents a forced confession.[3]
Referencesedit
^The declaration, dying warning and advice of Rebekah Chamblit. A young woman aged near twenty-seven years, executed at Boston September 27th. 1733. According to the sentence pass'd upon her at the Superiour Court holden there for the county of Suffolk, in August last, being then found guilty of felony, in concealing the birth of her spurious male infant, of which she was delivered when alone the eighth day of May last, and was afterwards found dead, as will more fully appear by the following declaration, which was carefully taken from her own mouth. Boston: Printed and sold by S. Kneeland and T. Green, in Queen-Street, 1733.
^Sharon M. Harris. Feminist Theories and Early American Studies. Early American Literature, Vol. 34, No. 1 (1999).
Further readingedit
Records of the Superior Court of Judicature. Massachusetts State Archives, Boston. 1733; Reel 134, vol. 251, #35693. (Cited in Harris, 1999; p. 92).
Thomas Foxcroft, Lessons of caution to young sinners. A sermon preach'd on Lord's-Day Sept. 23. 1733. Upon the affecting occasion of an unhappy young woman present in the assembly under sentence of death, 1733.
Sharon M. Harris, "Feminist Theories and Early American Studies," Early American Literature, Vol. 34, No. 1 (1999), pp. 86–93.
External linksedit
WorldCat
December 15, 2023
rebekah, chamblit, 1706, 1733, lived, boston, province, massachusetts, 18th, century, tried, executed, 1733, infanticide, chamblit, declaration, 1733foxcroft, sermon, about, chamblit, first, church, boston, 1733when, years, unmarried, chamblit, became, pregnan. Rebekah Chamblit c 1706 1733 lived in Boston Province of Massachusetts Bay in the 18th century She was tried and executed in 1733 for infanticide Chamblit s declaration 1733Foxcroft s sermon about Chamblit First Church Boston 1733When she was 26 years old an unmarried Chamblit became pregnant In May 1733 she gave birth to what was probably a stillborn By her own account On Saturday the fifth day of May last being then something more than eight months gone with child as I was about my household business reaching some sand from out of a large cask I received considerable hurt which put me into great pain and so I continued till the Tuesday following in all which time I am not sensible I felt any life or motion in the child within me when on the Tuesday of the eighth day of may I was delivered when alone of a male infant in whom I did not perceive life 1 At length the situation was brought before a jury who brought in their verdict Guilty Accordingly the poor woman received Sentence of Death 2 Her declaration read at the place of execution September 26 1733 may not have been in fact written by Chamblit herself scholars suggest the text represents a forced confession 3 References edit The declaration dying warning and advice of Rebekah Chamblit A young woman aged near twenty seven years executed at Boston September 27th 1733 According to the sentence pass d upon her at the Superiour Court holden there for the county of Suffolk in August last being then found guilty of felony in concealing the birth of her spurious male infant of which she was delivered when alone the eighth day of May last and was afterwards found dead as will more fully appear by the following declaration which was carefully taken from her own mouth Boston Printed and sold by S Kneeland and T Green in Queen Street 1733 New England Weekly Journal Aug 27 1733 Sharon M Harris Feminist Theories and Early American Studies Early American Literature Vol 34 No 1 1999 Further reading editRecords of the Superior Court of Judicature Massachusetts State Archives Boston 1733 Reel 134 vol 251 35693 Cited in Harris 1999 p 92 Thomas Foxcroft Lessons of caution to young sinners A sermon preach d on Lord s Day Sept 23 1733 Upon the affecting occasion of an unhappy young woman present in the assembly under sentence of death 1733 Sharon M Harris Feminist Theories and Early American Studies Early American Literature Vol 34 No 1 1999 pp 86 93 External links editWorldCat Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rebekah Chamblit amp oldid 1164461286, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
