.300006.4000075

<gap></gap>1783. <hi rend="underline"><gap></gap>Rominster Archives</hi>
Course of Life of our late Maid Sister Eliz: Bethell from her own
hand Writing.
<gap></gap>I was born May the 21<hi rend="underline"><hi rend="superscript">st</hi></hi> 1754 in the Town of Monmouth where my
Father was placed as Officer in the Excise, & in my third Year my Father
was removed to Leominster in Herefordshire; When I was about Six
Years old, my Aunt took me to her into Shropshire; She had no Child of
her own, & was tender to me; My <sic>Unkle</sic>  <corr>Uncle</corr> was of a rough <sic>dispossition</sic>  <corr>disposition</corr> and
subject to swear very much, which made me think God would not love him;
for if I thought if I did once Swear I of<hi rend="underline"><hi rend="superscript">d</hi></hi><hi rend="superscript"></hi> go to the bad Place, & I often would
go to the retir'd part of the Garden to pray to God to keep me from the place
where bad Children were sent to. <gap></gap>I was very fond of reading Books that
mentiond anything about God; at last my Aunt began to be uneasy about me,
& thought I was not <sic>playfull</sic>  <corr>playful</corr> enough like other Children: In my 12<hi rend="underline"><hi rend="superscript">th</hi></hi> Year
my Mother came for me, & took me home that I might have better Education;
This was a hurt to me, & I soon got a Love for pleasure, & vain amusements &
quite forgot my religious Course; My Mother was <sic>exceding</sic>  <corr>exceeding</corr> fond of me
& often would remind me what a reward was promised to those that love God;
but the ever <sic>faithfull</sic>  <corr>faithful</corr> friend of Sinners knew how to make my pleasant days
bitter, by taking from me my tender, &