Marsh, John M.:

THE GREAT SIN AND DANGER OF STRIVING WITH GOD. A SERMON PREACHED AT WETHERSFIELD, DECEMBER 13TH, 1782. AT THE FUNERAL OR MRS. LYDIA BEADLE, WIFE OF THE LATE WILLIAM BEADLE, AND THEIR FOUR CHILDREN, WHO WERE ALL MURDERED BY HIS OWN HANDS ON THE MORNING OF THE 11TH INSTANT. . . TO WHICH IS ANNEXED A LETTER, FROM A GENTLEMAN IN WETHERSFIELD TO HIS FRIEND, CONTAINING A NARRATIVE OF THE LIFE OF WILLIAM BEADLE, (SO FAR AS IT IS KNOWN) AND THE PARTICULARS OF THE MASSACRE OF HIMSELF AND FAMILY.

Middleborough, (County of Plymouth): Printed and Sold by N. Coverly, 1788. 38, [1- publ. advt], [1 blank] pp. Stitched. Lightly foxed and toned. Very Good. Contemporary ownership signatures of Stephen W. Clark and [more elaborately and frequently] Philip Curtis.

Beadle, of Wethersfield, "killed his wife and four children, and then committed suicide. Beadle, a respected merchant in the community, had suffered great financial loss as the result of the collapse of paper money. He became depressed, and unable to bear the embarrassment of poverty, decided on suicide, taking his family's lives as well to prevent their suffering. He had considered these acts for three years, and had made three previous attempts, which he aborted because he lacked a direct command from God" [Cohen].
The Sermon first issued from Hartford in 1783. Ours is the only other 18th century printing. The Wethersfield Historical Society has a long essay on the Beadle murders.
McDade 76. Evans 21216. Cohen 3923. ESTC W12528.[6 locations]. Item #39600

Price: $1,500.00