United States -- Social life and customs -- To 1775; Women -- United States
And that they had not so good or so much provision in my husbands
absence as presence, I conceive it was, because he would call
sometimes for butter or cheese when I conceived there was no need of
it; yet for as much as the scholars did otherways apprehend, I desire
to see the evil that was in the carriage of that as in the other and
to take shame to myself for it.
And that they sent down for more, when they had not enough, and the
maid should answer, if they had not, they should not. I must confess
that I have denied them cheese, when they have sent for it, and it
have been in the house, for which I shall humbly beg pardon to them,
and own the shame, and confess my sin.
And for such provoking words which my servants have given, I cannot
own them, but am sorry any such should be given in my house.
And for bad fish, they had it brought to table, I am sorry there was
that cause of offence given; I acknowledge my sin in it.... I am much
ashamed it should be in the family, and not prevented by myself or my
servants, and I humbly acknowledge my negligence in it.
And that they made their beds at any time, were my straits never so
great, I am sorry they were ever put to it.
For the Moor, his lying in Sam Hough’s sheet and pillow-bier, it hath
a truth in it; he did so at one time and it gave Sam Hough just cause
for offence; and that it was not prevented by my care and watchfulness
I desire to take the shame and the sorrow for it.
And that they eat the Moor’s crusts, and the swine and they had share
and share alike; and the Moor to have beer, and they denied it, and
if they had not enough, for my maid to answer they should not, I am
an utter stranger to these things, and know not the least foot-steps
for them so to charge me; and if my servants were guilty of such
miscarriages, had the boarders complained of it unto myself, I should
have thought it my sin, if I had not sharply removed my servants and
endeavored reform.
And for bread made of sour heated meal, though I know of but once that
it was so since I kept house, yet John Wilson affirms that it was
twice; and I am truly sorry that any of it was spent amongst them.
For beer and bread that it was denied them by me betwixt meals, truly
I do not remember, that ever I did deny it unto them; and John Wilson
will affirm that, generally, the bread and beer was free for the
boarders to go to.
And that money was demanded of them for washing the linen, tis true
that it was propounded to them but never imposed upon them.
And for their pudding being given the last day of the week without
butter or suet, and that I said, it was a miln of Manchester in old
England, its true that I did say so, and am sorry, that had any cause
of offence given them by having it so.
And for their wanting beer betwixt brewings, a week or half a week
together, I am sorry that it was so at any time, and should tremble to
have it so, were it in my hands to do again.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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