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Women's History: Trivia, Firsts & Other Musings: Volume I circa 1438 through 1799

[Excerpt] I found this piece about Mary Bradbury in a New York Times article in 1779:“Among the persons thus charged with witchcraft was Mary Bradbury, a woman of 75 years. The wife of one of the most prominent and honorable citizens of the town of Salisbury. She was a woman of exceptionally high standing in Christian life and character. She and her husband had been residents of Salisbury for over 50 years and were the lifelong friends of Robert Pike. Their son, Wymond Bradbury, had married Sarah Pike, eldest daughter of Robert, 30 years before. The families were thus associated by ties of the most intimate character. On the arrest of Mary Bradbury, Robert Pike naturally entered into the case with all the zeal and energy of his nature. If anything was wanting beyond the native impulses of his character to induce him to embark in opposition to the fanatical storm then raging, we have it in this family connection. He was, however, unable to obtain Mary Bradbury’s acquittal. She was convicted along with five others, but escaped for some reason now unknown.”May 1701– In the London Newspapers: “The Queen has issued out an order to regulate the apparel of ladies, in which there are great alterations. Her majesty is shortly expected here to take upon her the Regency of the Kingdom and in the meantime Cardinal Portocarrero has the sole administration of affairs”. ~ LondonAs early as 1728 women were working at the post office in Dublin as evident in the following newspaper article dated November 26, 1728:“(Dublin) We have a melancholy account from Mountmelick, of one Mr. John Moore, an eminent farmer who after two years constant address to Mrs. Crosdale, Postmistress of that place; a widow did some day last week accost the lady in her garden and desired to know if she would consent to marry him. When she absolutely refusing, he pulled out two pistols and discharged them both in his body, upon which he immediately died. Tis observable, both persons are above 50 years old each.”~ Caledonian Mercury, Edinburgh, ScotlandJuly

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