Name/Title
Letter from Mary Johnson after the death of her daughter, Rebecca PorterEntry/Object ID
2011.01.024Scope and Content
Letter from Mary Johnson in Camden, New York after the death of her daughter, Rebecca Johnson Porter
Rebecca Johnson Porter, wife of Asahel, and their one month old son Dennis, perished in a boating accident at the mouth of the Rocky River on April 6, 1814. They were returning from a trip to Cleveland, along with Noah Crocker and George Smith, when their boat capsized. Smith also died as a result of the storm.
The Porters, with their two daughters, had arrived in Dover the first day it was settled, October 10, 1810, just hours after the Cahoon family. They came with her brother, Leverett Johnson, 17, who the following day went south into what is presently Westlake to establish a homestead. A brother-in-law of Rebecca, Reuben Osborn traveled with them, but returned to his family to bring them to Dover in the spring.
This letter from Mary Johnson is written to a number of individuals. It is addressed to her son-in-law, Asahel Porter, but the greeting is "Dear Children." She had received the letter "with very melancholly news" regarding the tragedy on May 26th. She states that "it was the will of God that Rebekah shoud be taken away in the Prime of life from her usefulness in the world."
A portion of the letter is to Sally Johnson Osborn, sister of Rebecca. She expresses her deep sorrow for Sally who had traveled "four hundred miles on purpose to enjoy the company and friendship of a kind sister whose friendship has been uncommon...great childhood and so soon left without a sister...it was the hand of kind Providence that directed you away into the wilderness to be a comfort to that Berieved Family, especally the Motherless Children that ... knew the rage and advice of another while they walk the rode of Childhood and youth in a trecherous deceitful world. I hope you will Be faithful to them and your own Children."
A portion to Leverit (sp.), states how "he lost a kind and affectionate sister...the Best advise she was capable of is now silent in death be careful to improve the advise she has given you and be always ready to heare advise from your Brothers and Sisters." Mary suggests portions of the Bible for him to read.
Transcribe:
Camden July the 3 - aD 1814
Dear Children we recieved your letter the 26 of May with very melancholly news at which we were all very mutch afflicted more surley felt by a tender mother whos fealing no one can tell but by sad experiense all tho I could speke the language of David when he hear of the sad and agrivateing Death of his son abraham but it was the will of God that Rebekah shoud be taken away in the Prime of life from her usefulness in the world and from her young family who somutch knew the perental care of a kind Mother and should be left to groan under the enfirmates of old age allmost weried of my life even so. Father for so it learneth good in thy light, if it had not ben for a hope that I have had of her for fifteen years and astertanse from on high this shocking news would ben almost supportable. I could give the reson of my hope But it would swell my letter quil length I trust you are not all strangers to the apparent that took plase about that time however Rebekah has slumbered and slept of late it appears I hope she still has oil in hur lamp and was ready to go into the marriage in -- But that we will leve to the Righteous who we know has done wright: I wish that Gods dealing might be Sanctified to the good of the Surviving Parent Asahel you have ben called to part with an amiable woman a kind Mother and tender wife and an only Son these deaths Speake in a language impossible for toung to relate which you have ben a witnes to I wish that this might bee the meanes of your grail and Sullem change. O that you may give up your Selfe and Children to a God and Beare your trials with Christian fortitude and be enabled to say with the royal sufferer it is good for mee to be afficted
Page 2 Top Left:
O Sally what shall I say to you my hart akes my hart akes for you I now your grief cannot be Small your portion is to drink the worwood and the gall have you goan fore hundered miles on purpose to enjoy the company and friendship of a of kind Sister whose friendship has ben uncommonly grait Childhod and so soon left without a sister near to sympathise with you under your affiction. But I hope you have a god to it so grase is suficient for you he is able to support under all your troubles but who nows but it was the hand of kind Providense that directed you away in to the wilderness to be a comfort to that Berieved Family especially the Motherless Children that somutch knew the care and advise of a mother while they walk the rode childhood and youth in a trecherous deceitful world I hope you will be faithful to them and your own Children while life and opportunity shall last I wis the brothers would take suitable notise of the sollem Stroake of Providense and see the frailty of human dependanse and may see the importance of geting a more substancial good than can be had in certain enjoyments - - - - - - - -
Leverit you have lost in this stroke of Providense a kind and affectionate Listen but remember their hands tho have so oven administered to your necisity are now in the cold grave the toung that has ever given you the Best advise She was capable of is now selant in death be careful to improve the advise she has given you and be always ready to heare advise from your Brothers and Sisters that are loft with you I wish you to be mutch in reading the Levitticus especially Psalms: Proverbs Eclesiastes especially the 4 first Chapters of Proverbs which is good for all but more especially directs his speach to young men he lels us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge life had a funeral serman Preached upon the sollom reason by W Hollilest of Springfield his text was Matthew 25 part of the 10 was
Page 3 Top Left:
and they that more readly went into the marriag and the dore was shut these words ware verry striking on such mornful occasion he held up in a verry clear light the importanse of being sounds and the deplorabe State of not being readdy and what the dore was that would be shut and in the improvement he and himself to the morners in a verr affecting manner of the impartanse of god dealings and our improvement of the same he warned is against murmering and complaining against Providense and for immitation mentioned Leverat of Plases of Scripture especially Jobs patiense and the Submission of Elias the assembly appeared verry Sollem and many in tears they appeared to mourn with them they mourned and [hole]ap with them they weap.. O how it sweaten the bitter cup to have the prayers and sympthy of Christian friends.. he after addresd himselfe to the assembly to the aged middle aged and young in a verry sollem manner warned all to make a wise improvement of these sudden strokes of Mortality that are daily sounding in our ears.. he informed us he had preached 12 funerals sermons the yeare past he mentioned several passages of Scripter beginning Prov 24 verse continued to 32 as neare as I can recalled open your Bible and read it so as this heavenly discourse came from the hand I hope it may reach the hands of all that heare and make a lasting improvement upon there minds, often enjoy a comfortable State of health as can be expected under the infirmates of old age your father wishes to beremembered to you and wishes that this stroke of mortality might besanetified to your soles everlasting god your brothers and sisters that live neare us are in health Eliphlets Little son has ben dangerous Sick of a feaver but he has recovered ..
Calvin has got another son.. Hezekiah made us a visit in the spring but has returned he informed us our friends are well,, Minor Johnson dyed the 3 day April after a long and tedious sickness of 13 months he had his sensees well in a dying hour and left a comfortable hope be fine I feal to mourn with them But little thought Rebekah was to follow him so soon.
So I remain your affectionate Mother
Mary Johnson of Ashel Porter
This is a copy of what was sent to me
I have no room to write I want to see you all
Give my love to [ ] Calvin JohnsonCollection
Osborn Family CollectionRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Johnson, CalvinPerson or Organization
Johnson, LeverettPerson or Organization
Johnson, MaryPerson or Organization
Osborn, SallyPerson or Organization
Porter, Asahel
