Bristol 1682
Testimonies of those imprisoned in 1682
Extracts from accounts composed by Bristol young Friends and read at the event. All the accounts are based on Quakers who were imprisoned in the Bridewell in 1682 and are taken from primary sources. Samuel Gibbon(s) I was born in about 1667. On 18th June in 1682 I was part of a group of boys and girls in a house in Temple Street at a Meeting of divine service. I was part of a group of boys (Benjamin Wall, Elias Osborne, me and another boy younger than me) who were sent to the stocks. In July 1682 most of the men and women Friends were in prison, so the Meeting was mainly made up of children, and some of the boys were put in the stocks. There were more beatings on 3rd, 6th and 13th of August, but we refused to stop worship.
Patience Hearne
In 1682 I’m about eleven years old. My father is John Hearne and he is a silkweaver. My mother is called Eleanor. In 1671, when I was born, they lived on Redcliffe Street. I have three brothers and two sisters.
When I die in 1736, I will be a widow, aged about sixty-five.
William Fry
In 1682 I am about fourteen years old. My father was imprisoned for his beliefs in 1664 and 1665. He died in 1668.
I was part of the group of children who were sent to Bridewell on 13th August 1682. In November 1682, my younger sister Mary, who was thirteen years old, was in Newgate prison.
I will become a shoemaker, like my father. I will marry Patience Hearne. We will have seven children. I will die in 1709 aged about forty-one.
Rachel Mears
In 1682 I am about eleven years old. We were taken to Bridewell where Helliar threated that we would be beaten with a new cat-o-nine-tails (a very nasty whip). But the Justices at the Tolzey court didn’t agree .
My father was imprisoned for his beliefs in 1682. My mother also was imprisoned for her beliefs.
Elias Osborne
I was born in about 1671. In 1682 I was put into the stocks with Benjamin Wall, John Boucher, Joseph James, Samuel Gibbons, and another boy.
On the morning of 27th August in 1682 I was sent to Bridewell prison.
William Day
I was born in about 1671. In 1682 I am about eleven years old. My father is called Nathaniel Day and he is a hosier (stocking seller). He was a sufferer (was imprisoned for his beliefs) in 1663-1664, 1670, 1679 and 1683. My mother is called Anne and she was also a sufferer (was imprisoned for her beliefs) in 1664 and from 1682 to 1683. They lived on Bristol Bridge.
On 13th August 1682 I was sent to Bridewell prison with ten other boys and four girls. An adult Friend arranged for our appearance before the deputy mayor, who tried, by both persuasion and threats, to make us promise not to come to any more Meetings for Worship, but we all stayed firm and did not so promise. On 20th August my sister Anne was sent to Newgate prison with three others. On the morning of 27th August I was sent to Newgate prison with William Bryan and three other boys.
Joseph Kippen
I don’t know how old I am but maybe in 1682 I’m about eight or nine.
Early in August of 1682 some of the children at the Meeting were beaten with a small stick but they bore it patiently and cheerfully.
On the 13th of August, Hellier beat a grown-up, Richard Vickris, and threw away the walking stick of an elderly woman at Meeting. I was beaten around the head (and I wasn’t very old), and I almost fainted. Eleven boys and four girls were sent to Bridewell – but not me.
When I grow up I will become a shoemaker. On 13th November 1693, I will marry Mary Fry (her brother is William Fry) and we will have a son called William. My brother Walter will become a tailor. He will get married. His wife will be called Hannah, and they will have six sons and three daughters.
Benjamin Wall
In 1682 I think I’m about nine or ten years old. On 15th July 1682 about 150 Friends were sent to prison, but two were sent out of the Bridewell because they were sick with the fever and about to die.
The next day five of the boys were put into the stocks for 3⁄4 hour. On 23rd July eight boys were put into the stocks for two and a half hours.
When I grow up I will become a grocer.
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