Esther Hayden (1713–58) was an American poet who is known for her poem A Short Account of the Life, Death and Character of Esther Hayden (1759), written on her deathbed.
Esther Hayden | |
|---|---|
| Born | Esther Allen 1713 |
| Died | 1758 |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for |
|
| Notable work | A Short Account of the Life, Death and Character of Esther Hayden |
| Spouse | Samuel Hayden |
Biography and writing
editHayden was born in 1713.[1] She was the daughter of Samuel Allen and the identity of her mother is unknown.[2][3] Hayden was married to Samuel Hayden of Braintree, Massachusetts and together they had nine children. She died on February 14, 1785, aged 45 after experiencing over a year of serious illness.[1][2]
Short Account of the Life, Death and Character of Esther Hayden (1759) may have been published as a memorial to Hayden. The volume includes a short testimonial by an anonymous author and a longer tribute by a "near Relative". This near relative describes Hayden as a woman who "strove for Grace and Holiness, / That Christ might be her Part", and who "Appear'd a precious Saint."[2]
The poem written by Hayden is entitled Composed About Six Weeks Before Her Death, When Under Distressing Circumstances.[3] It consists of a verse of 167 lines dedicated to her family and friends.[1] Like many deathbed statements written at the time, the poem urges them to Christian devotion and expresses concern for their religious character.[2] She also describes her own religious insecurities as she laments her physical and mental pain, her "wasting sickness" and her "fear to die".[1]
Although this is Hayden's only extant work, the poem suggests the hand of an experienced writer.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Todd, Janet, M. (1987). A Dictionary of British and American women writers, 1660-1800. United States: Rowman & Littlefield. p. 156. ISBN 0-8476-7125-9 – via The Internet Archive.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c d e Levernier, James A.; Wilmes, Douglas R., eds. (1983). American writers before 1800 : a biographical and critical dictionary. United States: Greenwood Press. pp. 727–728. ISBN 0-313-23477-9 – via The Internet Archive.
- ^ a b Buck, Claire, ed. (1994). Guide to women's literature throughout the world : from Sappho to Atwood, women's writing through the ages. Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 185980–005X. ISBN 9781859800058 – via The Internet Archive.