Apostate Will is, arguably, Chatterton's first published poem.

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The poem is dated April 14, 1764, by both Catcott and Croft, another indication that their transcripts came from the same Ms.  This confirms that Chatterton was 11 years of age when he wrote Apostate Will.

The poem was not published until 1780 when Herbert Croft included it in his book Love and Madness.  According to Croft, the original Chatterton manuscript of the poem was in 'an old pocket-book' in the  possession of Sarah Chatterton, the poet's mother.  The whereabouts of the old pocket-book is unknown.

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George Symes Catcott's transcript is from the same manuscript original as Croft's copy. Catcott also claims that the Ms. was in the possession of Sarah Chatterton - and surely he would have seen it before Croft.

On the last page of Catcott's transcript he states that the poem is 'supposed to be the first effort of her unfortunate son's poetical abilities' a statement he could only have got from Sarah or Mary.

The Croft transcript of Apostate Will is preferred by Taylor.   Now you can compare them side by side and make your own choice.

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