The following letter was transcribed by Kathy Tucker of Seattle, WA
for inclusion at the Genealogy
in Washington Co., PA web site in March 1998.
Kathy writes:
This letter from Pastor James Sloan to my g-g-g-grandfather Samuel Thomas upon the death of his wife Elizabeth in 1864. I believe Mr. Sloan had been the family pastor and had moved to a different congregation. The Thomas family was living in Dunningsville at the time of this letter.
Waynesburg April 12 1864
Mr. Samuel Thomas
Dear sir
The multiplicity of business, which has crowded on me for some time,
has prevented me from addressing to you a letter of condolence in your
late severe affliction. I truly sympathized with you in the time of your
sadness and sorrow. No one knows the anguish of separation from a
beloved partner, but he who has experienced it. I have felt the
loneliness and sadness consequent upon such an event. I still remember,
and never can forget the untold sorrow arising from the consciousness of
the loss of a beloveds wife. Every object was a memorial of the departed
one. After an absence from home, on my return to that consecrated spot,
I met with no welcome smile, but with a bleeding heart was compelled to
enter that desolated abode, heretofore made cheerful by the presence of
that loved one, who mingled here sympathies with me in all my joys and
sorrows too. How crushing the thought! “Thou art gone to the gram(?)”. I
was left with an infant, two weeks old, and who did not know her mother
was dead. and was permitted for a few short hours unconsciously to
nestle in that bosom, which throbbed with a mother’s heart - with a
mother’s undying love. Your case was different. Mrs Thomas lived long
enough to have children around her, who could appreciate her worth, who
had experienced her kindness, and love, and some of whom could only lisp
(?) the endearing name, “My Mother.” You have sustained a loss. Oh! What
a loss! -- My dear Friend, allow your old pastor to condole with you, to
tender his heartfelt sympathies with you, suffering under the bereaving
hands of your heavenly Father. It would have been a priveledge for me,
(however mournful) to have been with you in the time of your affliction.
I baptized Mrs Thomas and received her as a member of the Visible
Church, and it would have refreshed my often sorrowful heart to have
heard her dying tesitmony. I esteemed Mrs Thomas, as a kind friend, and
a consistent christian. One who adorned her profession. If I am so happy
as to reach the mansions of bliss and glory in heaven, I have no doubts,
but I will meet her there. I shall never see her again, in this world,
and partake of her kind hospitality, but I shall meet her, where all
God’s children shall meet to part no more. “Where those exhaustly germs
of piety shall appear in new branches of vigor, new forms of beauty, and
new clusters of fruit, as eternal ages run their ceaseless rounds. Where
the immortal spirit, will spring into a life, where it shall have a
wider range, and act a nobler part. My dear Friend, “you sorrow not as
those who have no hope.” Your beloved wife sleeps in Jesus, and he will
bring her with him, “when the ransomed of the Lord shall return to Mt.
Zion (?), with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads.” What a sweet
hope! The sweetest that can enter into the soul of man. Indulge this
hope. Tho the object of your affections has faded in the tomb, yet her
disembodied spirit blooms in glory. In your hours of loneliness and
sadness, let your thoughts follow her to that land, where the sun never
sets, and all is high eternal noon. I have heard with sorrow that your
daughter Nancy Jane, is sick. I hope it may not prove serious, but that
she may soon again enjoy her usual health. My earnest prayer is that she
may be prepared for any event, which may await her in the dispentions of
God’s providence. I do not say it to flatter, but I do consider Nancy J.
Thomas as one of the most amiable and excellent young ladies amongst my
acquaintances. I often call to mind the happy evenings spent by our
children together. Those were happy days, but how sad the thought that
they have passed away never to return. My little family is separated and
never to return to our old home. I fear I shall never find a spot, that
I call home again. I am trying to learn to say, “Thy will be done.” Dear
Bro, cast all your cares onto the Lord. He will sustain you. Plead his
promises. He is faithful. May heaven’s riches blessing rest on you as a
family. I still hope Isaiah is living and will ere long return home. My
kindest regards to yourself, and all of your children, and especially to
Nancy Jane and tell her she has the sincere prayer of her old pastor for
her recovery, and her salvation, yours, James Sloan