Letter #1.

(Transcription by Jade's Gramma, 29 November 2003.)

Addressed to Mrs. Frances Hawxbey, in Jail Street next door to the Methodist Preaching House near the new bridge in Sligo, Ireland, to the care of Jackson Hawksby.  From her daughter, Ann Armstrong Cook, half sister to Jane Hawksby Potts (my great great great grandmother)

March 22, 1813 from Philadelphia

 Dear Mother;

   It is in deep humility and solemnity I address you in these few lines, having no opportunity of sending a letter on account of the war, but now as the day is opened I think it my duty to let you know how we all are.  Dear Mother we have had wars and rumors of wars and distresses on every side but out of it all the Lord by his strong and mighty arm has delivered us and I believe that He did hear the groans and cries and tears of his afflicted children.  (this is the War of 1812) The Lord has mercifully saved the City of Philadelphia and the enemy has not made an attack on it though almost all the rest of the cities and the coast have been very much troubled especially the city of Bla___enburg and Washington.  Baltimore was nearly being taken where my brother John and all his family, Thomas Armstrong and his family, James and his family, they all had to stand in the defence of the city, though every one of them belonged to the Methodist Society but they were compelled by law to fight or die.  The poor women and children most all fled in every direction for the enemy appeared so near that they expected every minute the city would be taken and set on fire.  The greatest part of Baltimore are Methodists.  (names are of her brothers.)

 This praying people fled to the Lord and the Lord heard their cries and came down and delivered them; I must confess that I did not love nor sanction the spirit of war, nor took any part with it, but I continually cried to the Lord for all I fear to sing and love my God, the Lord has scourged America but it is in mercy and love and I believe that we well deserved the chastening rod and I cannot help saying that my soul rejoiced in the midst of all clash of nations; The wise dispensation of Providence.  Last summer I met with an accident stepping out of the carriage at my own door.  I put my hip and shoulder out of joint, this was on the Sabbath after coming from sacrament, but the Lord had His wise ___ in it as it was a means to hide me from the storm.  I believe it was a rage of Satan against me as at that time I was very much drawn out and powerfully engaged for my relations in Baltimore.  Indeed I had remarkable answers in prayer as I believed that the Lord could preserve them in that city, the faith was given to me from the Lord that their lives would be given to them as a ___ and that not a hair on their head should fall to the ground.  To this I held fast and spoke of it to others and several days before the attack was made on the city though they were in the midst of it not one of them was wounded.  Oh to God be all the glory.  Indeed I said that this is one of the most blessed winters I have had this eleven years for thorough mercy I am still able to take my walks among the poor and needy; I visit the hospital and poor house and likewise the prison, I am often in the lonesome cell and the doleful garret among the lunatic and deranged and I find that the Lord’s hand is with us.  Oh that I may have an eye single to His glory and to Him alone be all the praise for the good that is done upon earth.  Adieu at present, I am

      Your affectionate daughter

      Ann Cook

 Frances Hawxbey

P.S.  there is a gentleman in Philadelphia going to Dublin.  If he arrives there safe you may expect a small token of my love.

Letter #2

(transcription by Jade's Gramma, 29 November 2003)

Letter to Frances Hawksby in Sligo Town, County Sligo, Ireland from her daughter, Mary Armstrong Edwards (half sister to our Jane Hawksby Potts), from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

 April 3, 1815

Honoured Mother;

   After a long silence I now have the opportunity to let you know I am alive and in the land of the living, through the mercy of the Lord.  I have felt myself to be a very unprofitable and undutiful child to the Heavenly Father and to you.

   My William and Ann are well.  (her children from her first marriage)  William is out of his apprenticeship, he works at the hatting business.  I have not seen him for several months past and I often think of the words you have told me, that my father said concerning the children, that is, “we shall be parted far from them and should be glad to see each others faces once in seven years and not see them then:.  I have often mourned when I though of them words.

   I received a letter from Sister Cook (Ann Armstrong Cook) about a week ago.  She says that they are all well and informs me that Brother John’s family and Sister Jane’s (widow of her brother) are all well;  I went to see Sister Caty Carr about five years ago.  (perhaps her sister, Catherine Armstrong Carr.)  She had eight fine children and has a nice little farm of their own.  From there I went to Baltimore to see my relations there and stayed a few weeks with them, and then I returned home to Sister Cook’s.  In a short time after that the former wife of John Edwards, my present husband, sent a letter to me with $7 enclosed to pay my passage if I would come to see her, which I did, she was a religious, good woman and we loved each other dearly; she lived but a short time after I came there.  I stayed until I was married, it is now going on four year since I was married.  We have two children, a boy and a girl, the one named Jane and the other James.

   My husband is a religious man, he preached the gospel as much as 20 years before he married me.

   Brother Thomas was in a poor state of health for a long time, while he was poorly he came to see me and stayed a few months, but could not content himself, so he returned home again to Sister Cook’s, and after that he began to grow worse, for was taken to his bed, his disorder was consumption, and after a long and severe illness changed this life for a better in August, 1813.

   My William and Ann was present, they say he was very happy and died praising the Lord, our loss is his infinite gain.  On the January following Barbara departed this life and left a lively testimony behind of her acceptance with God, she was confined to her room 18 months with the same disorder Brother William had.  She was a very pious, good young woman and much respected.  My husband and Ann joins with me in love to you, Brother Jackson, Sister Jane (Hawksby Potts, ours) and Aunt Jane Henderson and their families and all our relations, particularly the Ferguson family and Aunt West’s family and the Morrison family., my Ann desires her love to be remembered to her sister and brother Margaret and Robert.  Tell them they must write to her and how they are.  Give my love to them also and tell them I wish them all the blessings of Heaven.  I must now conclude, I am, Honoured Mother,

          Your affectionate child,

           Mary Edwards

 On a part of this letter, in a different handwriting is:

     James Potts, Ballybay, Co. Monaghan  (husband of Jane Hawksby—ours)

     James Stuart, Prentice to Jackson Hawksby

 (Mary was widowed in Ireland with her children William, Ann, Margaret and Robert.  She came to the USA with William and Ann.  We don’t know the name of her first husband.)

Letter #3.

(transcription by Jade's Gramma, 29 November 2003)

Addressed to Frances Hawksby in Sligo Town, County Sligo, Ireland from her daughter, Ann Armstrong Cook.  (half sister to our Jane Hawksby Potts) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

 November 6^th, 1820

Dear Mother;

Having a fair opportunity by the Conostoga, I write you these few lines.  In the midst of so many deaths & dangers my face is still Zionward, & I feel as great delight in the ways of the Lord just now as I have done these twenty years, & I trust through his grace strengthening me, to weather out the storms of life & see Christ’s face & live for ever.  Lord grant it may be your determination also, that if we never meet on earth, we may meet in Heaven.  Remember, my dear Mother, it’s through much tribulation we may enter the Kingdom, but let us not fear, for as Christ has suffered the flesh & left us an example of patience & perseverance, we may go on. 

 Many things have occurred since I have seen you that I cannot to you relate, but it suffices for you to know that I would be as kind to you as ever if it were in my power, but it is not in my power, in consequence of the many difficulties we have met with by a young man who lived five years with us, who had taken eight thousand dollars of my husband’s property, this young man died about three months after he left us_________________of the Lord had followed him, the day after he was buried my husband & his executors found the money.  My husband cannot claim the money because he had not sufficient proof.  When he came to us he was a poor man & came on crutches & was clerk in our store.  I thank God that my inheritance is in Love where moth nor rust cannot corrupt nor thieves break through & steal where my treasure is there my heart is also.  I can truly say that I do not covet this world’s goods, my Heavenly Father still provides for me food & raiment & therewith I am content, my dear Mother.

 I am thankful to hear by your friends that you still have a little something left as your own to help to support you in your old days, & more especially the confidence I have in my brother (Jackson Hawksby, her half brother), which from all accounts I have had, that he is a good son & will never see you want for any thing.  I am sorry for my promise sake that it is not in my power to send you a present, because the little I got from time to time was little enough for your relations that has come to this country.  I feel a disposition of heart to do all the good I can, not only to them but to all the human family. (several of Ann’s siblings emigrated, as well)  Ann Tucker, which was once Ann Young, has got a young son, all my friends in Baltimore are well except one of Brother John’s sons, whose name is Thomas (Armstrong), he has a _______.  Sister Mary (Edwards)’s children are well, their father ___ married again but he is doing very well for the children, they are far advanced in learning according to their age.  William is in the back country, I have not heard from him for a long time. (her sister, Mary Edwards’ son from her first marriage.  Surname unknown)   The Fergusons are all well & are doing tolerably well.  They have lost their brother George.  I visited him in his death sickness & I think I never saw one more engaged at the close of life than he was.  About three weeks before he died he was powerfully awakened & from that until his death his cry was for mercy, we had many happy seasons together, I believe he died in the Lord.

 Remember my love in the kindest to my Brother & Sister (Jackson, and our Jane Hawksby Potts) & to my sister-in-law, to my Aunt Jane Armstrong & her children, my best love to all my friends.  I remain as ever yours,

Affectionately,

Ann Cook

Letter #4

(transcription by Jade's Gramma, 29 November 2003)

Addressed to Mr. Jackson Hawksby, in care of Adam Gutry, Postmaster, Sligo, Ballymote, Ireland.  From Jackson’s half sister, Ann Armstrong Cook, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA..

August 18^th, 1826

 My dear brother;

Having a good opportunity I will avail myself of it, letting you know my health is a little recovered.  I have been very much affected with the liver complaint this two years.  I am not able to attend to any of my family concerns.  The Lord sitteth above the water Floods & has staid the raging of the waves & I now feel in my soul a sweet calm & feel a willingness to submit to his dispensations, whether adverse or prosperous & I do believe & have an assurance that I will be His forever, If I only prove faithful to the light & grace he has given me.  Our friends are all well here.  Thomas Armstrong (nephew) & wife paid us a visit lately, you would think him a man deeply devoted to God, his sister Ann, which is Mrs. Borely, is in the last stages of consumption.  (Late) Sister Mary’s Ann, which is Mrs. Tucker is doing extremely well & has two fine children.  (Late) Sister Mary’s two children are improving very fast.  Their Father has given them an excellent education.  (James and Jane Edwards. See her letters later).  Brother John Armstrong’s son James is a Methodist Preacher travelling in the western part of America.  He visited us lately, you may be sure it delighted me to see him as eight years have elapsed since I saw him last.  Brother John & Sister Rebecca are both very feeble, to all appearances are not long for this world.  Jane Armstrong is still living and enjoys very good health. (probably widow of James Armstrong).  Religion is very prosperous here, people are all alive to the cause of Missions, the Banners of the Cross are unfurling and thousands are rallying around it, Jews, Indians & Heathens are coming home to Christ.

My soul has witnessed a delightful scene, it has appeared to me like the fiftieth fear, which is the great Sabbatick Year, for we have had our house filled with the Preachers from the East & West, with the Indian Chiefs & their interpreters.  They gave us an address in their language which we could not understand, in our Churches, the Power of God was felt among the people.  They are Christian Indians bearing testimony to what they professed.  The Lord is riding high on in (sic) his Gospel Chariot to the converting of the nations who knew him not & the wilderness & solitary places are made glad & the desert blossoms as the rose.  I think that America will be the Praise of the Earth & made honourable, & the Lord Jesus Christ will reign as King in the midst.

I wish you would write & let me know how you all are & particularly my mother & how she enjoys her health, she dwells in my remembrance :& often occupys my thoughts.  (Frances Jackson Armstrong Hawksby)   I want to know how Sister Jane Potts & family are.  (our Jane Hawksby Potts, mother of Martha)  O what a good thing a good education and good trades to enable us to make an honest living in this world.  Write soon, don’t keep me three years waiting for a letter.  Dr Anderson has lately from Hayty (Haiti?) to Philadelphia & is very well.  John Kenny is well, I see him every Conference and he is much thought of where he travels.  George Ferguson had his son John killed by a fall from a horse, left a family behind him.  Oh! How uncertain is life and every thing here below.  Lord grant we may all be prepared when the messenger comes is the sincere prayer of your truly affectionate Sister,

 Ann Cook

 Love in a particular manner to all my relatives who inquire after me.  I hope if I do not meet you in this world, to meet you in the next & request an interest in your prayers & in the prayers of all God’s people.

My children remember their love to their Grandmother & to you & your family.  Should be pleased to hear from your children.

Letter #5.

(transcription by Jade's Gramma, 30 November 2003)

Addressed to Mr. Jackson Hawksby, Ballymote, County Sligo, Ireland, Care of Mr. Clarke, Postmaster.  From his nephew,Thomas Armstrong, in Baltimore, Maryland, USA

 October 28^th, 1828

Dear Sir;

Your esteemed favour came safe to hand and the perusal of it gave no little satisfaction, for in it, we are informed of the health and prosperity of many of our relations in Ireland.  The account you were pleased to present of each member of your family was very pleasing indeed, and we are induced to pray that your prospects in regard to each, temporarily and spiritually, may be more than realised.

 It was a subject of some pain to understand our Grandmother (Frances Armstrong Hawksby) had an attack of paryletick, and was compelled to make use of crutches, but although thus afflicted, we were pleased to hear she was still alive, and otherwise in the enjoyment of reasonable good health.

 In compliance with your wishes, as expressed in your favour, I will proceed to give you the information you desire, in relation to your friends on this side of the Atlantick (sic).  Before doing so, however, I would beg leave to state, directly after my ____ (father’s) death, which, no doubt, you have been long since appraised, took place on the night of the 31 July 1805.  I was compelled, although but a youth, to place myself in the foreground to provide for a widowed mother, my brother and sister.  Through the goodness of an overruling Providence, friends were raised up for me, who took me by the hand and enabled me to provide all things necessary to their comfort.  In the early part of my ___, I had many difficulties to contend with, which however, were all permitted, no doubt, to work together for my good.  Latterly our situation is somewhat more comfortable and pleasing. 

 My sister long since married, and has gathered a family around her, and although for the last three or four years, her bodily afflictions have been very trying, her mind is measurably preserved in peace, having a comfortable home and five promising children.  My brother (William) is also married to Rebecca, eldest daughter of Uncle John and Aunt Rebecca, both of whom are in the enjoyment of good health, and the prospects of Wm. of making a good living for his little family quite flattering.  Until very recently he was connected with me in business, (dry goods), but being anxious to do rather more for himself, than he could while we were connected together, at his suggestion we dissolved, and I went to another street, giving up to him my old stand.  From the trial each have already made, no disadvantage, we presume, will result from the dissolution, giving as we do, to each other all the aid and comfort that we can, by helping each other in business.

 My mother lives with me still and has for years, and does still enjoy astonishing good health.  She has to herself a large and spacious room, furnished in a way to render her comfortable and agreeable.  She spends her time with each of her children occasionally, but devoting the largest portion of it with our sister, on account of her affliction, considering, however, my house her home.  Her time would, no doubt, be quite agreeably spent, having no care to disturb her, could she feel entirely at ease in relation to our sister.

 Uncle John, altho aged, and somewhat infirm, enjoys, nevertheless, reasonable good health.  Aunt Rebecca is well.  Maryann, their youngest daughter and John live with them.  Uncle John is in the shoe business & John keeps store for him.  Robert is connected with another Gentleman, nearly opposite to the Old __ store, in the book & stationery business, doing well, they are all in good health.  Recent accounts from Philadelphia, in relation to Aunt and Mr. Cook (Ann Armstrong Cook) assure us, they are including each member of their family.  Archy, Mr. Cook’s brother, died a short time since, “happy in God”.  Their youngest daughter Frances, married a Methodist travelling preacher of quite celebrated talents among us, whose name is I. P. Durbin, who, a short time previous to his marriage, had been appointed one of the professors in Augusta College, State of Ohio.  On the morning of the marriage, directly after the ceremonies were performed, France bade adieu to her parents and relations there assembled, and with her husband, started to the West, perhaps 600 miles from Philadelphia.  She writes frequently and regularly, appears to be quite happy and pleased with her choice and place of abode, other than to being so far removed away from her early home.  Mr. and Mrs. Tucker are in health and doing well.

 In conclusion, my wife, Mother, brother & wire, sister & husband, desire to be remembered in love to yourself & wife, your & her children, to Grandmother and all enquiring relations and friends.  Pray for us.  We will try and not forget you.  And should we not have the pleasure of seeing each other in the flesh, let us trust in God, it will be our unspeakable happiness to recognise and know each other on the “land of eternal deliverance.”

Respectfully & affectionately yours,

 Thomas Armstrong

Letter #6

(transcribed by Jade's Gramma, 30 November 2003)

Addressed to Mt. Jackson Hawksby, Ballymote, near Sligo, Ireland.  From his half-sister, Ann Armstrong Cook, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

(sent via Packet Ship Monongahela)

August 18^th, 1830

 Dear Brother;

Your two letters were duly received, the last dated April 9^th I have now before.  It gives me great joy to hear that my dear old Mother (Frances Armstrong Hawksby) is still in the land of the living and enjoying good health.  It also affords me much satisfaction to hear of your well being and that of your family.

 You intimated in your letter that you thought I was hurt by some expression which you made to Dr. Anderson.  I do assure you my dear Brother that I am not.  I do now and have ever entertained for you the most sincere affection and I wish you to banish any other thoughts from your mind.

 Our family are all well.  My daughter Frances is in the State of Kentucky, about a thousand miles from here.  She is married to a man imminent for learning and piety, he is a Professor in one of the Western Colleges and universally esteemed.  Frances has one child, a sweet little girl.  They lately paid us a visit and remained nearly a year.  My Brother John and Baltimore friends are well, his daughter who is married to her cousin William, is now with her two children on a visit to us.  (Late) Sister Mary’s two children in New York are in good health and are well educated.  Her eldest daughter as you have been informed, is married to Joseph Tucker of Baltimore, a worthy man and well to do in the world.

 My husband and I are fast advancing toward that bourne from whence no traveller returns, he is in his 75^th year and active for a man of his age.  I have been feeble for some years though at present I am somewhat better.  I often wish that I had power to transport myself across the ocean so that I might again embrace my dear Mother & Brother and see his children.  Our country is in a flourishing situation, the harvest which is now in has been very abundant.  The people are generally enlightened and for the most part moral and the religion of the Cross has extended itself to our remotest frontiers and embraced within its arms of mercy many even of the savages of the wilderness.  How sweet is it to see in these sons of the forrests (sic) who led a wandering and precarious life, who made beasts of burden of their poor women and whose characteristic was revenge, how sweet is it to behold in them their fierce passions tamed by the benign influence of our Holy Religion.  Many of these Indians now cultivate their own fields, are attentive and kind to their wives and some even preach the Gospel of Christ.

Accept, dearest Brother, assurances of my affection for yourself and my dear Mother,

 Ann Cook

Letter #7--This is a very interesting letter.

(transcribed by Jade's Gramma, 1 December 2003)

Addressed to Mr. Jackson Hawksby, Ballymote, Connaught, Ireland.  From his niece, Jane Edwards, daughter of his late half-sister, Mary, in New York City, USA

October 1831

 My Dear Uncle,

Yours of June 9^th was received and I need not say gave me very great pleasure, particularly as it was from so near a relative of my dear mother. (the late Mary Armstrong Edwards) I should have written to you immediately upon the receipt of your letter had I not been prevented by unavoidable circumstances: corresponding with my relatives is always a source of great pleasure to me, but in the present instance, a very painful duty devolves upon me.  But it ought not to be so, for your dear sister, Mrs. Cook, (Ann Armstrong Cook) is now ascribing praise to “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”  She is one of those who, out of great tribulation, have made their robes clean in the blood of the Lamb.  Yes, she has entered into the joy of her Lord.  My dear Uncle, I entreat you not to let this intelligence cost you a moment’s grief.  Your loss has been my dear Aunt’s infinite gain.  Ought we to weep because she is gone to that abode where no sorrow is allowed to enter and that she bore for eight long months?  Ah, no, we should rejoice for her release.  During her illness she was occasionally delirious and sometimes no entreaties could induce her to take that sustenance necessary for the support of life.

 I went to see her last June and I found her situation truly affecting, she was reduced to a mere skeleton and frequently conversed with the world of the spirits, especially with my dear Arthur and Barbara Jackson.  At times, however, she was sensible and spoke in the most affectionate manner to me—one day she said to me “I must speak to Jane as Mary has been telling me about her”.  (her late sister, Mary Armstrong Edwards, and mother of Jane, the author)  This is one instance of many of her talking about the departed spirits--during her sickness the best medical attendance Dr. Anderson, with whom you are acquainted and her son, Dr. Ezekiel Cook.  With this she had the most affectionate attention from her family, neither pains nor expense were spared to render her situation as comfortable as possible. On the 23^rd of August her happy spirit winged its flight to another and better world.  Her disorder was of a nervous character--I must not forget to tell you that at the time of her death at 8 P.M. she was perfectly sensible and calm.  She died so easily that they were scarcely able to tell when the breath left her body.

 Our friends in Baltimore are all well--they are all very well situated.  Robert Armstrong called here a few days ago from Baltimore.  He is doing a good business there in the book line.  My sister Ann (half sister)  and family are all well at present, although sister Ann has been sick lately.  Her husband has a large store on Market Street, Baltimore, and employs three clerks.  They are in the dry goods business. 

 I have made every inquiry in my power respecting the fitness of your coming to this country.  My friends tell me that it depends very much on what business you expect to follow—New York is the first commercial city in the twenty-four states (!!) which form the Union—every mechanical art is pursued with success but nothing is made in this country by weaving. (this was Jackson Hawksby’s trade) There is great encouragement given to learning.  The farming business is good as far as I can learn, but my father wishes me to inform you that you must be able to buy the farm and he wishes me to inform you likewise that labor is very high in this country, so high that an American farmer would be unable to make anything were he to hire laborers—this is the general rule, but of course there are exceptions.  Philadelphia is a fine city, so is Boston, Capital of Massachusetts, Baltimore is a commercial one, too.  Aunt Potts (our Jane Hawksby Potts, sister of Jackson) is now living with us.  She fears this intelligence of Aunt Cook’s death will have a bad effect upon poor grandmother. (Frances Armstrong Hawksby) She wishes her kindest love given to her and besides fretting about my dear grandmother, she grieves for her children.  (she left all but one in Ballymote with her brother, Jackson) She speaks in the highest terms of Miss Ann Jane Hawksby. (one of Jackson’s daughters)  Often when I am playing Auld Lang Syne upon the piano she exclaims “Poor Ann Jane”.  She says the tune puts her in mind of you all.  Indeed I think brings Home to her mind very forcibly.  Aunt Potts wishes to inform you that she enjoys that great blessing, good health, and that she is quite happy and contented except that she grieves about her mother and the children.  Little Jane is quite well, she improves in her studies and begins to sew very prettily.  Aunt Potts wishes me to inform Miss Ann Jane that she goes to a fine school and has already made an apron, frock and petticoat for herself. (Jane Hawksby Potts brought her youngest child, Little Jane, with her when she came for this visit.)

 My dear Uncle, in answer to your enquiry whether I am attached to any religious denomination, I inform you that I attend the Methodist Church constantly and am greatly attached to it.  You will no doubt be glad to hear that this denomination prospers greatly, numbers are daily added to it.  We have excellent preachers and in the old Methodist connexion there are seven churches in this city and more are building.  There is a great difference between this country and yours in regard to religion.  There is no established or High Church here, every denomination has equal privileges.  No person has ever been compelled to pay tythes to any church but every minister is supported by voluntary contributions of the congregation.  This freedom in religious and in fact in civil affairs also, is a characteristic feature in the government of the United States.  There is neither rank nor title except that of office.  Worth makes the only distinction in our Republican government.

 Respecting my father and brother, father is seventy years of age.  His health is not good, he is subject to frequent and very severe attacks of rheumatism and when he recovers he is very weak.  His constitution is very much broken.  My brother’s name is James.  He is seventeen years of age and has chosen the same trade as that of my father, the scale beam trade is a very good one and furnishes us everything we can desire.  I should be much pleased if my dear cousin, Ann Jane, would do me the favour of writing to me.  It would be a source of great delight to me, I assure you.  When you write to me, which I hope you will do immediately on the receipt of this letter, I hope you will inform me very particularly how my dear Grandmother enjoys her health.  Father, Aunt Potts and brother James unite with me in love to yourself, Mrs. Hawksby and all the family.

From your affectionate niece,

Jane Edwards.

 Extract from the Christian Advocate and Journal (1831), Obituary

Mrs. Ann Cook, consort of Alexander Cook, Esq. of Philadelphia, died in great peace on the 23^rd of August, last, about 8 o’clock.  Mrs. Cook was a Christian of that happy number whose history from childhood until death would be a bright and convincing comment on the Christian religion.  She was so advantageously known and so much beloved and respected as a Christian in this community that a short sketch of her life is loudly called for by hundreds.

She was born in the County of Sligo, Ireland, about 1767.  Mr. Thomas and Mrs. Frances Armstrong (later Frances Hawksby), her parents, were respectable citizens and among the first who received the Methodists and joined in society under the Reverend John Wesley.  They were exemplary Christians and were reported for piety.  Some of the children still live, an honor and ornament to Christianity. 

Mrs. Cook, by the blessing of Heaven, on the efforts of her parents, became serious at nine years of age and experienced religion about the same time.  This remarkable fact is learned from one who was her classmate in Ireland, bandmate in Philadelphia and a witness of her triumphant death.  She was an acceptable and active member of the Church for more than fifty years. 

Previous to leaving Ireland she became a widow and accompanied her brother to America where she immediately attached herself to the Methodist Church in Philadelphia, shortly after, was married to Mr. Cook.  She was remarkable for her resignation to the will of God.  As an instance she was bereaved of a lovely and amiable daughter by her former husband which she bore with such a grace and meekness as to attract the notice of her acquaintances.  It was enough for her to know that her heavenly Father required the sacrifice and she was ever ready to make it.  Her religious devotion was of a very high order, so much so, that some of her friends seemed occasionally to think it bordered on enthusiasm, but when they recollected how closely she walked with God at all times, they felt convinced that she had a right to expect a more than usual degree of communion with the Father and His son, Jesus Christ.  There was one trait in her religious character which is worthy of all imitation; her constant and ___attention to the public worship of God, so long as her strength permitted.

She visited the House of God—so uniform was her attendance, that those who knew her best, called after meeting to learn if she were sick.  Her character for benevolence was conspicuous.  Her benevolence was not simply that of giving of her substance to the poor, but she visited the abodes of misery and want.  She would rise at midnight, in a winter storm at the well founded call of misery and hasten with delight to afford relief.  She was called the friend of the poor, the poor have testified their loss.  It was a common expression among those who knew her, ‘The poor have lost an invaluable friend.” 

The following is a letter from her son to his brother-in-law who was detained in Baltimore by the illness of his sister.

“Our dear Mother expired last evening at half past eight o’clock.  About two yesterday she became calm and breathed more easily.  She appeared sensible until the last moment, and several times called for Frances (her daughter), myself and the children and desired us to embrace her.  When we handed little Margaret the first time, she called her “Sweet child”, the next time she was speechless, but smiled upon her.  She has left good testimony that her soul has escaped to Heaven.  During her sickness she frequently prayed that the Lord would take her to himself and for the last three days was constantly uttering, “Oh God of Love.  Oh my Jesus”, etc.  It was a great consolation that her death was so tranquil, she died without a groan or a struggle, indeed so quietly did she die that those about her scarcely knew when the breath left her body.  She gently raised her left arm, let it fall across the other, drew her lips together, and died with a sweet smile upon her countenance.

E. C. Cook (her son, Dr. Ezekiel Cook)

 Letter #8.

(transcription by Jade's Gramma, 2 December 2003)

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