Guilford County, NC - Obituaries from The Times, 1857

The Times, Greensboro, NC

~~~January 1, 1857

In this county on Thursday morning, 18th inst. Mary E. A., eldest daughter
of Benj. E. and Susannah Woollen, aged 21 years 29 days.

Mrs. Sarah B. Scott, the second and last surviving daughter of the great
orator Patrick Henry, departed this life at her residence "Seven Islands,"
Halifax county, Va., on Wednesday 10th inst., in the 77th year of her age.

~~~January 8, 1857

Josephine-youngest daughter of Hezekiah and Abbey Saunders, of 
Summerfield, N. C.-met with a most distressing death. Her cloths caught on 
fire, and when discovered she was enraped in flames. She lingered a few 
days in great pain, and died on Saturday, December 20. She was an 
interesting, kind and obedient child.

~~~January 22, 1857

At Olin, Iredell county, on Monday the 5th, inst., Mr. Henry L. Sweaney, in
the 57th year of his age.

In Old Town, Forsyth Co., on the 2nd inst., John Butner, Esq., aged 78
years.

In this place, after a protracted illness, on Monday morning last, James
McIver, a native of Ireland, but for about twenty five years a resident of
this place.

~~~January 29, 1857

In this county, on the 25th inst. Joseph Gibson, aged 72 years. Mr. Gibson
was a good and influential citizen, and many, besides his relatives will
mourn his demise.

~~~February 5, 1857

In this place, on Tuesday morning last, the 3rd inst., Mrs. Elizabeth S.
Rankin, wife of Wm. S. Rankin, Esq., of this place.

Suddenly in Danbury, Stokes County, on Wednesday the 21st inst., Mrs. Jane
Shackelford, consort of Mr. Samuel Shackelford, aged 50 years. About 3 o'
clock in the afternoon of her death she complained of being unwell, retired
to bed, and died within an hour. She was the mother of 16 children, 14 of
whom, together with her husband, survive her.

Many of your readers will be pained to learn that Nancy Jane Speer is no
more. She died at the residence of her father in Yadkin county, on the
evening of the 22nd ult.
Death is ever a startling messenger, and though he had been even at the
door for months past, yet, when the spoiler came, the grief seemed too much
for bleeding hearts to bear. It is natural that friends and relatives
should weep for the departed; but when one so young, so kind, so
intelligent, so useful and so beloved; is thus stricken down in the morning
of life, it enshrouds the community in a dark mantle of gloom, and saddens
the heart of the thoughtless and gay. It might justly be said of her that
"those who knew her best loved her most." The deceased was a graduate of
Greensboro Female College, where she remained some time as an efficient and
acceptable instructress in the literary department of that institution.
She was then induced to take up her residence in Rockford, N. C., where she
founded the Rockford Female Seminary, and won the commendation of all as an
able instructress and Christian woman. But the hand of disease pressed
heavily upon her; and during the past summer months, she was compelled to
abandon her school. Her parting interview with the weeping pupils of that
institution, will not be soon forgotten. Little did the writer think, when
he witnessed, two short years ago, the first annual examination of the
classes of that Seminary, that it would so soon be his lot to record the
death of its gifted and accomplished principal. Truly, "in the midst of
life, we are in death.
A ripe scholar-with an earnest, penetrating intellect, united with
indomitable energy, the deceased had acquired an amount and variety of
knowledge rarely attained by her sex.
The writer is conscious that he expresses but the language of a sorrowing
and appreciating community, when he says, we may never look upon her like
again. Who shall take her place.
A STRANGER FRIEND
January 14th, 1857.

~~~February 9, 1857

In Alamance County on the 7th inst., of apoplexy, Dr. Julius S. Bracken, an
esteemed and eminent physician.

~~~February 19, 1857

In vicinity of Greensboro, on Tuesday 12th, February, Mary Houston, eldest
daughter of Col. Joseph A. Houston, aged about 18 years.

~~~March 5, 1857

Rev. Jesse Cole was born Dec. 29, 1775, in Mecklenburg county, N. C. and
died Nov. 25, 1856, aged nearly 81 years. He sought and obtained religion
in the 21st year of his age, and was licensed to preach in the following
year, or 1797; traveled to the Raleigh Circuit, N. C., and in a part of
South Carolina; attended the first camp meeting ever held in his native
State; moved to Knox county, Tenn., about 1811; removed to Middle 
Tennessee, Bledsoe county, about 1819; where he traveled and preached as
a local minister in the mountain section of country; then removed to Robertson
county; and traveled all through Middle Tennessee and about Nashville; then
to Logan county, Ky., where he became unable to travel, and was brought back
to White county, Tenn., where he lived nine years; then he removed to
Cherokee county, N. C. where he preached as long as he could sit in a chair.

~~~March 12, 1857

In the vicinity of Raleigh, on the 3rd instant, Mrs. Eliza A. wife, of the
Rev. Thomas J. Lemay.

In this place, on Tuesday last, Rev. William Paisley, in the 87th year of
his age. Father Paisley, as we all learned in our younger days to
reverentially call him, was born in this county, and settled in this place
when it was in its infancy. He was an eminent divine, and founded the
Presbyterian Church in this place.

At his residence in the vicinity of Fayetteville, on the 8th inst., Dr.
Benjamin Robinson. Dr. Robinson was one of the oldest and most 
respected citizens of Fayetteville, having been born in Bennington, 
Vermont, on the 11th of February, 1776, and removed permanently to
Fayetteville about 1804, where he has since resided, engaged in the 
practice of his profession.

In this county, on the 27th ult., Permelia F. Lanier, aged 16 years. A
kind and affectionate daughter, a tender sister, and warm-hearted friend,
her loss well be keenly felt, and long wept by the bereaved circle she once
graced. And at whose grave shall we weep, if not at the grave of the young,
the lovely, the interesting female? Who will not pause and heave a sigh,
and drop a tear upon the grave of this young and pure-hearted one? That one
who young, so joyous, so full of life, so bright with hope, should be cut
down in the sweet morning of life, and like a tender flower, nipped by an
untimely frost, should hang her gentle head, and droop-and wither-and die!
Sweet sleeper! If the virtues which adorn the mind could have embalmed thy
being-if the love of all who knew thee could have save thee from the grave,
thou hadst not died. Who was not the friend of Permelia. Of whom was not
she the friend? Her amiable and affectionate disposition won every heart.
All loved her, because she loved all. She poured out her soul among her
friends, in a stream of generous and gladdening confidence, while her sweet
smile of friendly sympathy flung a brightness over every scene in which she
moved. Though deeply bereaved they mourn not as those without hope. She
died in the triumphs of faith, being desirous to "depart and be with Jesus."
May we so live that we may have the same strong consolation in the dying
hour.--Com.

~~~March 26, 1857

In Shiloh, Ala., on the 15th inst., Thomas E. Crowson, formerly of this
place, in the 27th year of his age.

~~~April 2, 1857

In this place of consumption on Monday night last, Frank Winters, a native
of Germany. The deceased has a sister in the Northwest, the only relative
in America.

~~~April 16, 1857

In this county, on the 12th instant of Pneumonia, at Rankin D. Lambert's
residence James D. Brown, in the 21st of his age.

At Hillsdale, Guilford county, N. C., at half past seven, on the morning of
March 23rd, Mrs. Martha P., wife of Anslem Reed, Esq., aged 36 years 8
months and 11 days.

~~~April 23, 1857

In this place on the morning of the 22nd inst., Bennett Thomas, son of
William C. Doub, aged 18 months and 21 days.

In Germanton, on the 12th inst., Dr. W. W. Stedman.

~~~May 14, 1857

In Caswell County, N. C., of Paralysis, on Monday May 11th , Thomas
Garrett, aged 83 years.

In Caswell county, N. C. on Friday, May 8th, Mrs. Jane Swift, daughter of
Thomas Garrett.

~~~May 28, 1857

Mrs. Early, wife of the Rev. Bishop Early, of the Methodist E. Church,
south, died in Lynchburg on Sunday morning 17 inst., at the residence of her
husband.

In this place on Saturday the 23rd inst., Miss. Martha E. Pemberton, of
Richmond county, N. C.

At his father's residence in Iredell county, N. C., on the 19th inst., Mr.
John Franklin McAnlay, aged 16 years, 6 months, and 22 days. An
affectionate son, a beloved brother, a youthful associate is no more.

~~~June 11, 1857

Very suddenly, in April last, while on his way from Red River to Little
Rock, Arkansas, Morehead Wright, son of Isaac Wright, Esq., of Bladen, and
brother of C. G. Wright, Esq., of Fayetteville, in the he 50th year of his
age.

~~~June 18, 1857

In this place on Friday, June 12th, William R. Unthank, aged about 25
years.

~~~July 2, 1857

On Saturday morning 27th June Thomas J. Jenkins departed this life.

Died in the county of Guilford, N. C. on the 9th of June, 1857, Mrs. Mary
Pegram, wife of Daniel Pegram, in the 47th year of her age. In 1832 she
embraced the religion of Jesus Christ, and immediately joined the M. E.
Church, of which her husband was already a member. From the time she
connected herself with the church, till the day of her death, she continued
in the faith she professed, without wavering in her religious course. Her
views of religious truth, we believe, were such as the Bible teaches; and
her "faith" such as was first "delivered to the saints."
In 1852 she obtained the blessing of perfect love, after which she talked
much of the advantages of living in full assurance of the promises which God
has given to his people.
She was a devoted, affectionate wife; a kind and tender mother; and an
undissembled friend. The church has lost a worthy member, and the poor a
benfactress. But the afflicted family mourn not as those who have no hope;
the consoling testimony is left behind, that while her seat in the church is
vacant, and her presence around the family altar is seen no more, she dwells
in glory, in a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the
heavens; where Christ told his disciples he would go and prepare a place for
them, that where he was there they might be also. What a soul-cheering
thoughts is to the bereaved relatives to know, that their loss is her
eternal gain.
She was afflicted for about two weeks, during which time she patiently
endured her afflictions with Christian meekness. About five days before her
death she appeared to be conscious of her approaching dissolution, and
called all the family to the bedside, and told each one to meet her in
heaven; then calling for the young men who were boarding with the family,
she talked to each one, admonishing those who had embarked in the cause of
God to press forward and continue faithful unto the end-to those who were
living without hope in the world, she said that her daily prayers were, that
they might be prepared to meet their God in peace; and furthermore entreated
them to be "also ready." She then called to her companion and said, I think
the bridegroom is come, for it appears that there are a company of angels
around my bed, who are singing the most delightful songs I ever heard. From
this time till her final departure, she appeared to be resigned to the will
of her heavenly Father.
How sweet to fall asleep in Christ
And rest from every care and pain-
How sweet to know that heav'n is true,
Where God and Saints forever reign.
What hopes revive the Christian's soul,
When borne on angel's wings away
To sing the everlasting praise
Of Jesus in eternal day.

~~~July 9, 1857

In this place on the 3rd inst., in the 80th year of his age Dr. David
Caldwell, son of the celebrated David Caldwell, D. D., and eminent physician
and a good and useful man.

~~~July 16, 1857

In Newbern, on the 27th ult., Mrs. Mary E. Davenport, consort of C. G.
Davenport, Esq., Editor of the Newbern Express; and daughter of Thomas H.
And Elizabeth Turner of Washington county, N. C.

In Newbern, on the 30th ult., of Consumption, Mr. William J. Williams,
formerly Editor of the Weekly News.

~~~July 23, 1857

At his residence in Alamance county, on the 18th inst., of paralysis,
George Albright, in the 69th year of his age.

~~~July 30, 1857

In Guilford co., N. C. on the 13th July 1857, Mary W. Durham, daughter of
Micajah Durham, in the 45th year of her age. She was afflicted with the
consumption for about 3 years before her death; and by a gradual
deterioration with this wasting disease, she finally passed away from her
present sufferings to that rest which God has prepared for them that love
Him. Although she was no a member of the church, yet she expressed herself
as ready and willing to submit to the great mandate of heaven, while
entrusting her soul into the hands of a kind and faithful Creator.

~~~August 6, 1857

In this county, at the residence of her brother James Paisley, on the 6th
of July, Miss Hannah Paisley, who was the youngest grand-child of Col. John
Paisley, a prominent character in the Revolutionary war, and who for her
many excellencies, deserves more than a passing notice. Left an orphan,
twelve or thirteen years ago and without property, or any certain reliance
for support except the kindness of friends, from a noble spirit of
independence, she resolved not only to work her way through the world, but
to make herself useful to the community in which she lived. By great energy
and perseverance she went for enjoying further advantages, and assiduously
availed herself of whatever sources of information where within her reach
until she became a thorough scholar in all the solid branches usually taught
in the female academies, and was certainly one of the best teachers in the
country. Without an exception, her pupils became greatly impressed on the
subject of religion. By all of them she will be remembered with a warm
affection; but those who, by her prayers and instructions, were brought to
the knowledge of salvation through Jesus Christ, will feel an obligation
with they can never pay. These statements are made, not only as a tribute
which is richly due to her memory, but for the encouragement of other young
ladies who may be left fatherless in similar circumstances. She professed
to have experienced a saving change when only about nine years old, and was
admitted to the communion of the church before she had completed her tenth
year. From the day of her new birth until the hour of her death she was a
consistent, comfortable and growing Christian. With a feeble constitution,
she never enjoyed very good health, but for more than a year before her
death, her sufferings were severe, often intensely so for weeks at a time.
Yet she bore them all with Christian resignation, and was always cheerful
and pleasant. Frequently, when she got a little better, after days of
unrelenting pain, she would pleasantly remark to her friends how
disappointed she felt; for she hoped that her time had come, but the Lord's
will be done-She retained her senses perfectly until the last, and death was
to her a welcome messenger, sent to release her from the sufferings of earth
and let her enter upon the joys of the heavenly world. There was not a
speck of could to obscure her future prospects, and she left all that she
loved and valued here without any painful regret, in the full assurance of
everlasting rest.

In this place on Tuesday morning, the 4th inst., Miss Nannie Parsons. She
was loved by all who know her on account of her sweet temper and her kind
warm love.

~~~August 13, 1857

In this county, on the 7th inst., Margaret D., youngest child of J. and M.
Highfill, aged 3 months and 19 days.

Near South Lowell in Orange county, on Thursday morning the 16th ult.,
Elder Geo. T. Coggin, aged about 56 years. He made a profession of religion
more than twenty years ago, and in a few years thereafter, was ordained an
elder in the Primitive Baptist Church.

In Granville county, on the 22nd of June, Mr. Henry Rowland, aged 83 years.

~~~August 27, 1857

In High Point, N. C. August 18th, 1857, at the residence of Jacob Linebery,
Miss Elizabeth Ann Smith, in the 16th year of her age.
It seems that the ways of God are truly mysterious. The deceased was cut
off in the prime of life. She professed Religion about two years ago and
joined the Methodist Church and continued a faithful member of the same
until her death. She also was a regular attendant of the Sabbath School
which was held in this place. She was a young lady of untiring perseverance
in all her studies; a close and attentive student. She seemed from the
commencement of her sickness to have a desire to make peace with her God,
and get an assurance of his sweet smiles, to bear her up through the dark
shadow of death. M. J.

~~~September 24, 1857

In Stokes county, on the 12th inst., Joel Hill, sen., aged about 80 years.

~~~October 1, 1857

In Caswell county, recently, Mr. Daniel Gunn-an aged and highly esteemed
citizen, and an exemplary member of the M. E. Church.

~~~October 8, 1857

In Concord on Saturday the 3rd inst., Miss Lucy Crowder, for many years a
resident of this place, and an exemplary member of the Methodist E. Church,
South.

In this County, on the 5th inst., Mrs. Martha Edwards, wife of W. D.
Edwards.

~~~October 15, 1857

In Mt. Airy, at the residence of his son, on Monday 21st ult., Charles
Banner, Esq., aged 84 years.

~~~November 5, 1857

In Newberry District of South Carolina, on Monday 26th October, Thomas F.
Cole, of Stokes County, North Carolina age about 28 years. The deceased was
sick only seven or eight days, was delirious from Saturday morning and died
among strangers. His remains were brought back to Stokesburg, Stokes
County, N. C. and were buried by the order of Odd Fellows.
The Editor of this paper together with a large family of brothers and
sisters, mourn the untimely death of one who was a most dutiful child, and
affectionate brother and a worthy and exemplary man. The hallowed
associations of former days are not blemished by the recollection of one
angry word, or one unbrotherly act: and we now mourn for him who is the
first to break the family circle.

In this place on Wednesday night 28th October, William Elliott, ages 66
years. He was a member of long standing in the M. E. Church, and died in
Christian triumph.

In Halifax, N. C., on Wednesday, 28th October, Mrs. E. R. Underhill, wife
of W. H. Underhill, aged 34 years. She was a consistent member of the
Methodist E. Church.

~~~November 12, 1857

In this county, Thursday 5th, November, J. C. Donnell, aged about 30 years.

At her residence, near Cascade, Pittsylvania county, Va., on the 27th ult.,
Mrs. Nancy Peatross, consort of the late James Peatross, in the 96 year of
her age.

In Ocala, Florida, on the 24th inst., Mrs. Nancy S., wife of J. W. S.
Crowson, and daughter of Mr. M. Alexander, in the 26th year of her age.
The deceased died in the enjoyment of an unwavering faith in the he
efficacy of the blood of Christ which cleanseth from all sin. Possessing a
clear and steady mind even to the latest breath, she urged her relatives and
friends to live for eternity and calmly bidding them all good-bye, said she
was ready and not afraid to die. Besides a large circle of relatives and
friends, she has left a devoted husband and an infant daughter to mourn her
loss.

In this county, on Saturday 7th, of pneumonia, Jesse Thompson, in the 67th
year of his age.

~~~November 19, 1857

In this County on Saturday 7th November, Miss Martha Pearson, aged about 75
years.

~~~December 17, 1857

In Lexington, Virginia, on Wednesday the 25th November, Mrs. Mary Sloan,
widow of John Sloan, deceased, in the 74th year of her age.

At his residence near Leaksville in Rockingham County, N. C. on the 8th
Nov., Thomas Hamlin in the 92nd year of his age.

On the evening of the 4th inst., Mrs. Cornelia W., consort of F. L.
Golding, and daughter of the late Dr. William Hamlin, of Asheboro, N. C.

Departed this life near Rockingham, Richmond county, N. C., on the evening
of the 8th ultimo, after an illness of two weeks, Elisha Crowson, in the
87th year of his age. He remarked to his eldest daughter about a week ago,
that he was not afraid to die, and that he was prepared to go at any time.

In Guilford county, on the night of the 9th inst., Joseph Mitchell, aged
between forty and fifty years. The deceased was an enterprising farmer and
a useful and worthy citizen.

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