Scattergood Journals

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Published Memoirs

Scattergood's journals were published posthumously in the Friends Library in 1845 and again in 1874. These publications contain edited versions of Scattergood’s writing, with omissions and alterations that would go unnoticed without reading the original material. In Scattergood's handwritten material, the connection to his intentions is much more immediate, coming from his own pen. According to the editors introduction, "The memoranda from which the following account of our beloved friend, Thomas Scattergood, is chiefly drawn, appear to have been penned for the information of his family and his own instruction and improvement, without any view to their being made public. They enter more into private and personal details than would be proper to meet the public eye, and often with a degree of minuteness which would be tedious to the general reader. It was therefore necessary to omit much of this description of matter; to correct some grammatical inaccuracies and sometimes to transpose a sentence for the sake of perspicuity." The intention of these edits is in part to make the material more accessible and readable to the wider audience. The effect however is to change the way one reads these journals and becomes acquainted with the person who wrote them. In reading his journals one becomes familiar with his writing style and the way he thinks about himself, God, family, and friends. Changing the writing inevitably changes the relationship the reader has with Scattergood. 

Published Memoirs 8/21/1799

Entry on 8/21/1799

Most of the original entry has been recorded in the published memoirs, though some sentences and words have been removed as well as smaller edits in sentence structure and grammar. Among the more minor edits, two sentences stand out in particular which were removed: "8 Mo[nth] 21 & 4th of the Week opens one more Book of Exercance in getting along through this Vale of Sorrow and Tears..." and "My Dear son loaded with my Worldly Concerns, under difficulties not Small, laying open very likely to the Raging fever this Year again, perhaps at this Moment as I have lately heard of it making a Begin[n]ing (w[he]ther true or a false report)..." The first removed sentence reveals a part of Scattergood's mental state, the emphasized weariness of opening one more of exercise. In the second, Scattergood worries over the burden his son must be under from Scattergood's own non-religious difficulties. He also notes his son's vulnerability to Yellow Fever which has plagued Philadelphia, and his family, before. 

Published Memoirs 11/4/1799

Entry on 11/4/1799

While most of the original wording remains, none of the underlining is included in the published memoirs, removing the change of tone and emphasis in certain words over others. For example, out of all the places he reflects upon visits, Scattergood underlines Jordans, a small Quaker town in England. While it may not be clear what was different or special about Jordans, one knows that it was important to him. The rest of the underlined sections convey a sense of urgency in Scattergood's written prayers. The crossed out marks are important too; they remind the reader that in writing, Scattergood was translating his thoughts into a different medium, which at times requires editing. Whether he was modifying a thought that he took issue with or correcting what he perceived as an error, however, is unknown.

Published Memoirs 2/20/1800

Entry on 2/20/1800

The original entry asks the city of London, "where will thy Haughty Sons & Daughters hide when the Allmighty & Just One Visits thee and Humbles thee[?]" The publishers changed the wording to "Where will thy haughty sons and daughters appear when the Almighty and just One visits and humbles thee?" Scattergood's words attribute more guilt to the people of London than the published, changed version; hiding onself is incriminating whereas to make oneself appear suggests they will come clean. 

Published Memoirs