A NARRATIVE OF THE CAPTIVITY OF MRS. JOHNSON. CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF HER SUFFERINGS DURING FOUR YEARS WITH THE INDIANS AND FRENCH

Book Description

Walpole, N.H.: David Carlisle, jun., 1796.. 144pp. 12mo. Contemporary calf, leather label gilt. Covers slightly worn, top of spine slightly worn. Top one-half inch of titlepage clipped, letter "A" lacking from title. Some light staining and foxing. Still, a very good copy. In a half morocco and cloth box. First edition of this popular captivity narrative which was reprinted in Scotland, England, and America through the first half of the 19th century. Mrs. Johnson was captured with her family in 1754 by Abanaki Indians and taken to Canada. Along the way she gave birth to a daughter whom she named Captive. Well treated by the Indians during their journey, the prisoners were divided among several Indian families and eventually sold to the French in Montreal. After three years Mrs. Johnson was exchanged and sent to England before returning to New York and then New England. Her husband also returned in 1758, but was killed in battle at Ticonderoga later that year. According to a note printed on the verso of the titlepage, "part of the text was dictated by Mrs. Johnson, now Mrs. Hastings, herself, and part were taken from minutes made by Mr. Johnson and herself, during their imprisonment. She is much indebted to her fellow prisoner, Mr. Labaree, by whose assistance many incidents are mentioned, which had escaped her attention." A good copy of one of the classic New England Indian captivities. HOWES J153, "b." AYER 117. SABIN 36324. VAIL 1074. EVANS 30180, 30641. NAIP W013745. OCLC 13625235.

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