We herewith print an abridged account of this solemn event which appeared more fully in a local English paper in January last. The cutting was sent to us by Pastor H. E. Carr, Chippenham, Wilts.—Editor.
The death occurred in the Devizes Market Place, two hundred years ago, of a Potterne widow, Mrs. Ruth Pierce. The unusual circumstances surrounding her death, as recorded on the Market Cross, constitute the single common factor by which Devizes is known to strangers all over the world. While the story of Ruth Pierce, and the events of that Devizes market day on which she made her “awful wish,” has to some extent become entangled in myth, exaggeration and hypothetical conjecture, there are certain undisputed facts. These have been handed down, through two hundred years, principally from inscriptions in stone and contemporary records, although not all these are accurate.
Shortly, Ruth Pierce, a native of Potterne, with three other women, agreed to buy a sack of corn in Devizes Market, each to pay her share. One of the women who collected the quotas found a deficiency, and when asked to make up the amount Ruth Pierce protested that she had paid her full share and “wished she might drop dead if she had not.” She repeated this wish and instantly died, the money being found in her hand.
A narrative of the event of that market day was originally recorded on a tablet by order of the authorities, and hung up in the market house—a row of sheds. The tablet, which was of stone, about four feet long, two feet six inches wide, and two inches thick, is now in the Devizes museum.
The inscription, which was regilded only last year, reads :—
“The MAYOR and CORPORATION of Devizes avail themselves of the Stability of this Building, to transmit to future times, the Record of an awful Event which occurred in this Market Place, in the year 1753, hoping that such Record may serve as a salutary Warning against the Danger of impiously invoking Divine Vengeance, or of calling on the Holy Name of GOD to conceal the Devices of Falsehood and Fraud.
“On Thursday, the 25th of January, 1753, Ruth Pierce, of Potterne, in this County, agreed with three other Women to buy a sack of Wheat in the Market, each paying her due Proportion towards the same. One of these Women, in collecting the several Quotas of Money discovered a Deficiency, and demanded of Ruth Pierce the Sum which was wanting to make good the Amount. Ruth Pierce protested that She had paid her share, and said, ‘She wished she might drop down dead if She had not.’ She rashly repeated this awful Wish, when, to the Consternation and Terror of the surrounding Multitude, She instantly fell down and expired, having the Money concealed in her hand.”