Sarah Y. Jenners was born 16 March 1804 near Broad Run in
Loudoun Co., Virginia. She was the
second daughter named Sarah born to Abiel and Deborah (Young) Jenners. The first Sarah died in 1801 when she was a
little over a year old. I suspect her middle
name was “Young” for her mother’s maiden name, but I have found no document to
prove it. Her paternal grandmother was
named Sarah, so I suspect this Sarah was named for her.
On 13 April 1824, Sarah married Dr. Jonathan N. Bradfield,
at her father’s home on the Wright farm near Waterford, Virginia. The marriage notice published 20 April
1824 read, "Married by Rev. Mr.
Burch: Dr. Jonathon N. Bradfield to Miss Sarah Jenners, daughter of Abiel
Jenners, Esq. all of this county."
Jonathan Bradfield was the son of Benjamin Bradfield and
his wife, Rachel Smith. He was born “24th
day, 5th month, 1798.” Jonathan was a Quaker, but was disowned by
the Goose Creek Monthly Meeting at least twice.
According to Ye Meeting House
Smal, by Janney, "Jonathan
was cautioned [by the Friends church] because he had 'joined in light company
in dancing.' Since Jonathan would not forego his evil ways, or perhaps because
he was not convinced he had done wrong, he was regretfully disowned in the year
that the new brick meeting house was first put to use. When the list of contributors to the new
house was made out, however, the name of Benjamin Bradfield, Jonathan's father,
led all the rest. And well it might, for
as Amos Gibson wrote in the minutes, Jonathan had stated 'in writing that he appealed
to the Quarterly Meeting from the judgement of this,' and the Quarterly Meeting
reversed Goose Creek's action. Jonathan was reinstated in 1821. ... he was disowned again a few years later,
before the Bradfield's headed for Ohio."
After Jonathan married Sarah, he was listed as having "married
out of unity" and was disowned from the Goose Creek Monthly Meeting,
Society of Friends on "16th day, 12th month, 1824."
Sarah’s father, Abiel Jenners, died in September 1824 in
Waterford, Virginia.
Sarah and Jonathan’s first child, a son, was born about 1825. They named him Abiel Jenners Bradfield for
Sarah’s father. The family called him
Jenners. I have not found his exact
birth date yet.
Their second child, a daughter, Rachel Eugenia Bradfield,
was born 19 May 1827. She was probably born
in Tippecanoe Co., Indiana, but it is possible she was born in Loudoun Co.,
Virginia, before her parents went west.
It is certain, however, that Sarah and Jonathan and their
two children were in Lafayette, Indiana by March 1828 when they were mentioned
in a letter from Sarah’s brother, Martin, to their mother. It appears that they emigrated first to the Richmond, Indiana area with Jonathan's parents and siblings. The Quaker monthly meeting records show them getting certificates for the White Water Monthly Meeting in Wayne Co., Indiana. Then shortly after that the whole Bradfield family moved on to Tippecanoe County.
The 1830 census for Tippecanoe Co., Indiana lists: J.
N. Bradfield with the following individuals in his household: 1 male under 5 [born after 1825; probably
Abiel J. Bradfield, his son]; 1 male 30-40 [born 1790-1800 ;probably Jonathan
Bradfield]; 1 female under 5 [born after 1825; probably R. Eugenia Bradfield,
his daughter]; 1 female 30-40 [born 1790-1800; probably Sarah Y. Bradfield, his
wife].
On 10 May 1831, Jonathan and Sarah
executed an indenture deed in Tippecanoe Co., Indiana, exchanging some land
that Jonathan had inherited from his father, Benjamin. The land went to John Bradfield and his wife
Emily. A transcription follows: "This Indenture made & entered into
this tenth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and
thirty one between Johnathon N. Bradfield & Sarah his wife of the one part
and John Bradfield of the other all of the county of Tippecanoe & State of
Indiana. Witnesseth that whereas the
said John Bradfield & Emily his wife by deed under their hands & seals
bearing equal date herewith did by the said deed grant bargain and sell unto
the Said Johnathon Bradfield his heirs &c by way of Exchange a certain
piece or parcel of Land, lying and being in the said County, Being the west
half of the North west quarter of Section number twenty [?] three in Township
number twenty three North of Range 4 West, as particularly described in a
certain deed of bargain & sale bear date the sixth day of October in the
year Eighteen hundred and thirty, Recorded in Book Letter B in Said county page
490 & 491 from a certain Joseph Williamson and Ann Williamson his wife to
the said John Bradfield. Now in
consideration of said conveyance by way of Exchange from the said John
Bradfield and Emily his wife to the said Johnathon N. &c, and for the
further Consideration of one Dollar in hand paid by the said John Bradfield to
the said Johnathon N. and Sarah his wife the receipt whereof they do hereby
acknowledge they the said Johnathon N & Sarah his wife have given granted
bargained and sold and by their presents do give grant bargain and sell by way
of Exchange unto the said John Bradfield his heirs and assigns, the right title
and interest of them the said Johnathon N and Sarah his wife, derived by
descent and inheritance to the said Johnathon N from his late father Benjamin
Bradfield decd in and to two Thirds of the following tracts of land lying and
being in the said county of Tippecanoe and State of Indiana Being the west half of the south west quarter
of Section number fifteen in Township number twenty two north of Range number
five west in the district of Terre Haute & said State of Indiana Containing
Eighty acres more or less. Also the East
half of the south west quarter of Section twenty in Township 22 North of range
five west in the district of lands offered for sale at Crawfordsville Indiana,
containing Eighty acres more or less the said tract of land being undivided
between the heirs of the said Benjamin, being three in number, it being
understood and agreed that this conveyance shall not effect the reversionary
interest of the Said Johnathon N. in that portion or part of the said two
tracts of Land to which the widow of the said Benjamin Bradfield may now be
entitled to dower, together with all and singular the rights privileges and
improvements and appurtenances appertaining and belonging in any manner to the
said two thirds of said tracts of land which will in the division thereof be
assigned and [unreadable word] for the part of the said grantor Johnathon N. To have and to hold unto the said John
Bradfield his heirs and assigns forever the hereby granted or intended to be
granted right and interest of them the said Johnathon N and Sarah his
wife. Together will all singular the
rights privileges improvements and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any
wise appertaining according to such division and allotment as may be made
thereof among the said Benjamin's heirs And the said Johnathon N and Sarah his
wife for themselves their heirs executors administrators and assigns do hereby
grant covenant and agree to and with the said John Bradfield his heirs and
assigns, that the right title and interest hereby conveyed or intended to be
conveyed, is free from all encumbrance, or hindrance or molestation, and that
the grantors aforesaid will forever warrant and defend the same together with
the appurtenances of every kind against all lawful claims whatsoever In testimony whereof the parties of the first
part have hereunto subscribed their names and set their seals the day and date
first above written.
Signed sealed and delivered J. N. Bradfield
in the presence of Sarah
Y. Bradfield
State of Indiana
Tippecanoe
County ss. Before me Cyrus Ball a justice of the peace
for said County personally came Johnathon N. Bradfield & Sarah Y. Bradfield
his wife, the grantors named in the above deed of conveyance and acknowledged
the signing sealing and delivery of the same to be their voluntary act and deed
for the uses and purposes therein contained
And the said Sarah Y. Bradfield wife of the said Johnathon N. Bradfield
being examined separate and apart from her husband acknowledged that she signed
sealed and delivered the same of her own voluntary will and accord without fear
or compulsion on the part of her said husband & that she thereby
relinquished her right of dower in the same
Given under my hand and seal at Lafayette the 10th day of October
A.D. 1831.
Cyrus
Ball
Justice
of the Peace
Recorded July 10th A.D. 1832
Sandford
C. Cox, Recorder
Copy of Deed of Exchange to Jno
Bradfield
(A)
Abiel J. Bradfield vs Una A. Stacker, et al
Exhibit A of Complt
No Jury 20/58
[unreadable signature]
H.C. Corilson [?]"
On 17 May 1832, Sarah and Jonathan’s daughter, Rachel
Eugenia, died. She was four years
old. In a letter, her aunt Ann Jenners
wrote, "...Our dear little Eugenia
was a great source of amusement and pleasure to us all, but she too is gone,
she has drooped and died. ...she died
the 18 of May within 3 days of being 5 years old. She was a beautiful child and one of the most
sensible children I ever knew." She
was buried in Greenbush Cemetery.
Ann Jenners wrote in June 1832 that Sarah was in
"great distress" over the death of her daughter, Eugenia, and was
also very concerned over the poor health of "the Dr." (her husband,
Jonathan). Jonathan was in “a very low
state of consumption.” Sarah’s health
was also poor.
In August 1832, Sarah gave birth to a son that lived
only one day. He does not seem to have
been named. Sarah’s sister, Ann, went to
live with the Bradfields to help Sarah recover after the baby’s birth.
Then on 27 September 1832, Sarah’s husband, Jonathan
Bradfield died. He was 41 years
old. He is buried in Greenbush Cemetery
and shares a tombstone with his daughter, Eugenia.
So within four months in 1832, Sarah lost her daughter,
an infant son, and her husband. She was
28 years old.
By November 1833, letters from Joseph Addison Braden and
Ann Jenners to described Sally as being
"as lively as ever." Joseph also wrote that, "Sally looks
well and is more lively than you ever saw her." In another letter, he says she is "as
lively as a cricket." Ann described
her as “quite a flashy widow.”
On 3 October 1841, Sarah wrote to her sister, Mary
Braden. The letter was addressed to
"Mary Brading, Road to the Ohiooos."
Sarah has been at their brother David's helping Maria (David's
wife). It is a newsy letter about the
family. It follows:
"Oct. 3d, 1841
Dear Sister
We got home safe through mud and rain
all the way, found all well. The town
generally is healthy, several cases of chills, and some bilious attacks. Old Mr. Brown died last night with gravel (J.
Taylor's father in law) has been sick a long time. Mrs. Kettle has been very low with the
dysentery is now better, had a root. steam Dr. until near dead, then sent for
Denning. Jane Crammer was to have been
married last Tuesday but did not in consequence of taking a chill we are all
well but Wm Hawthorn he has the chills.
I have been to Davids a week helping Maria she is poorly has no girl and
while I was there Debby took a chill had a hard fit the next chill she had no
fit but a high fever, the Dr gave her drops to stop the chill & I think she
will have no more. David says whenever Ma wants to come he will go after her, I
want you to tell S. Bell that Cynthia Ann is well, and is very much pleased
with new home we like her very well and I expect she will stay all winter but
shall go home to see ["you" crossed out] them she wants them to fix
her flannel dress and send to her and also wants them to colour her yarn send
it to her she is going to knit her stockings here. I want you not to forget anything I have
written to tell S. Bell.
Tell Mary I know of no news at
all I believe things are just as she
left them every way I will write to her
next. Tell Mrs Louthard her sisters were
here to-day they are all well but Mrs Allen
she is at her Fathers and has been very ill but is mending. I return your shawl with my thanks the books and vest are for Robert the pill-box
for you to sift bucks horn through, that is to make a sieve of. The comb for Ma. I bought it at A. McCormacks had it charged
to Mary Jennings. The egg from the
egg-plant I send to you to cook they are thought a great delicacy. You must slice it the night before cooking,
(cut it down just as you would apples to fry) slice it thin put it in weak salt
water let it lie 12 or more hours, then make a good batter just as you would
for fritters dip each piece in batter fry each piece separate like fritters
brown and nice in lard or butter. I
prefer it without the batter, just fried brown in butter, tis a very
fashionable dish, but I dont think extra good.
I know nothing more at present.
Dear Sister I began this letter 2 weeks ago, and now sit down to finish
it. Nancy and Peter started to
Crawfordsville yesterday to synod to be gone until next tuesday left all the
children & I began to wean Jim and I had a great time with him last night
but I think he will do very well to-day as he'll soon forget his tit. Maria is very poorly has no help but little
William the boy. over
the afternoon brother William started
to your house Martin fell off from Alba's horse dislocated the 2 joints of his
elbow and broke a piece of the bone of one of the joints his arm is extreemly
[sic] swelled and painfull [sic] the Dr is fearfull [sic] he never will
straighten it. O! what an affliction if
he should not. Now about our trade, the
shovel and tongs are both broken, I had not seen them so long I had forgotten
it. David says it would cost 50 cts to
mend the shovel and says the tongs are good for nothing as they are loose in
the joint. therefore I shall not send
them, they will answer my purpose but not yours for I could not ask you a full
price as they are not worth it, however I'll wait till you come in and see
them, and in the mean time I will lend you my iron ones until I shall want
them, if you will send me word the first chance I'll send them to you as above
stated. The health of the town is
uncommonly good some cases of chills, but none bilious. Do come in while tis good weather. Tell B not to get the goods for me I must
have them immediately and try to pay for them some other way. David will go for Ma so soon as she is ready
to come in. in haste yours Sarah.
love to all"
On 12 December 1843, Sallie wrote to Mary: "Dear Sister, I did not expect to hear
that you were entirely well, by Mr Braden, but I did not expect to hear that
you were worse, as is certainly the case from the contents of your letter. And now I shall honestly and candidly tell
you my whole opinion of your case. I now
have no earthly trouble in this world (not the least thing to be called
trouble) except the situation of yourself and brother David, you physically,
David mentally. I have no influence over
poor David myself but feel to commit him to his God and pray for him. But you my dear sister I pray you let me
influence you and prevail on you and your good husband in this case namely the
restoration of your health. Dont think
I'm not aware that you wish to get well yourself far from it, but this is the
idea; you have [second "have" crossed out] pursued one course so long
and not well yet now I want you to change the practice. In the first place Demming has attended you a
long time with little good effect, and a good deal of expense to you well I
have often talked to him about you, and his invariable answer was he could not
cure you unless he could see you occasionally, which I know to be the fact, but
now I wish you to drop him, (not that his is not a good physician but he
certainly is negligent) I know it and
has been so with you, still I affirm there is not that doctor living who will
take or feel the same interest for a patient that he only prescribes for as for
one he visits. There never was one that
could be made do it. I dont care how
honest he is, for the simple reason he cannot relieve a person of a long
chronic disease like yours without seeing you once a month at least. Well I'm not very easily carried away with
new Doctors I know but since I have become acquainted with Dr Williams I know
him to be one of the most learned and scientific Doctors in this country, and
with all a modest gentleman now I want you or Mr. Braden to write to him to go
and see you and not stop at one visit but go on go on until you get well. You will find him an honest man in his
practice he will tell you whether he can cure you or not, what if he charges 10
or 20 dollars per visit what consideration is that to your life, and you
certainly must know that your disease now has run nearly through all the different
stages of prolapses except that most certain most awful termination consumption
if you don't know it I do and so does every doctor but they wont tell you. And O my dear sister, if such is to be your
case I don't fear for you for you I know will be happy, but look! those dear
little ties given to you to train and take care of what would they do in this
unfriendly world without you, true they have a kind and too indulgent a Father
but he cannot be a mother to them, I well know you are willing to pay any price
to get well, (no wonder when you have suffered so much and so long) Well now I beg and in treat of you send for
Dr. Williams if he cant cure you I fear you never will get well, but I honestly
believe he can, send for him immediately direct your letter to Columbia,
Tippecanoe Co. I have not seen him since
I was at your house, but if I do see him I could not describe all the symptoms
and complicated diseases you have he
must see you and be judge himself. You
say you would like to be nigh all your brothers and sisters now you are so
poorly for they could add greatly to your comfort that is very true indeed have
I not always been dissatisfied with you and Burr tearing yourselves away from
us going off in that lonely miserable country
did not all of us urge him to stay with us? where we could help each other? now you both feel the effects of it and it
does not stop with you yourselves your children will always feel it, I can
never forget how my deceased husband urged Burr not to go there but to stop in
or near Lafayette he particularly spoke of the growing prosperity of this town
and its increase in wealth good society good schools etc. and proved his
opinion by settling here. And now look
at the advantage of all our children over yours in their good schools,
teachers, society, etc. Mary, I never
can get over it when I think what was Burr's object in going there, if I judge
him wrong I hope for forgiveness. I know
Mr. Braden has made a good living there but it has cost your health, and him a
great deal of hard work and anxiety of mind, and now I am very glad that he
lives easier. But I would not have
exchanged the pleasure and comfort of the society which I've enjoyed for all
you have made in regard to worldly matters, for it was by being under constant
religious influence that ever brought me to think of my immortal soul by going
constant to church and there catching the spirit of prayer and devotion, and
now thanks be to god I feel my piety strengthened at every meeting for devotion
to which I go and they are not few. O!
we are so blessed with religious privileges and so are you in a great measure
which is a great comfort to you in your afflictions. You say you would like me to stay with you
this winter but must sacrifice your feelings to my comfort well if I should
what would be my comfort, here is my child the only tie to bind me to earth,
whom I should not see the whole time he is a poor boy has to work for his
living has not one hour in the week his own to go anywhere, You would not leave
yours for that length of time I know, and I am all the friend on earth he's got
to do anything for him or feel affection toward him. besides I can get sewing to do as much as I
want a good price for it when done, and this winter I get not a cent of rent
and am obliged to work to get what I really need, I will pay you in the course
of the winter for the dress Mr. B. brought me twas very nice indeed. But not withstanding all these excuses if you
don't get better I'll go out and stay with you awhile anyhow I know you feel
lonesome often, but I should feel miserable was I there and sick. I should not have a husband and children to
comfort me as you have, I have now written you a long letter, and I do dislike
to write very much. I have got a big job
of sewing to do for Mrs. Pettit she is a perfect sister to me always inviting
me to make her house my home, she is most excellent pay I love her very
much. I must tell you that Dr Williams
is very deaf and dont hear without you talk very loud should he visit you, if
he does let me know the result. My love
to all the children, and on Christmas morning tell them Christmas gift for me. No more.
Sarah Y Bradfield "
By May 1844, Sallie was living at the home of her
brother-in-law, Peter Jennings, husband of her deceased sister, Ann. My copy of this letter is poor, so excuse the
many unreadable places. She wrote: "Lafayette, May 21st, 1844 My dear sister I hardly know where to begin it has been
so long since I wrote to you So I have
[unreadable] to write. I have not heard
a word from you since Mr. Braden was here and I do feel very uneasy about
you. I think more about you lately than
I ever did in my whole life before to
think there is now just two of us and we must [?] be situated [?] [several
unreadable words] after poor Nancy died [several unreadable words] see how God
does [several unreadable words] by long and painful experience that it is no
use to form plans for life but to be [unreadable] to whatever God in his
providence shall allot to us. I am here
at Peter's doing all that I can for these motherless children a very great change to one so weak in
physical strength how I shall do[?] the
work here that I have I can't tell only that the good being has supported me to
[unreadable] only I give all thanks. You [unreadable] that [unreadable] for
these here that I have my hands [unreadable] full all the time to [several
unreadable words] and handled hard things every hour in the day. O! Mary it is indeed a heavy task you can't conceive my feelings neither can I
express them my heart is too full. I feel [unreadable] from the world
[unreadable] with this. I ever did
before this time. God sanctified
[unreadable] sins, may you [several unreadable words [page 2]
I could tell you a great deal could I be with you a few days writing is a slow way of communion though it
is a great blessing I have no idea of
seeing you this summer though I may. I
have had no girl to help me but 2 weeks since I came here, except [Mary?]
Bradfield I sent for her 2 [?] weeks
ago she don't consider herself my
help does what she please and leaves all
the hard work for me except milking. I
have given her one dollar per week ever since she came. I don't want any more relations hired. they expect too much indulgences. I engaged Mr B. to get a girl for me when he
was here (if he could) indeed I suppose he has forgotten it. Realizing [?] you are more persevering than
him I want you to try if you please. I
want you to see [?] Hill to ask her. I
wish you hired [?] a good hand[?] as long as she will stay with me and our
family at Peters. I won't hire any myself of course with [unreadable] if you
can get there. There is a great deal
here to do which no one could think [unreadable]. Peter has a great many good things that are
hard to handle and keep in order and as for a person that works as I do that is keep using things [unreadable] it is
more than I can possibly do alone. I
have to do all the sewing and mending, but it is alone for these little
children which I do it. I would do the
same for any brother or sister I have though it is very doubtful of any of them
doing as much for me for I have tested every one of them as far as I wish and
indeed a good deal farther. Well now Mary the oldest and youngest of our family
have gone to the reality of the other world and who O who of we will go except
God in his wisdom only knows is it you or myself, we should neither of us live
long in this climate our constitutions are not created [?] to buffet the
hardships of a new country just look at
both of us in the midst of life in years and our physical constitutions broke
down completely not able to undergo anything like hard work, and then just look
at our prospects you with a large family to raise and me with no settled home
in this wide world but living anyhow and every how. O! how changed from my home in my dear
deceased father's house, but I feel to say it is all right it has taught me
that this world is not my home there is
a world that changeth not I hope to rest there forever, don't forget me at a
Home of grace I need your love and
prayers. There is now a great stir in
town about the convention. I don't feel
the least interest in it I think it is wrong altogether to Hurrah a president
in office I have not seen any good
result from it yet ever since Old Jackson was harrahed [sic] in. How do them democratic women feel in your
village about it have they any more signs to display to the passing
delegations? a very low act for a
lady. I want to see you and the children
very much but don't know when I shall. I
know of no news I believe except that Mrs. Dill (it was) and Julia Tantlinen
are here on a visit they are well. Sally
Fox is to be married next Thursday 2 weeks to Elderidge of this place. Write soon tell Dear Hector and Robert I have
no time to write to them though I should be glad to get a letter from them
every week. they must not wait for
answers from me. I expect a good deal of
company at the convention. Farewell from
sister Sally”
Sarah wrote Mary again in August
1844. The letter reads: "LaFayette August 3rd, 1844 Dear Sister. I believe I am indebted to you two letters,
well you must take this for one and the will for the other; I have no time to
write or I would write you an epistle every week, and this is Sunday
afternoon. this morning we had
communion, Rev.d Dr. White from Wabash College officiated with a great deal of
solemnity and feeling. Oh! may his words
and injunctions sink deep in my own and every other person [?] that heard him I pray it may be like "bread cast upon
the water" he in the most feeling and solemn and pungent
manner urged upon us all to be christians under all circumstances. I always feel very serious after
commemorating the death of my risen Lord and master. Oh! how solemn the various scenes connected
with it how thrilling the feeling that
pervades my mind of the time to think
perhaps I am sealing my own condemnation of my own free will and choice that I
am not one of Christs. I hope I am for I
know I wish to be if I wish anything on earth.
And again to think of the love the great love which the father hath
showed us in giving his only begotten for us.
Oh who can love with such love as this, Truly, Dr. Watts says Such love
and such is divine I would too ascribe
and make them mine.
I am sorry to hear you are poorly
again hope you may be better in a few
days. Mary I have thought today a good
deal of your afflictions continuing so long, you must deserve them they are for your eternal good and O may
they be graciously
sanctified to you our heavenly Father
never afflicts willingly I well know.
This letter was began last sabbath 3rd and now resumed saturday eve 9th
since then I have passed through another severe affliction. My dear nephew B. Bradfield is no more in
this world but in a better, I must give you a full account of all it has cast a sad gloom over all the
family. when O! when will the tyrant
death cease his reign? not until the milenium [sic] day Glory when Christ shall
have put all enemies under his feet.
Benjm. had been complaining as much as 4 weeks with a dysentery but was
still at work (for industry was one of his cardinal virtues) until ten days ago
he was taken to his bed of death but our loss I am afraid is his eternal
gain. Such a happy death His mind was very much exercised about his
soul in the first of his sickness he sent for a preacher and conversed a great
deal with him and realized [?] comfort he was then constantly in prayer so long
as he had his reason until he found peace and then he talked to and wooed [?] everyone
to love God supremely above all things.
for the first of his sickness he said he would rather live forty years
and suffer in agony as he was than to appear in the pressence [sic] of God a
sinner such as he was, but God who is rich in mercy and all that we can ask
heard his sincere prayer and gave unto him full measure of the spirit and grace
sufficient for all his trials. I did not
see him until Thursday last he had his
reason only at intervals but Oh how precious they were and in all his delirium
it was prayer or something about religion.
You have no idea how much he had endeared himself to all his neighbors
and especially the sabbath school of which he was one of its most active
members he had a large class they all
attended his funeral, wept most bitterly for him. he was their librarian kept all their
accounts, the whole school teachers and scholars wore a badge of mourning for
him at their own expense. He called
Jenners a great many times could not let him go out of his sight once he called
him and asked him if he was trying to save his soul. Repeated the Lord's prayer often and all the
seventh chapter of Math.w told us to
follow it. short time before he died he
took hold of his fathers hand told him to meet his Mother and himself in heaven. poor John his heart almost broke he well
knows that his best is gone, best in everything. He shook hands with mother B. and said poor
old grand-mother what will she do for wood this winter. It has almost broke the old lady's heart as he
was all her and Anna's dependence to do everything, but I must stop I could write a great deal more about him for
he seemed to be in heaven before he left the earth. He suffered great and agonizing pain bodily
yet did not murmur hardly any. disease terminated
in inflammation of the bowels and brain.
I feel it is a great and good lesson for me hope to improve it feel it was a great privilege to witness such
a death though it wrung my heart with anguish to see him suffer; and then to
part with him forever in this world. Oh!
tis painful painful indeed.
Please send the amount of the sugar
and berries [?] and I will send the money and jar or if you'd rather I will
keep the jar and buy the same amount of sugar and put up peaches for you the peaches shall cost you nothing. we are all pretty well, hope you have had a
good meeting. may it be a blessing to
the whole community. hope you feel
renewed. I have written a long letter
and could write as much more but my paper forbids. My best love to Thee and all the little ones
not forgetting the neighbours Sally.”
On 8 September 1844, Peter Jennings
mentioned Sally, who had been living in his home to help with his children, in
a letter to Mary Braden: "Sally
is a sister indeed, and a mother indeed to my dear little children.”
On 18 December 1844, Sarah wrote to her sister, Mary: "Dear sister, I had hoped to hear
this time that you were better in health, you looked so well when you were
here, but I am sorry to hear you are so poorly.
Well dont be discouraged many a one has been a great deal worse than you
and longer and at last nature wrought her own cure which I verily believe will
be your case. True you have suffered a
great deal bodily, but not much mentally in comparison with others, have you
not been doubly blessed in one of the kindest and best of husbands these many
years who can feel for you in all your afflictions alleviate comfort and
provide for you and your children, not so no! far otherwise with the lone widow
and her orphans, she has not one friend in this world on whom she can depend,
her only friend is God and his promise to her.
I know it I feel the full force of it
I have learned by woefull [sic] experience that I never had but three
friends my Father, Mother and husband it has been many years since I've been
deprived of their kindness and care over me, I have had a hard struggle alone
both in sickness and health but and expect too until my end come but will try
by the grace of God to be content in whatever station I am called to fill for I
have not the least idea when my next lot will be cast. You I well know have known what suffering is
by painful experience well Mary it is the lot of woman she was the first transgressor and dearly
have all her posterity paid for it and will to the end of time I do
believe. Chalmers a splendid writer says
"of all Gods creation woman alone knows the acme of suffering." O!
how true it is and even this is one source of comfort to me that it is so
ordered in divine providence. You say
you would like to try mesmerism well do if you can come here and stay just as long
as you can. I well know that no person
is more welcome in this house than you or any one of your family. I will do all in my power for you situated as
I am. You can come here and just stay as
happy as you can anywhere from your own house.
How could you even hint at Burr wearing out his welcome here. Do let me tell you he is a man who will never
wear out his welcome anywhere and I know Peter loves him like a brother and I a
great deal more than some of my own. You
have written to me twice about not being in your company so little when you
were here. Dont you know that all my
work was behind hand and Susan had just come and I felt and acted as I always
do when I get a new hand to stay close at home and show them my way of working
though I had no trouble with Susan she works just as I do clean and slow. but let me assure you that I have not spent
one hour in any person's house or ate one meal out of this house since you were
here. I find it takes all my time to sew
knit and keep the family comfortable, but the most astonishing thing of all is
that I'm up at half past 4 every morning and we eat breakfast at 5 and I don't
pretend to sleep in day-light. I want to
know if ever Hec is coming in to stay with me tell him from me Christmas gift
and all the children. Tell L.H. Clark
that Va. is almost dead to see her talks daily about her. do you tell Mrs Clark I shall look for her
and the Dr. the first good snow and will try and have some mince pies on
hand. I want you to tell Mrs. Watt I
went to get her some preserve green ginger but found it so dear that I only got
one pound twas 75 cts per pound. I shall
send it by the first safe chance tell her I want her to give you some of it a
little goes a great way and I think it the finest thing I ever used to flavour any
kind of preserve, custard or cake. there
must be syrup of sugar made and cover it or it will become candied it out to be
loaf sugar. I've got a tin-cup a piece
for you and Mrs. Watt give her the one with the work bag in it tell her I took
her eleven pence and bought a bag for little Laura and the one with your shawl
in is of course for you. Poor Wm Dill
died in town last week with a low typhus fever what news to his mother. there
is an afflicted mortal wave after wave has rolled over her and she has that
fatal disease within her which is fast hastening her to the cold grave. O! that
God may give her grace to stand the shock of the death of her only son her
first-born just in the morning of life cut down and gone forever. Tell Cynthia Ann that Susan is very well
only little love sick occasionally for she has had a run of luck in that line
lately though I think they will be apt to see her again before she is twice
married. Tell her to go to Mr. Parker's
and get one pound of her rolls and send them by some careful hand to Townsends
store for Peter Jennings for Susan if you please. Now have I not wrote a long letter it is
indeed a labour to me I would rather wash could stand it but I cant. Va says tell Deborah and Lucy A. [?] that
they must come in she will give them a party as she has just received from New
York by Mr Sergeant a beautiful little set of tea things and a little set of
white ivory handle knives and forks the forks are not silver. I know of no more except to tell you that I
dont enjoy the cold weather atall [sic].
Pleas [sic] to send me the 4th of a cut of coloured yarn to knit a pair
of mittens for myself. Tell Cynthia Ann
Dr J has a good girl to stay all winter but she can get a home here any day if
she will come. No more. Sally."
Sarah Y. (Jenners) Bradfield died 10 October 1846 in
Lafayette, Indiana. She was 42 years
old. According to an unidentified
newspaper clipping: "FUNERAL
NOTICE. - Yourself and family are respectfully invited
to attend the funeral of Mrs. SARAH Y. BRADFIELD, at half past 10 o'clock
tomorrow morning. Funeral services by
the Rev. Mr. Wilson, at the 2nd Presbyterian Church. The procession will leave the residence of
P.S. Jennings at 10 o'clock Saturday, October 10, 1846." Sarah was buried in Greenbush Cemetery next
to her husband, Jonathan, and daughter, Eugenia.
The following notice appeared in the Tippecanoe Journal & Free Press on Thursday, October 15, 1846:
As far as I have been able to tell, Sarah was survived by only one child: Abiel Jenners Bradfield. I will do a separate post on him eventually.
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