Colonial America
1752 "AN EXHORTATION TO THE INHABITANTS OF THE PROVINCE OF SOUTH CAROLINA"
1752-Dated Book entitled, "AN EXHORTATION TO THE INHABITANTS OF THE PROVINCE OF SOUTH CAROLINA," by Sophia Hume (c.1701-1774), Printed by Luke Hinde, London, Fine.
This important 18th century treatise was written by Sophia Hume (c.1701-1774) and printed by Luke Hinde, London. This extremely rare book remains in good overall condition with its covers lacking, the spine is intact yet chipping and having couple of dog eared corners, still generally quite clean overall internally. This desirable treatise remains very presentable, 150 pages and measures 7.75" x 5". The author was a native of South Carolina and the granddaughter of Mary Fisher, one of the first Quakers to come to Massachusetts in 1656. Following the death of her husband, Sophia Hume became a famous Quaker in her own right. Here she fervently defends her religious faith. This early work is an important source regarding the persecution of Quakers in the American Colonies, particularly South Carolina. The author penned this famous treatise in 1747 while living in Charleston. This is the First London Edition, and First Edition thus. I Turnbull 124; Sabin 33780.


"Sophia Hume - granddaughter of the intrepid Mary Fisher, one of the first American Quaker missionaries - became a famous Quaker preacher after the death of her husband. Like many other women converted during the Great Awakening around 1740, she was accused of "Delusion" and "religious Madness." But despite the disapproval of her children and former friends, she traveled extensively for more than thirty years, writing and preaching both in England and the colonies...Among other things, Sophia Hume favored simplicity of dress, women breast-feeding their own infants, and a woman's right to follow her conscience. Hume's rhetoric...helped lay a foundation for political revolution." [Second to None: A Documentary History of American Women, Vol. I; Moynihan, Russett and Crumpacker].

"Though she preached publicly in South Carolina and Pennsylvania, Sophia Hume did not receive recognition as a minister from her monthly meeting in London until later, possibly not until 1763. As early as 1752, though, her utterances settled on two topics: decrying luxury and warning devotees of their dangers...The 'Exhortation', with its parade of long quotations from the learned and its extensive examinations of Scripture, actually conveyed a fairly simple appeal for repentance and reformation, its strength derived from Sophia Hume's lifelong gift for strong phrases and intense, incantational prose." [Notable American Women, 1607-1950, Vol. 2; James, James and Boyer].

Sophia Hume (1701-1774) was a noted American born Quaker minister and writer. A native of South Carolina, her writings evoke heartfelt emotions regarding the persecution she suffered as a result of her Quaker faith. Despite the hardship she endured in her native Provice of South Carolina, she returned there after several years spent in England. Though not reared as a Quaker, she became a devout follower of their principles early on. This work presents an impassioned and articulate defense of those religious convictions.

Along with the Baptists [also known as Anabaptists], Presbyterians and Methodists, the Quakers were active religious dissenters in Colonial America. Quakers were also among the earliest settlers of South Carolina, with many emigrating from Barbados and Bermuda. Sparsely kept Quaker records were maintained for the Charleston Meeting from 1680-1786. The meetings were discretely held in private homes until 1715 when a meeting house was built in Charleston. By 1791, there were only 15 members in Charleston, however by then other Quaker meetings had been established elsewhere in South Carolina including Bush River, Newberry County, Cain Creek, and Union County.