Post by spence on May 14, 2022 17:02:37 GMT -7
I've been surprised how often poetry shows up in various situations in 18th-century newspapers. Maybe calling it poetry is a bit too kind, doggerel might be more appropriate.
In an ad about a runaway servant woman:
The Pennsylvania Gazette
June 22, 1769
FORTY SHILLINGS Reward.
Little Britain Township, Lancaster County.
BETWEEN the sixth and seventh day,
MARY NOWLAND ran away;
Her age I know not, but appears
to be at least full twenty years;
The same religion with the Pope,
Short neck, scarce room to fix a rope;
Brown hair, red face, short nose, thick lips,
She large and round from neck to hips;
Short, thick, and clumsey in her jog,
As neat as any fatten’d hog.
Upon her tongue she wears a brogue,
And was she man, would be a rogue.
Old gown she wore of calicoe,
Would cover her down to the toe;
Her petticoat was linsey bright,
Striped up and down with blue and white.
Brown linen smock --- and by your leaves,
It had a pair of whiten’d sleeves.
'Tis thought about two months ago
She stole, of gold, a full Half Joe.
Whoever takes her up, don't fail
To lay her fast in any jail;
They will be as a friend regarded,
And, as above, shall be rewarded.
Who brings her home I will give them it,
Your humble servant, ABRAHAM EMMIT.
As a last will:
PENNSYLYANIA GAZETTE,
February 8, 1731.
CAMBRIDGE
Some time since died here, Mr. Matth. A—-y , in a very advanced Age. He had for a great Number of Years served the College here in the Quality of Bed-maker and Sweeper. Having left no child, his Wife inherits his whole Estate, which he bequeathed to her by his last Will and Testament, as followeth, viz.
TO my dear Wife, My Joy and Life, I freely now do give her
My whole Estate, With all my Plate, Being just about to leave her.
A Tub of Soap, A long Cart Rope, A Frying -pan and Kettle,
An Ashes Pail, A threshing Flail, An Iron Wedge and Beetle.
Two painted Chairs, Nine warden Pears, A large old Dripping-platter,
The Bed of Hay On which I lay, An old Sauce-pan for Butter.
A little Mug, An old Quart Jug, A Bottle full of Brandy:
A Looking Glass To see your Face, You'll find it very handy.
A Musket true As ever flew, A Pound of Shot and Wallet,
A Leather Sash, My Calabash, My Powder-horn and Bullets.
An old Sword Blade, A Garden Spade, A Hoe, a Rake, a Ladder,
A wooden Cann, A Close-stool Pan, A Clyster-pipe and Bladder.
A greasy Hat, My old Ram Cat, A yard and Half of Linen.
A Pot of Grease, A woollen Fleece, In order for your Spinning.
A small-tooth comb, An ashen Broom, A Candle stick and Hatchet,
A Coverlid Strip'd down with Red, A Bag of Rags to patch it.
A ragged Mat, A Tub of Fat, A Book put out by Bunyan,
Another Book By Robin Rook ; A Skain or two of Spun yarn.
An old black Muff, Some Garden Stuff, A Quantity of Burrage,
Some Devils Weed And Burdock Seed, To season well your Porridge.
A Chafing Dish, With one salt Fish, If I am not mistaken,
A Leg of Pork, A broken Fork, And Half a Flitch of Bacon.
A Spinning Wheel, One Peck of Meal, A Knife without a Handle,
A rusty Lamp, Two Quarts of Samp, A Piece of Tallow Candle.
My Pouch and Pipes, Two Oxen Tripes, An oaken Dish well carve
My little Dog, And spotted Hog, With 2 young Pigs just starved.
This is my Store, I have no more, I heartily do give it,
My Years are spun, My Days are done, And so I think to leave it.
In the early 18th century some prisoners in London's Fleet prison were given a room to live in, but they had to furnish it at their own expense, pay rent. This last item is apparently an inmate, probably an aristocrat, asking a friend for help in doing that.
THE SOUTH CAROLINA GAZETTE
March 8, 1735
Charleston, South Carolina
A LIST of WANTS From a Gentleman in the FLEET Prison to his Friend.
A TABLE, Chairs, and pair of Bellows,
Two Candlesticks, altho' not Fellows,
Some Books, some Paper, Pens, and Ink;
A P----ing Pot, and Pot for Drink,
Plates, Knives, and Dishes, Spoons & Forks,
With a Machine to draw out Corks,
Glasses for Wine, & Wine for Glasses,
For Man, you know, no more than Grass is,
Which not refresh'd by Dews decays,
And Man kept dry, so ends his Days.
To roast my Meat, a strong Pack Thread,
A Grid-Iron, & a Feather-Bed.
Some Blankets, & a plain Scrutore,
With a Stock-Lock to keep my Door;
Not for my Cash, but for my Papers,
And barring Duns who give me Vapors.
For here they come, with rueful Mien,
To vent their own, and raise my Spleen.
Some Sheets, a Porrige-Pot, & Settle,
A Coverlid, Tea-Pot, & Kettle.
A Powd'ring-Tub, Close-Stool, & Ladle,
A Trap for Bugs, some call a Cradle.
Few Shirts, some Caps, a Gown & Slippers,
A Hammer, Nails & Pair of Nippers.
O Muse assist, for I invoke her,
That you may add the useful Poker.
Shovel & Razors, Wash-Balls, Coals,
A looking-Glass, & Wooden Bowls.
Send me these now, dear Jack , and then,
If aught's forgot, I'll send again.
Spence, whence, hence
In an ad about a runaway servant woman:
The Pennsylvania Gazette
June 22, 1769
FORTY SHILLINGS Reward.
Little Britain Township, Lancaster County.
BETWEEN the sixth and seventh day,
MARY NOWLAND ran away;
Her age I know not, but appears
to be at least full twenty years;
The same religion with the Pope,
Short neck, scarce room to fix a rope;
Brown hair, red face, short nose, thick lips,
She large and round from neck to hips;
Short, thick, and clumsey in her jog,
As neat as any fatten’d hog.
Upon her tongue she wears a brogue,
And was she man, would be a rogue.
Old gown she wore of calicoe,
Would cover her down to the toe;
Her petticoat was linsey bright,
Striped up and down with blue and white.
Brown linen smock --- and by your leaves,
It had a pair of whiten’d sleeves.
'Tis thought about two months ago
She stole, of gold, a full Half Joe.
Whoever takes her up, don't fail
To lay her fast in any jail;
They will be as a friend regarded,
And, as above, shall be rewarded.
Who brings her home I will give them it,
Your humble servant, ABRAHAM EMMIT.
As a last will:
PENNSYLYANIA GAZETTE,
February 8, 1731.
CAMBRIDGE
Some time since died here, Mr. Matth. A—-y , in a very advanced Age. He had for a great Number of Years served the College here in the Quality of Bed-maker and Sweeper. Having left no child, his Wife inherits his whole Estate, which he bequeathed to her by his last Will and Testament, as followeth, viz.
TO my dear Wife, My Joy and Life, I freely now do give her
My whole Estate, With all my Plate, Being just about to leave her.
A Tub of Soap, A long Cart Rope, A Frying -pan and Kettle,
An Ashes Pail, A threshing Flail, An Iron Wedge and Beetle.
Two painted Chairs, Nine warden Pears, A large old Dripping-platter,
The Bed of Hay On which I lay, An old Sauce-pan for Butter.
A little Mug, An old Quart Jug, A Bottle full of Brandy:
A Looking Glass To see your Face, You'll find it very handy.
A Musket true As ever flew, A Pound of Shot and Wallet,
A Leather Sash, My Calabash, My Powder-horn and Bullets.
An old Sword Blade, A Garden Spade, A Hoe, a Rake, a Ladder,
A wooden Cann, A Close-stool Pan, A Clyster-pipe and Bladder.
A greasy Hat, My old Ram Cat, A yard and Half of Linen.
A Pot of Grease, A woollen Fleece, In order for your Spinning.
A small-tooth comb, An ashen Broom, A Candle stick and Hatchet,
A Coverlid Strip'd down with Red, A Bag of Rags to patch it.
A ragged Mat, A Tub of Fat, A Book put out by Bunyan,
Another Book By Robin Rook ; A Skain or two of Spun yarn.
An old black Muff, Some Garden Stuff, A Quantity of Burrage,
Some Devils Weed And Burdock Seed, To season well your Porridge.
A Chafing Dish, With one salt Fish, If I am not mistaken,
A Leg of Pork, A broken Fork, And Half a Flitch of Bacon.
A Spinning Wheel, One Peck of Meal, A Knife without a Handle,
A rusty Lamp, Two Quarts of Samp, A Piece of Tallow Candle.
My Pouch and Pipes, Two Oxen Tripes, An oaken Dish well carve
My little Dog, And spotted Hog, With 2 young Pigs just starved.
This is my Store, I have no more, I heartily do give it,
My Years are spun, My Days are done, And so I think to leave it.
In the early 18th century some prisoners in London's Fleet prison were given a room to live in, but they had to furnish it at their own expense, pay rent. This last item is apparently an inmate, probably an aristocrat, asking a friend for help in doing that.
THE SOUTH CAROLINA GAZETTE
March 8, 1735
Charleston, South Carolina
A LIST of WANTS From a Gentleman in the FLEET Prison to his Friend.
A TABLE, Chairs, and pair of Bellows,
Two Candlesticks, altho' not Fellows,
Some Books, some Paper, Pens, and Ink;
A P----ing Pot, and Pot for Drink,
Plates, Knives, and Dishes, Spoons & Forks,
With a Machine to draw out Corks,
Glasses for Wine, & Wine for Glasses,
For Man, you know, no more than Grass is,
Which not refresh'd by Dews decays,
And Man kept dry, so ends his Days.
To roast my Meat, a strong Pack Thread,
A Grid-Iron, & a Feather-Bed.
Some Blankets, & a plain Scrutore,
With a Stock-Lock to keep my Door;
Not for my Cash, but for my Papers,
And barring Duns who give me Vapors.
For here they come, with rueful Mien,
To vent their own, and raise my Spleen.
Some Sheets, a Porrige-Pot, & Settle,
A Coverlid, Tea-Pot, & Kettle.
A Powd'ring-Tub, Close-Stool, & Ladle,
A Trap for Bugs, some call a Cradle.
Few Shirts, some Caps, a Gown & Slippers,
A Hammer, Nails & Pair of Nippers.
O Muse assist, for I invoke her,
That you may add the useful Poker.
Shovel & Razors, Wash-Balls, Coals,
A looking-Glass, & Wooden Bowls.
Send me these now, dear Jack , and then,
If aught's forgot, I'll send again.
Spence, whence, hence