Our happily departed Sr (sister) Mary
Hamilton was born in Maryland, Frederick County, March
the 5th 1751. She was baptized in the English
Church.
About her 14th year she lost her mother by death and
begin the eldest of the daughters she had to take the
housekeeping upon herself, which she performed
faithfully and willingly to the satisfaction of the
rest.
She moved with her father, her brother Horatio, etc., to
this state in the year 1765.
After her father's death she kept house for her brother
until his marriage with his first wife, but as she was
of a peaceable and quiet deportment it was agreeable to
keep her as an inmate of the family. Having been
disappointed in a premeditated marriage by
circumstances, she concluded to remain single, and
entered upon a religious life; in which situation she
became acquainted with the Society of the Brethren here
in this place (Hope) and found in the meetings here
which she attended in the doctrine of atonement made by
Jesus Christ comfort and rest for her soul, so that she
joined this Society, and was received as a member of the
congregation the 11th May 1788.
In the year 1790 May 29th, she became a communicant of
the Lord's Supper. Since this time she never
missed these Sacramental seasons but with great
reluctance in causes of the utmost necessity; her heart
lived in the enjoyment of those blessings; she was in
general an examplary attendant on the public meetings,
and in her younger years thought nothing of walking such
a distance to attend meetings. She knew in whom
she believed and made her call and election sure.
When anything happened amiss in the congregation, which
she thought was not to the glory of the Lord, she was
grieved, and made it a point for her private prayer.
Some years ago, when it seemed as if some members wee
for the discontinuation of a resident minister here, she
took it much to heart and often grieved about it,
therefore she was rejoiced to find that it did not come
to pass. Likewise was she always foremost when any
thing was to be done at the meeting house to which se
could lend a hand.
When her Br (brother) Horation lost his first wife, who
took again the care of teh house and acted a mother's
part to his children, who all loved her to the last as a
mother. After he married the 2nd time, she was
still retained in the family and was always thankful in
her situation.
Her earthly warfare has lasted 70 years, 2 months and 12
days. |