American Female Poets [an electronic edition]

Biographical Sketch.

JANE TURELL was born in Boston, 1708. She was the only daughter of Dr. Benjamin Colman, a clergyman distinguished for his learning, eloquence, and poetic taste, whose early life was varied by many stirring and romantic incidents. After having taken his degree at Harvard College, he embarked for London; the vessel was captured by a French privateer, and he with his companions were imprisoned at Nantz. At the expiration of' two months, an exchange of prisoners took place between the English and French, and Mr. Colman was transported to Portsmouth. From thence he went to London, and, not very long after, was appointed to take charge of a church in Bath, where he formed an intimate acquaintance with Miss Singer, afterwards the celebrated Mrs. Rowe. On his return to his native country, he was settled over the Brattle Street Church, Boston; in which station he remained till his death, nearly half a century afterward.

His daughter Jane early evinced a fondness for learning, and was encouraged by her father to pursue with indefatigable industry all literary pursuits. In her nineteenth year she was married to the Rev. Mr. Turell, of Medford, a village near Boston. She had then read, and

thoroughly understood, all the works of Divinity, History, and Philosophy, to which she could gain access: and was regarded with great admiration by all who surrounded her for her superior attainments. She died at the age of twenty-seven, having, in her short life, "faithfully fulfilled all those duties which shed the brightest lustre upon woman's name; the duties of the friend, the daughter, the mother, and the wife."

Her poems were collected in a pamphlet, and published by her husband, immediately after her death.