Pittsfield phylactery
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The Pittsfield phylactery was an black leather strap claimed to have been discovered by Joseph Merrick which contained Hebrew writing, and later was lost. [1]
"In June 1815, a boy employed by Merrick 'to clear the yard between the house and the wood house' found a black leather strap among the debris left by plowing. According to Josiah Priest, who took the account from the Reverend Mr. Ethan Smith, author of "View of the Hebrews," Merrick tossed the object in a box and forgot about it for several days until his curiosity got the better of him. When Merrick cut the strap open, he found that the box contained several tightly scrolled pieces of parchment inscribed with Hebrew characters."
References
- ^ "The Case of the Missing Phylactery" (PDF). American Antiquarian.