Bertie  COUNTY  NC  Obits  John Lednum

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by 
Neil Baker  nbaker@coastalnet.com

http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/bertie.htm


The following is recorded in Capeharts Church 1st book of
minutes.

Departed this life on December 9th 1839 Bro. John Lednum
aged 78 years. 

On the first day of November 1837 he obtained a hope in
Christ that the lord had pardoned his sins. One night
after lying down on his bed to take his rest for the
night, he commenced to say the Lords prayer as he usually
had been in the habit of saying it after laying down, and
after saying …our Father who art in heaven…it appeared
that something said unto him, “how can you call God your
father when he is not” and not another word could Brother
John utter.

This was on Wednesday night and no rest could he take,
for he saw that he was a sinner against God and that…
without God showing mercy towards him, that he must
certainly perish. He continued in this distress until the
next Wednesday about 12:00 o’clock while to himself
almost in despair and ready to conclude that the Lord
would not have mercy upon him, He heard a sharp Shrill
voice louder than any mans voice saying unto him,” If
thou can and will believe thou shall know that God is thy
father”. The Lord was pleased to speak his sins forgiven
and he was filled with the love of God. He was made to
rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

(Capeharts church records have “a” Bro. Lednum was
baptized on September 1838; this was nearly one year
after this experience).

He was led to feel it to be his duty to follow his Lord
and master down into the water and attached himself to
the Baptist church. He was as a burning and shining
light, always ready to converse upon the subject of
religion. While talking about this subject he would get
so full of the love of God and that his cup was very
often “Run Over”. He continued a faithful and worthy
member until his death.

On November 19th he received a cut in his foot, which
terminated in his death. In his afflictions though
great…they were never murmured but thanked God…and often
said that the will of God be done, and not his …he was
patient under them…and often prayed to God if it was his
will to take him out of them all. He was sustained amid
all of his severe illness by the consolation of religion,
and hope full of immortality. Thus he lived and died in
the triumph of faith without a struggle or a groan.
Although his friends do not mourn on the account of his
death as those that have no hope, yet they feel keenly
the removal of such a man. They have a strong hope that
while his body is laid in calm repose; his spirit is gone
to rest with God in Abraham’s bosom. 

How blessed is our brother, bereft
Of all that could burden his mind.
How easy the soul that hath left
This wearisome body behind
This earth is afficted no more
With sickness or shaken with pain
The war in the members is o,er
And never shall vesc him again.

Death hath introduced him to that inheritance that
mansion of bliss prepared for him. While we encompassed
by dull mortality mourn on earth; he has reached his port
the haven of celestial rest. The glories of the eternal
world are gradually unfolding on his astonished sight;
and now could he once more address us, how forcibly would
he urge the importance of pressing forward in the
heavenly road, and of laying (?) hold of eternal life.
May we ever remember what a shining light he was, how the
rays of his benignity (?) were shed around on all who
knew him. The image of the redeemer was stamped on his
life and conversation. Like him may we be devoted to God,
and find in devotion a resource and refreshment to which
our weary souls may betake itself and find at last a
resting place in heaves.

His funeral was preached by Bro. Reuben Lawrence from
Numbers 23rd  chapter, closing with the tenth verse… Let
me die the death of the righteous, and let my end be like
his.

C. Capehart

Notes from Neil Baker: A.	William Lednum joined Capeharts
July 9th 1825. This could be John Lednum’s father???

B.	As I was reading and typing this, I noted that this
happened the first day of November 1837 and believe it or
not the 1837 calendar has that this was on a Wednesday.
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