“1656, March 25. Petition of Benoni Honeywood.”—“C. S. P. Colonial.”
I don’t think, however, all these mothers died in childbed. It would speak badly for the chirurgic skill of the seventeenth century if they did. It was the Church of Christ that was in travail.
Ichabod was equally common. There was something hard and unrelenting in Jael (already mentioned) that naturally suited the temper of every fanatic:
“1613, July 28. Christened Jaell, d. of Roger Manwaryng, preacher.”—St. Helen, Bishopsgate.
Mehetabell had something in it, probably its length, that made it popular among the Puritan faction. It lasted well, too:
“1680, March 24. Married Philip Penn and Mehittabela Hilder.”—Cant. Cath.
“1693, May 21. Baptized Mehetabell, d. of Jeremiah Hart, apothecary.”—St. Dionis Backchurch.
But while Deborah, an especial pet of the fanatics, Sara, Rebecca, Rachel, Zipporah, and Leah were in high favour as Old Testament heroines, none had such a run as Abigail:
“1573, Oct. Abigoll Cumberford, christened.”—Stepney.
“1617, Oct. 15. Christened Abbigale, d. of John Webb, shoemaker.”—St. Peter, Cornhill.