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Mr. Sam'l D. Sansom Jr.
Harden County, Tenn.
Smith's Fork Post Office
Postmaster
For God's sake give this as speedy a passage as you can and oblige a friend.
Postmarked--Natchitoches, La., Nov. 18th
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Republic of Texas, San Augustine Co.,
Oct. 16th, 1843
Mr. S. D. and Sarah Sansom; W. H. and Betsyann Smith; M. H. and J. M. Short
Dear Children:-
Having so much to write, I begin abruptly, where I left off when I wrote from Nachotoches before we reached Texas.
We wrote two letters in July, and have received none from you. Of course, will begin where we began then. We landed safe at Newton McAda's on Atoyach River on the 4th of April, found sister Nancy and all well, and the people were solicitous that we should continue here, to which I would not consent but as Wm. P. lived on the river and his land susceptible to overflow from rising river, he was fearful he would not be healthy; of course intended moving this fall to lands he owns forty miles higher up and twenty miles from the river. Consequently, I concluded to stay here and teach till fall, and he took John W. and Sarah Q. with him to prepare a support for us when we would go. We were immediately put in possession of good buildings with garden and lots. The dwelliing house was furnished with fine furniture, bedsteads, table, and cupboard for our use while we stay. There were also 6 milch cows and calves drove to us till we could choose to buy and I went into school. The neighborhood was thinly settled and my school was small, but one third was sufficient to board my family and Thomas. The peole were devoid of any religion, excepting my sister, Newton, and his wife. They cared for nothing but hunting deer by day and night. Well, I appointed preaching in my school house on every Sunday and Sunday night, and on Wednesday night prayer meeting in my home. In a few weeks a work broke out the like of which the oldest of us have never seen. There would be 6 to 10 profess in my house of a night, the result of which is we have a society of between 30 and 40 professors. Thomas L. is leader and warm and zealous and promises great usefulness. To see old gray haired men and women with their children, all happy and praising God, whoever would deny it being a work of God would deny their own existence, if it would answer their purpose. And all these were rais'd in the Baptist principles and some were in the church, but you would not get them to believe now, as they did before, and religion is still progressing. It appears that it will sweep the country -- May God grant it!
I will now commence on another subject -- When William P. left us, he said he would bring his family to see us as soon as him and Wesley would put in their crop. Well the season set in wet, and continued so till fall, such as none of us has ever seen, and the time expired when Wm. P. was to be up, and we waited till we got so uneasy we sent Thomas to see the reason (it is 90 miles across the country where there are no mail routes). A few days after Thomas started we received a letter informing us that Sarah Q. was dead and the neighbors were down in the chills and fever, and her death was laid on sitting up with a sick family before she got fully well. I have not room to give you all the comfortable circumstances of her death -- suffice it to say she was almost continually praising God, and when asked if she would not like to see us all, she said, "Yes", but said she would soon see us all, and as her father was old and frail, he had got the start of her. She would often after slumbering, ask if it was not the Lord's day, observing that she thought it was. And that the Lord was there and that they were all happy. She bore her sickness with the greatest patience and resignation for a fortnight, and on the last night of June her happy spirit left these low grounds and took its triumphant flight to Paradise.
Well, some of Wm. P.'s children had the chills and fever. J. W. who had from last summer got well of it after coming to Texas, but by exposing himself to wet when his sister died, they returned and hold him occasionally yet. But to return--Wm. P. hitched his wagon and come with Thomas, and him and his family staid six weeks and returned home. Although Atoyach was counted the sickliest water course near this, we all enjoyed good health excepting J. W. and Thomas. The night before they landed from the Trinity, the wagon got stalled in the river, and Thomas waded the river two or three times to the neck, and came on home wet. He took the chills and fever, and about a month ago the weather wtill wet -- the chills bevame common in our neighborhood -- but no one has died of it.
But now sets in the weightiest part of my letter, which was uppermost in my mind, but promising to be particular in writing to you, I have used order. About 3 or 4 weeks ago your mother took a swelling in her bowels and limbs and was thought to be the dropsy, but while I was preparing medicine, the neighbor women told her it was of another nature. However, in 8 days it vanished and on Saturday the 7th inst. she was taken with a kind of shivering and followed with small simptoms of fever. But soon discovered itself to be a disease of the bowels, which still increased for three of four days. And as it is so much the practice to fly to Calomel, on Thursday she told me she wanted to take Calomel. I told her I was opposed to Calomel, but if she insisted I would not hinder her. She took it, and her pain increased in spite of everything until Friday night about 9 o'clock she took her leave of this world and went to Jesus whom she has loved and faithfully served above 40 years. O! my dear children, I know you cannot but grieve for a parent, but my grief is for the best part of myself. I say nothing more of her now that I have always said in her lifetime, but am willing to say the sun never shined on that woman who fulfilled her place with more dignity and propriety than she has done as a wife, a mother, a member of the church, and as a neighbor. Altho no man can feel his loss more sensibly than I do, yet, Glory to God's holy name, I never did believe till now that I could feel so resigned. Yes, my dear children, the Lord has touched me in the most tender place, blessed be his name and I earnestly sought her of God, and I well know he chose her for me and lent her to me for nearly 39 years, and he has seen proper to call her his own and glory to his holy name. When a solitary or murmuring thought tried to creep on me, my mind flies up to the throne of God, and can view my dear Betsy in company with Sarah Q., Elizabeth I. Welch, her two infant daughters, and many of her relations who would swell their shouts till heaven's high arches would ring with melody. I feel sensible that were there a voice to speak from heaven to me and tell me that, if I choos'd it, I might have my companion and children back while I live, and have the world at my command to boot, I would reject the offer, nay -- I have a greater love for them than to deprive them (if I could) of that happiness which they enjoy. Blessed by God! I feel the greatest and best part of myself in heaven, just like my body was all gone but the little finger. Oh that I may live faithfully and be prepared (through grace) to join them when I leave this world. My dear friends let it be all our study to live faithfully every day and every hour and wear this world as a loose garment that we may, like blind Bartemus, when Jesus calls, drop our pride and go.
Let all my well-wishers read this letter, and carry it to bro. Kindrick. Give him our best respects with his family, and tell him that Sarah Q. said in her lifetime that if he survived her, she wished him to preach her funeral and we, for her and in her name, request the same. And altho I never heard my dear wife say anything about her funeral, yet for the regard which she (with myself) have always felt for him and his preaching, it is my request for the satisfaction of her children there also, that he preach Betsy's funeral. Let it be at a time and place most suitable for the friends to attend.
I must again change the subject, and say that accepting to one camp meeting and one quarterly meeting, I have never been out of the bounds of my school. I have been assured that where I am is the meanest part of the Republick, but as I promised to write confidentially I will give you no hearsays. Of course I can say will be ready to open in 2 or 3 weeks, as I am strongly inclined to do. I intend (if the Lord is willing) to ride about a little before I locate myself. If those of my friends (who aim at coming) were here, I would then determine.
If Jennie M. Short here, I would incline to give Amanda to her; otherwise, her sister Martha M. will keep her, at least for a while. I neglected to state how fully resigned your mother was to go. About 1/2 minute before she died, she told me she was dying and drew 2 or 3 easy breaths and went. I am well convinced it was the Lord's will I should come here; from the day we left Tenn., he gently smoothed my way, and wherever our lots have been pitched such friendship we never before met with. And such contentment I never before felt, and not withstanding where we are is the poorest part of Texas, I never before supported my family with such ease. I have supported several 2 day meetings but get no money. Write as soon and as often as you can and direct to Nachotoches, La, to the care of Thomas L. Sansom or Newton McAda -- I must close. Give my love to all without exception -- I have not room to name them. May the lord bless you all. Pray for me and mine.
P.S. Let me say with the greatest humility and self abasement that I have had an uneasiness in one respect ever since I came here, for 100 miles distant and especially in our own county there has been a struggle who would get us in their neighborhood, as if we or our poor labours were worthy contending for. Excuse my scribbling in the night.
Samuel D. Sansom
ritaray@quik.com
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