A Short Account of the Life of Elizabeth Colson, a
Molatto Woman, who now must Dye for the Monstrous
Sin of Murdering her Child.

I Was Born at Weymouth and my Mother put me out
to Ebenezer Prar, who was to learn me to read, but I fear
they never took that pains the should have done to instruct
me, my Mother being School-Mistress was loth I should
come to School with other Children, and so I had not that
Instruction I wish I had in my Youth. I was carry’d very
hardly too by my Mistress, and suffer’d hunger and blows,
and at last was tempted to Steal, for which I have reason
to lament, for although I long stole at first for Necessity as I
tho’t, yet the Devil took that Advantage against me, and
led me further into Sin, for one Lord’s Day the People being
gone to Meeting, I broke into a Neighbor’s House, and
stole some Victuals, and looking for more I saw a piece of
Money, which I took, and afterwards telling a Lye, & saying
I found it; so was led by one Sin to another.

After-wards I was Sold to Lieut. Reed, where I had
some good Examples set me, but having got a habit of Sin,
I still grew worse & worse; and was left to fall
into the Sin of Fornication, and after my Time was out
with Master Reed, I was in great distress what to do with
my Child, but carried it about from place to place, till
I left it at Dighton and ran-away from it, and soon fell

again to that shameful & Soul destroying Sin of Fornication
the Second time; and not having the Fear of God
before my Eyes, I was justly left of God to this horrid Sin
the Third time, that led me, together with the Instigation
of the Devil, and the wretchedness of my own Heart, to
that monstrous Sin for which I must now Dye: And
so I have not only brought my Body to dye a shameful Death,
but my Soul in danger of Death & Damnation.

O that all People would be Warned to flee from the Sins
I have been Guilty of, least they run themselves into more
terrible Distresses than they can easily imagine, amongst
their ungodly Companions, who will not be able to help
them out of the Distresses, when they have left God and
God hath left them. I would therefore earnestly intreat
all Young People to watch against the beginnings of Sin
in themselves, for you know not where you will stop this
side Hell if once you allow your selves in Sin, tho’ you
may think you can: For I remember that when I was
Young I heard of a Woman that Murdered her Child,
and I said, “I never would do ioit”. I may say to you as
my Mistress did to me, “you do not know what you may be
left to”. Therefore I would intreat all Young People to
beware of Stealing, Lying, and especially that shameful
Sin of Uncleanness, which hath been the leading Sin to
that horrid Sin for which I must Dye. O then take this
Advice from a poor Dying Malefactor, who must suffer a
Shameful Death as the just demerits of a sinful Life.

O that all People would take Warning by me, of grieving
the Holy Spirit of God by sinning against the light of
their own Consciences, and of Prophaning the Sabbath-Day,
andand not regarding the Warnings of Christ’s faithful Embassadours,
but be now advised to take fast hold of Instruction,
and let it not go, keep it for it is thy Life: And
let them then that think they stand, take heed lest they fall.