1826 PRONOUNCING BIBLE. Provenance to Influential Early Abortion Death and Court Case.

Aside from being an interesting early example of Israel Alger's innovative Pronouncing Bible, the present offering is more fascinating because of its provenance.

The front calf board has a red morocco onlay for Susan M. Sessions. Then, on the fly leaf is a written genealogy, "My Father's Family" beginning with John Sessions in England, great grandfather Nathaniel Sessions in America, and then Captain Amasa Sessions [grandfather]. 

The last guy is the interesting one. This was her paternal grandfather, and he was involved in one of the most important abortion cases of the 18th century. Now discussed in virtually every text on women, women's rights, and abortion in the 18th century. 

At 19 years of age, a young Sarah Grosvenor had a clandestine affair with 27-year old Amasa Sessions. She became pregnant and, apparently with pressure from both families, each prominent in the community, began taking an oral abortifacient. It was unsuccessful in terminating the pregnancy. That was when Dr. John Hallowell was engaged to perform a surgical abortion. She contracted an infection and died ten days later.

The court case was not originally brought against Amasa or Dr. Hallowell until three years after her death. It was a public scandal and brought to court only at the vocal insistence of her friends, to whom she had confided the situation shortly before her death. Original attempts were made to pursue murder charges, but in the end Amasa was found innocent and the Dr. found guilty of only a misdemeanor.  It is often considered the most significant American abortion trial of the 18th century. 

A fascinating piece of ephemera; the sort of irony of it heightened undoubtedly by its being both a Bible and the property of his surviving family. 

Captain Amasa Sessions [1714-1799] went on to serve as with distinction in the French and Indian War, etc., 

[Early American Abortion | Murder Case] Alger, Israel. The Pronouncing Bible. The Holy Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments; Translated out of the Original Tongues, and with the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised. The Proper Names of which, and Numerous Other Words, being Accurately Accented in the Text, and Divided into Syllables, as they ought to be Pronounced, According to the Orthoepy of John Walker, as Contained in His Critical Pronouncing Dictionary and Key to the Classical Pronunciation of Greek, Latin, and Scripture Proper Names. Boston. Printed and Published by Lincoln & Edmands. 1826. First Edition.

Good -. Very attractive, rubbed full calf with period morocco onlay. Several gatherings of signatures intact, but forward and thus bumped and curled at foredge. Some scattered tears and handling. Fascinating provenance.