Women’s Writing in the British Isles from the Beginnings to the Present
Mary Peisley
-
Standard Name: Peisley, Mary
Birth Name: Mary Peisley
Married Name: Mary Neale
MP
was less of an author, either in spirit or practice, than her friend and associate Catherine Phillips
, yet writing was an important part of her brief but highly successful career in the mid eighteenth century as a Quaker
minister and preacher. During this career she delivered probably hundreds of impromptu sermons, which have not survived. Her religious letters have fared better, since they were collected by her widower, Samuel Neale
, and published in edited form after he died, which was more than a generation after she did.
CP
's memoirs mention several of her religious associates as being also personal friends. She corresponded with many of them, and travelled with Sophia Hume
(whose natural and spiritual understanding she admired) and with Hannah Shipley
Theme or Topic Treated in Text
Catherine Phillips
Her account of her missionary tour of America with Mary Peisley
is perceptive if not unbiassed about human behaviour. She expresses open contempt for the extempore preaching of the clergyman on board the ship (an...
Travel
Catherine Phillips
Already a seasoned traveller, Catherine Payton (later CP
) set out with Mary Peisley
for North America.
Peisley, Mary, and Samuel Neale. Some Account of the Life and Religious Exercises of Mary Neale, formerly Mary Peisley. John Gough, 1795.
79-80
Phillips, Catherine. Memoirs of the Life of Catherine Phillips. James Phillips and Son, 1797.
61
Travel
Catherine Phillips
During the first couple of years of her ministry CP
visited Wales, Coventry, the West Country (with her brother), Ireland (where her trip to County Waterford was made with Mary Peisley
), and...
Timeline
No timeline events available.
Texts
Peisley, Mary, and Samuel Neale. Some Account of the Life and Religious Exercises of Mary Neale, formerly Mary Peisley. John Gough, 1795.
Neale, Samuel, and Mary Peisley. “Untitled preface”. Some Account of the Life and Religious Exercises of Mary Neale, formerly Mary Peisley, John Gough, 1795, p. iii - iv.