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APPENDIX NO. I
The following interesting particulars of the ancestors of Jonathan
Edwards will be acceptable to the reader. They are introduced in this
separate form that the thread of the narration may not be interrupted;
and this plan will be adopted for a similar reason in other instances.
The family of Edwards is of Welch origin. The Rev. Richard Edwards,
the great-great-grandfather, and earliest known ancestor of President
Edwards, was a clergyman in London, in the time of Queen Elizabeth. He
came, according to the family tradition, from Wales to the metropolis,
but in what county his family lived, or of what church in London he
was minister, is not know. His wife, Mrs. Ann Edwards, after the death
of her husband, married Mr. James Coles; who with her son, William
Edwards, then young and unmarried, accompanied her to Hartford in
Connecticut about the year 1640, where they both died.
William Edwards, Esquire, the great-grandfather, resided in Hartford,
and is supposed to have been by profession a merchant. His wife, whose
christian name was Agnes, and who came when a young lady with her
parents to America, had two brothers in England(one the mayor of
Exeter, the other the mayor of Barnstable. Their marriage occurred
probably about the year 1645. It is not known whether they had more
than one child.
Richard Edwards, Esquire, the grandfather, and so far as can now be
ascertained, the only child of William and Agnes Edwards, was born at
Hartford in May, 1647, and resided in that town during his life. [96]
He also was a merchant, and a man of wealth and respectability. At an
early age he became a communicant in the presbyterian church in
Hartford, and adorned his profession by a long life of conscientious
integrity, and unusual devotedness to the prosperity of religion. He
married Elizabeth Tuthill, the daughter of William and Elizabeth
Tuthill, who came from Northamptonshire in England. Mr. Tuthill was a
merchant of New-Haven, and one of the proprietors of the colony
attempted on Delaware Bay. By this connecxion Mr. Edwards had seven
children, the eldest of whom was the Rev. Timothy Edwards. After her
decease, he married a Miss Talcot, of Hartford, sister of the Hon.
John Talcot, by whom he had six children. He died April 20, 1718, in
the 71 year of his age; exhibiting, resignation and triumphant faith.
The family of Stoddard is of English descent. Anthony Stoddard,
Esquire, the maternal great-grandfather of President Edwards, and the
first of the family in America, emigrated from the west of England to
Boston. He had five wives; the first of whom, Mary Downing, the sister
of Sir George Downing, was the mother of the Rev. Solomon Stoddard of
Northampton. His other children were Anthony, Simeon, Samson, and
Israel.
The Rev. Solomon Stoddard, his eldest child, and the maternal
grandfather of President Edwards, was born in 1643, and received the
degree of A. B. at Harvard college in 1662. Soon after his licensure,
the first minister of Northampton, the Rev. Eleazar Mather, then a
young man, died, [97] and the parish applied to one of the ministers
of Boston to designate a successor. He advised them at all hazards to
secure Mr. Stoddard. When the parish committee applied to him, he had
already taken his passage for London, and put his effects on board the
ship with the expectation of sailing the next day; but through the
earnest solicitation of the gentlemen who had recommended him, he was
induced to relinquish the voyage and go to Northampton. He began to
preach there in 1669, soon after the death of Mr. Mather, and on the
4th of March, 1670, received a unanimous call from the church and
people of that village to become their minister; but was not ordained
until September 11, 1672. On the 8th of March, 1670, he married Mrs.
Esther Mather, originally Miss Warham, the youngest child of Rev. John
Warham, of Windsor in Connecticut, [98] and widow of his predecessor,
who had left three children. Mr. and Mrs. Stoddard had twelve
children; six sons and six daughters. He was a man celebrated
throughout the colonies for his capacity, his knowledge of men, his
influence in the churches, and his zeal for vital religion; and will
long be remembered for his valuable writings, which have often been
published on both sides of the Atlantic. [99] He was the minister of
Northampton from 1672 until his death in 1729, and left impressions of
a character strongly marked for originality, for talents, for energy,
and for piety, on the minds of its inhabitants, which the lapse of a
century has scarcely begun to diminish.
The Rev. Timothy Edwards, the father of President Edwards, was born at
Hartford, May 14, 1669, and pursued his studies preparatory to his
admission to college, under the Rev. Mr. Glover of Springfield, a
gentleman distinguished for his classical attainments. In 1687, he
entered Harvard college, at that time the only seminary in the
colonies; and received the two degrees of Bachelor and Master of Arts
on the same day, July 4, 1691, one in the morning, and the other in
the afternoon, "an uncommon mark of respect paid to his extraordinary
proficiency in learning," such is the statement in the records of East
Windsor. After the usual course of theological study, at that time
longer and more thorough than it was during the latter half of the
following century, he was ordained to the ministry of the gospel in
the east parish of Windsor in Connecticut, in May, 1694.
Windsor was the earliest settlement in that colony, the first house
having been erected there in Oct. 1633. The original inhabitants came
from Devonshire, Dorsetshire, and Somersetshire in England. They
arrived at Boston in the beginning of the year 1630; and planted
themselves at Dorchester in Massachusetts, were there formed into a
congregational church on the 20th of March; when the Rev. John Warham,
previously a distinguished clergyman in Exeter, but ejected as a
nonconformist, was installed their pastor. Finding themselves
straitened for room at that place, in consequence of the great number
of emigrants from England, the church with their minister left
Dorchester, and planted themselves in Windsor, in the summer of 1635.
This town, lying immediately north of Hartford, and delightfully
situated in the valley of Connecticut, originally comprehended a very
large tract of land on both sides of the river, and is distinguished
for the fertility of its soil, and the beauty of its scenery. The
inhabitants constituted one parish until the year 1694; when those
residing on the eastern side of the Connecticut, finding it
inconvenient to cross the river, and being grown sufficiently numerous
to support public worship among themselves, proceeded to build a
church, which stood near to the present burying ground, and invited
Mr. Timothy Edwards, son of Richard Edwards, Esquire, of Hartford to
be their minister.
Mr. Edwards was married, on the 6th day of November, 1694, to Esther
Stoddard, the second child of the Rev. Solomon Stoddard, who was born
in 1672. His father, immediately after his settlement, purchased for
him a farm of moderate extent, and built him a house, which was
regarded, at the time of its erection, as a handsome residence. It was
still standing in 1803; it was a solid, substantial house of moderate
dimensions, had one chimney in the middle, and was entered, like all
other houses at that period, by stepping over the sill. In this house
his children were born, and he and Mrs. Edwards resided during their
lives. They had one son and ten daughters, whose names follow in the
order of their births:(Esther, Elizabeth, Anne, Mary, Jonathan,
Eunice, Abigail, Jerusha, Hannah, Lucy, and Martha. [100]
In the spring of 1711, Mr. Edwards and the Rev. Mr. Buckingham of
Milford, were appointed by the legislature of the colony, the
chaplains of the Connecticut troops in a military expedition, designed
for Canada. He left Windsor for New-Haven in July. A fleet, consisting
of twenty men of war and eighty transports, sailed from Canada on the
30th of that month. Three companies under the command of Lieut. Col.
Livingston, marched from New-Haven for Albany on the 9th of August,
with whom went Mr. Edwards and Mr. Buckingham. The country through
which their march lay, was at that time chiefly uncleared; and the
troops were obliged to lie out two nights in the forest. They reached
Albany on the 15th, and found there, including their own regiment,
about 1100 whites, and 120 Indians. The following letter, addressed to
Mr. Edwards from Albany, not only details the state of the expedition,
but unfolds the character of the writer, and the circumstances of his
family.
"To Mrs. Ester Edwards, on the east side of Connecticut river, in
Windsor.
Albany, August 17, 1711.
My dear and loving wife,
The last Wednesday we came to this place. That we might not travel too
hard for the footmen of our troops, (which consisted but of half the
regiment, the rest not marching out of New-Haven when we did,) we
spent seven days in the journey, which Col. Livingston judges to be
about 160 miles, and I am apt to think it may not be much short of it.
I lay with our troops two nights in the woods. I took cold in my
journey, and have something of a cough, and am otherwise not much
amiss. Notwithstanding this I am able to travel, and hope I shall be
so through the whole journey. Col. Livingston has been very careful of
me, so that through the whole march, both as to diet and lodging, I
fared as well in the main as himself. The rest of the officers and the
troops carry themselves as well to me as I can expect or desire.
Here are about 1100 white men, (or will be, at least, when the rest of
the regiment come up, whom we expect to-night) and 120 Indians, beside
what are expected of the Five Nations, which many here think will be
1600 or 1800 men, but Col. Schuyler told me that he did not expect
more than 1000. About 200 or 250 more whites are expected; so that the
whole army that goes to Canada is like to be about 2500 men; to carry
whom over the lake, there are provided, as I am told here, 350
batteaux and 40 or 50 bark canoes. The Governor of New York and the
General are here. The General is in great haste to have the forces on
their march; so that Col. Schuyler's regiment was, as I understand,
ordered to march out of town yesterday; but as I slept last night, and
still am, on the east side of the river, I am uncertain whether they
are yet gone. The General told Col. Livingston and me also afterwards,
that we must march for Wood Creek to-morrow, but I am apt to think we
shall hardly march till Monday.
Whether I shall have any time to write to you after this I know not;
but however that may be, I would not have you discouraged or over
anxious concerning me, for I am not so about myself. I have still
strong hopes of seeing thee and our dear children once again. I cannot
but hope that I have had the gracious presence of God with me since I
left home, encouraging and strengthening my soul, as well as
preserving my life. I have been much cheered and refreshed respecting
this great undertaking, in which I verily expect to proceed, and that
I shall, before many weeks are at an end, see Canada; but I trust in
the Lord that he will have mercy on me, and thee, my dear, and all our
dear children, and that God has more work for me to do in the place
where I have dwelt for many years, and that you and I shall yet live
together on earth, as well as dwell together for ever in heaven with
the Lord Jesus Christ, and all his saints, with whom to be is best of
all.
Remember my love to each of the children, to Esther, Elizabeth, Anne,
Mary, Jonathan, Eunice, and Abigail. The Lord have mercy on and
eternally save them all, with our dear little Jerusha! The Lord bind
up their souls with thine and mine in the bundle of life. Tell the
children, that I would have them, if they desire to see their father
again, to pray daily for me in secret; and above all things to seek
the favour of God in Christ Jesus, and that while they are young.
I would have you very careful of my books and account of rates. I sent
you from New-Haven a 40s. bill in a letter by Lieut. Willis, and since
that ordered the treasurer to deliver to my father six pounds more for
you. You may call for it, or send for it by some sure hand.
Though for a while we must be absent from each other, yet, I desire
that we may often meet at the throne of grace in our earnest prayers
one for another, and have great hopes that God will hear and answer
our prayers. The God of grace be with you.
I am, thy loving husband,
On Monday, August 20th, they marched for Wood Creek. At Saratoga, in
consequence of the fatigues and exposure of the march, Mr. Edwards was
taken severely ill. On the 4th of September, being unable to proceed
with the army, he was conveyed in a boat to Stillwater. Thence he was
carried back through the woods to Albany, where he arrived in three
days in a state of extreme danger. On the 10th he wrote to Mrs.
Edwards as follows:
"To Mrs. Esther Edwards in Windsor, New England.
Albany, Sept. 10, 1711.
My dear,
I came last Tuesday from Saratoga towards Albany, very ill, in order
to return home; having been ill more than a month, and growing at last
so weak that I could go no further than that place, which is near
fifty miles above Albany. I came to Albany in a waggon, lying along in
a bed, prepared for me, last Thursday night. Since then I have been at
the house of Madam Vandyke, a Dutch gentlewoman, where I have been so
kindly taken care of, that I am much better, and daily gain strength,
and my lost appetite is somewhat recovered. I hope to be able to ride
homeward next week.
Last Friday I sent Mr. Hezekiah Mason to New England, to acquaint my
father and my friends at Windsor how it is with me, and to desire
three or four of them to come hither and to bring an easy horse with
them for me to ride upon, and to come provided to carry home my
effects, and to bring a blanket or two with them in case we should be
forced to sleep in the woods. I should have written by him, but was
too ill to do it. This is the first day I have been able to sit up. If
the neighbours have not started when you receive this, speak to Mr.
Drake that they set out as soon as possible.
I rejoice to learn, by a letter from my father, that you were all well
on the 2d, and hope in the mercy of God to see you all ere long.
Lieut. Silvy, sent over by the queen to serve in this expedition, a
stout, active young man, who came sick with me in another waggon from
the camp to Albany, died this evening just by my lodgings. We came
together from the camp sick, we lay together in one room by the way
sick, we lodged just by one another several days in this town sick(but
he is dead, and I am alive and recovering. Blessed be God for his
distinguishing and underserved grace to me! Remember my love to all
the children. Give my respects to Mr. Colton, who I understand stays
with you. I wish you to provide something for my cough, which is the
worst I ever had in my life. Remember my love to sister Staughton, and
my duty to my father and mother, if you have opportunity.
I am your very affectionately loving husband,
Timothy Edwards."
Owing to the lateness of the season and to numerous disappointments,
the expedition was soon after relinquished; and in the course of the
months Mr. Edwards returned home.
Mr. and Mrs. Edwards lived together in the married state upwards of
sixty-three years. Mr. Edwards was about five feet ten inches in
height, of a fair complexion; of a strong robust frame, bull, but not
corpulent. He was a man of polished manners, and particularly
attentive to his external appearance.(The management not only of his
domestic concerns, but of his property generally, was intrusted to the
care of Mrs. Edwards, who discharged the duties of a wife and a mother
with singular fidelity and success. In strength of character she
resembled her father, and like him she left behind her, in the place
where she resided for seventy-six years, that "good name which is
better than precious ointment."
"On a visit to East Windsor, in the summer of 1823," remarks Mr.
Dwight, "I found a considerable number of persons advanced in years,
who had been well acquainted with Mrs. Edwards, and two upwards of
ninety, who had been pupils of her husband. From them I learned that
she received a superior education in Boston, was tall, dignified, and
commanding in her appearance, affable and gentle in her manners, and
was regarded as surpassing her husband in native vigour of
understanding. They all united in speaking of her as possessed of
remarkable judgment and prudence, of an exact sense of propriety, of
extensive information, of a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures and
theology, and of singular conscientiousness, piety, and excellence of
character. By her careful attention to all his domestic concerns, her
husband was left at full liberty to devote himself to the proper
duties of his profession. Like many of the ministers of the gospel of
that early period in New England, he was well acquainted with Hebrew
literature, and was regarded as a man of more than usual learning; but
was particularly distinguished for his accurate knowledge of the Greek
and Roman classics. In addition to his other duties, he annually
prepared a number of pupils for college, there being at that time no
public schools endowed for this purpose. One of my aged informants,
who pursued his preparatory studies under him, told me, that on his
admission to college, when the officers had learned with whom he had
studied, they remarked to him, that there was no need of examining Mr.
Edward's scholars."
He was for that period unusually liberal and enlightened, with regard
to the education of his children; preparing not only his son but each
of his daughters also for college. In a letter, bearing date Aug. 3,
1711, while absent on the expedition to Canada, he wishes that
Jonathan and the girls may continue to prosecute the study of Latin;
and in another of Aug. 7, that he may continue to recite his Latin to
his elder sisters. When his daughters were of the proper age, he sent
them to Boston, to finish their education. Both he and Mrs. Edwards
were exemplary in their care of their religious instruction; and, as
the reward of their parental fidelity, were permitted to see the
fruits of piety in them all during their youth.
He always preached extemporaneously, and, until he was upwards of
seventy, without noting down the heads of his discourse. After that
time, he commonly wrote the divisions on small slips of paper, which,
as they occasionally appeared beyond the leaves of the Bible that he
held in his hand, his parishioners called, "Mr. Edwards's thumb
papers." Apologizing for this one day to one of his pupils, he
remarked to him, that he found his memory beginning to fail, but that
he thought his judgment as sound as ever; and this was likewise the
opinion of his people, till near the close of his life. He is known to
have written out but a single sermon, which was preached at the
general election, in 1732, and was published. It is a solemn and
faithful application of the doctrine of a general judgment to his
hearers, particularly as legislators and magistrates. As he lived till
within a few months of his son's decease, the latter often visited his
father, and preached in his desk. It was the customary remark of the
people, that "although Mr. Edwards was perhaps the more learned man,
and more animated in his manner, yet Mr. Jonathan was the deeper
preacher."
His influence over his congregation was commanding, and was steadily
exerted on the side of truth and righteousness. When he knew of any
division among them, he went immediately to see that the parties were
reconciled; and when he heard of any improper conduct on the part of
any individuals, it was his uniform custom to go and reprove them.
Under his preaching, the gospel was attended with a regular, uniform
efficacy, and in frequent instances, with revivals of religion, yet no
record is preserved of the actual admissions to the church. From some
of the family letters, evidence appears of a revival of religion
existing in 1715 and 1716; during which Mrs. Edwards, and two of her
daughters, made a profession of their christian faith; and several
others of the family are spoken of, as "travelling towards Zion, with
their faces thitherward." His son observes, in 1737, that he had known
of no parish in the west of New England, except Northampton, which had
as often been favoured with revivals of religion, as that of his
father.
During the whole of his ministry, he was regarded by his people with
great respect and affection; no symptoms of dissatisfaction having
been manifested by them for sixty-three years. In the summer of 1752,
on account of his increasing infirmities, he proposed to them the
settlement of a colleague; and they actually settled one, the Rev.
Joseph Perry, June 11, 1755; but continued his salary until his death,
which took place Jan. 27, 1758, when he was eighty-nine years of age.
Mrs. Edwards survived him twelve years; her fourth daughter, Mary,
residing with her and watching over the infirmities of age. "From a
lady in East Windsor, far advanced in life, I learned," says Mr.
Dwight, "the following facts.--`Mrs. Edwards was always fond of books,
and discovered a very extensive acquaintance with them in her
conversation; particularly with the best theological writers. After
the death of her husband, her family being small, a large portion of
her time was devoted to reading. A table always stood in the middle of
her parlour, on which lay a large quarto Bible, and treatises on
doctrinal and experimental religion. In the afternoon, at a stated
hour, such of the ladies of the neighbourhood as found it convenient,
went customarily to her house, accompanied not unfrequently by their
children. Her daughter regularly read a chapter of the Bible, and then
a passage of some religious author; but was often stopped by the
comments of her mother, who always closed the interview with prayer.
On these occasions it was a favorite point with the neighbouring
females, even with those who were young. to be present; all of them
regularly attending when they were able, and many of them, among whom
was my informant, dating their first permanent attention to religion
from the impressions there made. In this way she was regarded with a
respect bordering on veneration, and was often spoken of by Mr. Perry,
as one of his most efficient auxiliaries. She died Jan. 19, 1770, in
the 99th year of her age, retaining her mental faculties until the
close of her life. Her daughter Mary spent many years of her early
life at Northampton with Mr. and Mrs. Stoddard; and returning thence
to her father's house, she was the nurse and attendant, and I may
almost say, support of her aged parents. She was a woman of most
amiable disposition, fine understanding, and uncommon attainments, had
read much, and appeared to have made the best improvement of the
knowledge that she obtained. [101] She survived her mother six years."
_________________________________________________________________
[96] See Appendix, No. II.
[97] Mr. Mather was ordained June 18, 1661, and died July 24, 1669.
[98] The Rev. John Warham was originally one of the ministers of
Exeter. "He was distinguished for piety and the strictest morals; yet
at times was subject to great religious melancholy. Such were his
doubts and fears, at some times, that when he administered the Lord's
supper to his brethren, he did not participate with them, fearing that
the seals of the covenant did not belong to him. It is said he was the
first minister in New England who used notes in preaching; yet he was
applauded by his hearers, as one of the most animated and energetic
preachers of the day. He was considered as one of the principal
fathers and pillars of the churches of Connecticut." Trumbull's Hist.
of Connecticut. I. 467.
[99] The following is a list of the publications of the Rev. Mr.
Stoddard 1. The trial of Assurance 1696. 2. The Doctrine of Instituted
Churches 1700. 3. The Necessity of acknowledging Offences 1801. 4. The
Danger of Degeneracy 1702. 5. Election Sermon 1703. 6. A Sermon on the
Lord's Supper, Ex. xii. 47, 48 1707. 7. A Sermon at the Ordination of
the Rev. Joseph Willard of Swampfield 1708. 8. The Inexcusableness of
Neglecting the Worship of God 1708. 9. The Falseness of the Hopes of
many Professors 1708. 10. An Appeal to the Learned on the Lord's
Supper 1709. 11. A plea for Tythes: Divine Teachings rende, Persons
blessed 1712. 12. A Guide to Christ 1714. 13. Three Sermons: The
Virtue of Christ's Blood: Natural Men under the Government of
Self-love: The Gospel the Means of Conversion: and a fourth to stir up
young men and maidens 1717. 14. Sermon at the Ordination of Mr. Thomas
Cheney 1718. 15. Treatise concerning Conversion 1719. 16. Answer to
Cases of Conscience 1722. 17. Inquiry whether God is not angry with
the Country! 1723. 18. Safety of appearing in the Righteousness of
Christ
[100] See Appendix. No. III.
[101] From the letter of an excellent lady in Middletown, in whose
family she resided several years.
_________________________________________________________________
APPENDIX, NO. II.
PARTICULARS AS TO THE LIFE AND DEATH OF MR. RICHARD EDWARDS, THE
GRANDFATHER OF JONATHAN EDWARDS.
A closely written manuscript of ninety-six pages, foolscap 8vo, by the
Rev. Timothy Edwards, of East Windsor, and eldest son of Richard
Edwards, Esquire, is still preserved, headed, "Some things written for
my own use and comfort, concerning the life and death of my very dear
and honoured father, Mr. Richard Edwards, late of Hartford, who died
April 20, 1718, on the sabbath, in the forenoon, being the ninth day
of his sickness, and the 71st year of his age, he being then very near
seventy-one years old, having been born in May, 1647."
The following brief abstract of this account will not be uninteresting
to those who respect the memory of departed piety and worth;
especially as it is an accurate moral picture of the man who moulded
the character of the father and instructor of President Edwards. As
far as is consistent with brevity, the language of the original is
exactly preserved.
"He was naturally of a strong healthy constitution, well formed and
comely, and of uncommon vigour, activity, and nimbleness of
body--characteristics, for which he was distinguished until the close
of life. He had a clear voice and ready utterance, and expressed
himself not only with ease and propriety, but with uncommon energy and
effect. He was naturally cheerful, sprightly, and sweet tempered, of a
ready wit, had a mind well stored with knowledge, particularly the
knowledge of history and theology, and in conversation was uncommonly
pleasant and entertaining. He was sober and considerate, a man of
great courage, resolution, and perseverance; had a clear and strong
understanding, a sound judgment, and a quick, sharp insight into men
and things, and was capable of almost any kind of business. He was in
the full sense of the phrase a man of business, distinguished for his
wisdom and forecast; had uncommon prudence and discretion in the
management of his own affairs, and was extensively consulted in
matters of weight and difficulty by others.
Though natively quick and warm when provoked or affronted, he had
acquired the self-government, which became him as a man and a
Christian; though firm and inflexible in the discharge of his duty, he
was yet easy to be entreated. He was candid and charitable in his
estimate of the conduct of others, kind and affectionate in his
feelings, liberal and generous in the use of his property, obliging in
his disposition, willing to devote his time and services to the good
of his fellow-men, readily forgiving injuries on the slightest
acknowledgment, but yielding nothing to pride and haughtiness of
spirit. He was uniformly courteous, affable, and easy of access; free
and familiar with his children and servants, and with the poorest and
humblest of his neighbours; and at the same time tenderhearted and
compassionate, easily melting into tears, while witnessing either
examples of kindness and generosity, or scenes of affliction and
sorrow, and doing what lay in his power to relieve the wants and
distresses of others. He had a manly, ingenuous spirit, was accustomed
to deal very faithfully and thoroughly with his fellow-men about their
faults and miscarriages, and did not fear, on any proper occasion, to
tell any man plainly what he saw amiss in his conduct.
He was a sincere and faithful friend, never disappointing those who
trusted in him; and it was no difficult thing for any honest man,
however humble his circumstances, in a just cause, especially if he
was oppressed and unable to defend himself, to secure his friendship.
Such confidence, says the writer, have I in my father's faithfulness,
that, under God, I could venture my estate, my good name, and even my
life, in the hands of such a friend. In all his dealings with his
fellow-men he was eminently just and upright. Though his business was
very extensive, and continued through a long life, and though I had
the best opportunity of knowing his concerns, I never knew him attempt
to wrong any individual, or to do any thing which discovered the least
shadow of deceit or dishonesty. On the contrary, he abhorred all base
underhand management, scorned all that was little, unfair, and
unworthy, and in freedom from dissimulation, hypocrisy, and any design
to do wrong, was among those who excel.
"In all the relations of life his character was truly estimable. He
was hospitable and courteous to strangers, and charitable to the poor,
and was ever ready to sympathize with the afflicted, to plead the
cause of the widow and the fatherless, and to help those who wanted
both friends and money to help themselves. He was an affectionate,
tender, careful husband, one of the best of fathers to his children, a
just and kind master, esteemed and beloved by his neighbours, a good
and punctual paymaster, and of a credit always unimpeached. He was not
only faithful in managing the concerns of others; but equitable, in
his demands for services rendered, often indeed rendering them for
nothing; just and moderate in his profits, gentle and accommodating
towards his debtors, often bearing with them, year after year, if they
were poor and honest. He was also merciful to his beast.
He had an excellent spirit of government--having wisdom to govern not
only himself, but others--so that he was both feared and loved, by his
children, and servants, and all who were under his control. I cannot
say that he discovered no infirmities, but they were much outweighed
by his virtues.
In the existence and constant presence of God, he appeared not only to
believe, but to delight. The fear of God seemed habitually before his
eyes, so that probably nothing would have tempted him to do that,
which he really thought would offend him. Twice every day he
worshipped God in his house, by reading the Scriptures and prayer.
Other religious books were read in their season in the family, and
that to an extent rarely surpassed. His conversation with, and his
letters to, his children, were full of religious instruction. He laid
great stress on the promises of God to the righteous, and his
threatenings to the wicked; fully expecting and looking for the
accomplishment of both. He habitually and attentively observed the
dispensations of Providence; ever acknowledging with thankfulness his
goodness to him and his; and regarding every affliction as an
immediate chastisement from God, so that he heard the voice of the
rod, and him that appointed it. Rarely does any Christian express so
solemn and heart-affecting a sense of the great and awful
dispensations of Providence, towards individuals, or towards the world
at large.
He hated vice and wickedness, whenever he saw it, and abhorred to
justify or make light of sin, whether committed by strangers, or by
his own near relatives; always discovering in this respect a just,
conscientious, impartial spirit, and appearing to frown upon it even
more in his children than in others.
In prayer he seemed to draw very near to God with peculiar solemnity
and reverence, with exalted views of his greatness and goodness, and
with a supreme regard to his glory. He appeared to cherish an admiring
sense of the wisdom, the power, and the goodness of God, in
contemplating the works of creation and providence, and the riches of
his grace as unfolded in the work of redemption. The truth of God he
studied and understood, as well as loved and obeyed.
Few men administered christian admonition and reproof with so much
faithfulness, discretion, and solemnity, or with so much success; and
few received it with more humility, meekness, and self-application.
His feelings of religious subjects were at once strong and tender;
often discovering themselves at public worship, in family prayer, and
in religious reading and conversation.
He took peculiar care, that his family sanctified the sabbath, and
appeared himself conscientiously to keep it holy. On the morning of
every sacramental sabbath, he regularly spent a long time alone, in
religious retirement. He was abundant in his religious instructions
and admonitions to his family, on every proper occasion, and regularly
on every sabbath afternoon in enforcing the sermons of the day, and
the instructions of the book which was then read. From my own
observation of other religious families, with which I have been
familiarly acquainted, I have reason to believe that few children,
even of christian parents, have been as much counselled and
instructed. He loved and honoured the faithful ministers of Christ,
for their work's sake; and was a sincere and hearty friend to his own
minister; actively and zealously exciting others to help and befriend
him, and resolutely and successfully opposing and bearing down those
who arrayed themselves against him.
In his religion he was far from being ostentatious, and the applause
of men he regarded as nothing, in comparison with that testimony of a
good conscience, which would enable him to appeal to the
heart-searching God, for the sincerity and uprightness of his conduct.
He appeared to love the real disciples of Christ, for their piety;
disregarding the distinctions of sect and party, and receiving all his
brethren who were received by Christ.
Though possessed of property, he realized, in an unusual degree, the
vanity of worldly good, and placed but a slight dependence upon
riches, honours, or pleasures as the means of permanent happiness.
Surely, says his son, this world was not my father's god; his chief
good was something better and nobler, than this present world can
afford. He appeared habitually sensible of the frailty of his nature,
and of the nearness of his own death, often conversing on death and
the judgment, in a truly devout and edifying manner, and frequently
observing, near the close of life, "I carry my life in my hand every
day; I am daily looking and waiting until my change come." Few
Christians, indeed, seem more conversant with their own death, more
careful to prepare for it, or more ready to meet it.
In the government of God he seemed habitually to rejoice. His sense of
the evil of sin was peculiarly deep; he was patient and submissive
under sufferings, was willing to suffer for Christ's sake, and was
free from the fear of death. He appeared to be truly humbled under a
sense of his own sins, to mourn over sin, and to wage a constant
warfare against it, to love the way of salvation revealed in the
gospel, to cherish a sacred regard to the glory of God and the
interests of religion, and to entertain exalted views of the character
and glory of Christ. Though he never, says his son, gave me an account
of his conversion at large; yet on various occasions, in conversation,
he has alluded to the great change then wrought in his views and
affections, with regard to temporal and spiritual objects,
particularly to worldly good, the warfare with sin, the hope of
reconciliation to God, and a title to eternal life. He appeared
eminently to trust in God, to cherish a deep sense of his dependence,
and to lead a life of faith. Though I have now been in the ministry,
he adds, nearly four and twenty years, and, during that period, have
often had much private conversation with many of the truly pious, I do
not remember that I have met with any, who seemed more truly to lead
such a life, than my dear father; and to such a life he habitually
advised and directed his children, both in his conversation and in his
letters. Writing to me on an important subject, he says--"I leave you
in this, and all your affairs, to the direction and guidance of the
Fountain of wisdom and goodness, who, I doubt not, will guide you into
the best and safest course, if you trust in him, and by faith commit
your ways to him. Make the glory of God your main end, and depend on
him by a lively faith in his promise; for He is faithful who hath
promised, that they who wait on him shall not want any good
thing--that is, any that is really good for them"--In a letter
addressed to me when I was with the army at Albany, [102] then on an
expedition to Canada, he thus writes--"I have nothing new to write to
you, but merely to revive what I have said formerly, that, since God,
in his allwise providence, has called you to this present service, you
put your whole trust in him, to carry you through it, who never fails
any who put their trust in him. You may expect to meet with
difficulties, but still God is all-sufficient--the same God in all
places, and in all conditions,--therefore commit yourself wholly to
his merciful providence, who is a faithful God to all his people, in
all their ways. So I leave you to the blessing, guidance, and keeping
of a gracious and faithful God and Father."--I have cause to say,
"Blessed be God, that once I had a father, thus disposed to counsel
his children!"
In all affairs of weight and difficulty, he appeared, in an unusual
degree, to commit himself to God, to wait on him for direction and for
help, to leave the event in his hands, and then to be at peace. He has
sometimes told me, says his son, that when his mind has been much
agitated in consequence of some great trouble and perplexity, in which
he could see no means of help or relief, so that he could get no rest
for a great part of a night, it has been his customary course, to cast
it entirely on God, and leave it in his hands; and then, said he, I
can at once go to sleep.
God was his great refuge in times of trouble, and I have good reason
to believe that the declaration in Deut. xxxiii. 27. The eternal God
is thy refuge, and underneath thee are the everlasting arms--might be
applied to him with truth. In the time of health he trusted in God,
and strongly relied on his providential care and goodness, to provide
for himself and his family. This was peculiarly observable in seasons
of affliction and distress. In sickness he stayed himself on God, and
looked to the Lord Jesus Christ, to carry him safely through, however
it might issue. In the very dreadful mortality in 1711, when great
numbers of the inhabitants dies, he was dangerously sick of the
distemper; and when the crisis was passed, he gave us the following
account of his reflections, during the first night of his sickness:
"When I was first taken ill, I concluded that I had the prevailing
fever; and was strongly impressed with the belief that I should die of
it. During the former part of the night, I felt considerable anxiety
respecting it, but in the latter part of it, the disquiet of my mind
passed away, and I was willing to leave myself with God. I found
myself not so much concerned about the issue of my sickness; but
thought I was satisfied that it should be as he pleased."(This, during
his whole sickness, gave him inward peace and rest in God, and
comfortably freed him from the terrors of death.
The language of his last will, written near the close of life,
strongly exhibits the good man, who trusteth in the Lord, and whose
hope the Lord is:("I, Richard Edwards of Hartford, being weak in body,
yet, through God's goodness, my understanding and memory remaining
good, being sensible of my own mortality, and not knowing how suddenly
the Lord may put a period to this short life, do therefore make this
my last will and testament. And first, I commit my soul into the bosom
of my most merciful God and Father, and ever blessed Redeemer, Jesus
Christ, hoping for eternal life and salvation through the merits,
mediation, and intercession of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; and
my body to the earth, to be buried, nothing doubting but that it shall
be raised again, and re-united to my soul, by the mighty power of God,
at the last day, and so rest in hopes of a glorious resurrection,
through Jesus Christ our Lord."
The piety and evangelical excellence, which had characterized his
life, were even more conspicuous in his last sickness, and at his
death.--Towards one whom he regarded as having greatly injured him, he
expressed feelings of kindness and good will; and while he declared,
that in the review of his conduct towards him, he had peace of
conscience, that he could safely die upon what he had done in it, and
that under the approach of death, he felt no trouble lying upon his
mind, with reference to it, yet he declared he could truly say, he
heartily wished him the best good. He took great care that no wrong
should be done through mistake, with respect to what had been due, or
was still due, to him from others. To one of his neighbours who came
and, whispering in his ear, asked his forgiveness, he readily and
promptly replied, "I forgive you, I forgive you;" and this so kindly
and heartily, that the man was melted into tears. He repeatedly
charged his children, on no consideration to take advantage of the law
against any, who had mortgaged their lands or estates to him, and
whose mortgages were out and their debts unpaid.
When his children came around his bed, weeping at the apprehension of
his approaching death, and their incalculable loss, he said to them,
"This time I have long expected, this scene I have looked for, and now
it is come." As some of us who lived at a distance came into his sick
chamber for the first time, he said, "I can but look upon you, my
children, I can't speak to you; I have a great deal to say, but I
can't say it; God now denies me that liberty." When I first saw him,
(April 16th,) he expressed a hope, that he should meet me with joy, at
the right hand of Christ in the great day. Something being said to
him, with reference to death, he replied, "Death, indeed, is terrible
to nature, but I hope God will strengthen me, and carry me through it,
and help me to submit to his will; I lie at the feet of God."--While
he was praying to God by himself, he was overheard to say, "Lord, I
come to thee with my naked soul; I desire to bow under thy chastizing
hand, and hope it is a good chastisement." As we sat weeping by his
bed-side, April 16th, he said to us,--"Come, children, moderate your
grief, for such things must be, and the will of God is best. I freely
submit myself to the will of God, whether in life or death, to do with
me as he pleases." He said to me on the 17th,--"Though I seem to be
better to-day, yet I am of the opinion that this sickness will be my
last; and I am very willing that the will of God should be done, I am
not at all anxious about it: I rely on the Lord Jesus Christ; I have
chosen him for my Saviour and mighty Redeemer." On my observing, "This
must be a great support, Sir, to your mind;"--he replied, "it is so."
As I was sitting by him on the 17th, I heard him say,--"O my poor,
frail, mortal body, methinks, sometimes I should be glad to slip away
from thee!" In the midst of most severe pain, he expressed himself
very desirous, that God would enable him to bear his afflicting hand,
and quietly submit to his will, even to the end; and that he might not
at any time, by impatience, be left to sin against him, and for this
he desired our prayers, that God would, in this respect, strengthen
him more and more; and in a very humble manner, when he had scarce
strength to speak, he thus, in a short ejaculation, prayed to God, "O
Lord, increase thy grace, and strengthen thy servant's faith!" During
his whole sickness, he appeared to be almost always praying to God;
far more than is commonly witnessed on the death-bed of the Christian.
He solemnly exhorted and charged his son John, to carry on the worship
of God in his family, after his death. To one of his daughters, he
said, as she stood weeping over him, "I must say to you, as Mr.
Whiting said to his daughter Sybil, Through wet and dry, through thick
and thin, keep steady for that port." On the 18th, as his good friend
Mr. Austin, and myself, sat by him, and we observed him troubled with
hiccoughs, one of us remarked that the hiccoughs were very
distressing, and he replied, "God must take his own way, and use his
own means, and I desire to submit to his holy will, and hope I can do
it freely." He expressed to me his conviction, that it was better for
him to depart and be with Christ, than to continue with his family;.
On my reminding him, that he had many friends, he replied,--"I know
that I have many friends, but there is one Friend that is better than
all;" and when one of us spoke of making his bed easy; he
replied,--"The favour of Jesus Christ will make my bed easy; the bosom
of Jesus Christ is the best resting-place, for a man in my
condition."--To one of my sisters he said, "Weep for yourself, my
child, as I have wept for myself, I have laid hold of the rock of
ages, I hope my anchor is within the veil;"--and to another, as she
observed him in very great pain--"The passage may prove rough, but the
shore is safe, and the bottom will hear me." In reply to a remark of
mine, he said,--"I trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, and have ventured
my soul upon for eternity, and I desire to do so more and more." On
the night of the 18th, when his distemper was most violent, he
expressed his full conviction, that he had chosen God for his portion,
and that he would grant him a favourable issue.
He expressed high and honourable thoughts of God, in the midst of his
greatest distress. On Wednesday, observing his uncommon patience and
resignation under extreme suffering, I was led to remark, that to
submit quietly and patiently to the will of God, when sorely afflicted
by him, was one of the hardest lessons a Christian had to learn. His
reply was striking and affecting:--"Alas! there is no room nor cause
to complain of God, for he is infinitely good, yea goodness itself,
and the fountain of it; I should be very ungrateful indeed, if I
should complain of him who has been so good to me all my days."
On Saturday, the 19th of April, and the last day but one of his life,
when he lay rattling in his throat, much oppressed for want of breath,
and in great pain, so that he seemed to me to be in the very pangs of
death, he expressed some fear that he might lie long in that
condition, and so endure great pain and misery before he died, and
therefore seemed to desire that God would mercifully shorten the time
of his sufferings, by taking him quickly out of the world. Mrs. Talcot
said to him, "But you are willing to wait God's time:"--to which he
replied,--"O yes, O yes." At a time when he appeared to be fast
sinking, Major Talcot informed him, that he was ready to think death
was upon him, he was so very low; and I added,--"I hope that God will
never leave you nor forsake you:"--with great readiness, and with an
air of much inward satisfaction, he replied,--"I don't fear it, I
don't fear it!"--When he was hardly able to speak, he told me, in
answer to a question, that--his hope of eternal life, through the
infinite mercy of God in Jesus Christ, was still firm; that he trusted
all would be well with him in a short time, and that then he should
think of his present afflictions and sufferings with pleasure!--In the
former part of the night, he told us that he was comforted with the
hope of going to heaven. On my asking him if he did not wish to
recover, he replied:--"To recover! No; I am better as I am, I have no
desire to go back, I have left myself with God!"--In the latter part
of the night, having lain down for a little sleep, I was called up, as
he appeared to be dying. I asked him if his hope of salvation
continued. He said--"Yes."--I asked him whether he still had good
thoughts of God, and he replied--"Yes, Yes!"--In the morning of the
sabbath, a few hours before his death, I went to him, and told him, I
would make one more prayer with him, if he thought he could attend; he
was only able to say--"Yes"--and at the same time nodded his head;
and, when it was concluded, gave me the same sign, that he had been
able to understand and unite with me. In the prayer, I spoke of him as
dying; and expressing my hope to him afterwards, that he was going to
keep sabbath with saints and angels in heaven, and inquiring whether
he had that hope to sustain him, he gave me the customary sign that
such was the fact.
In this manner he lived and died, glorifying God both in his life and
in his death, and leaving behind him that good name, which is better
than precious ointment."
_________________________________________________________________
[102] In August, 1711
_________________________________________________________________
APPENDIX, NO. III.
ACCOUNT OF THE CHILDREN OF TIMOTHY AND ESTHER EDWARDS.
The following particular statement of the children of Timothy and
Esther Edwards, will probably interest some readers.
1. Esther, born in 1695; married Rev. Samuel Hopkins of West
Springfield. They had several children: Hannah, married in 1740, to
Hon. John Worthington, L.L.D. of Springfield. They had two sons, who
died in infancy; and four daughters: Mary, who married Hon. Jonathan
Bliss, chief justice of the province of New Brunswick; Hannah, who
married Hon. Thomas Dwight of Springfield; Frances, who married Hon.
Fisher Ames, L.L.D.; and Sophia, who married John Williams, Esq. of
Weathersfield.
2. Elizabeth, born 1697; married Col. Jabez Huntington of Windham.
They had four daughters: 1. Jerusha, married Dr. Clark of Lebanon. 2.
Sarah, married Hezekiah Wetmore of Middletown, and had two children;
and after his death married Samuel Beers of Stratford, and had three
children: Lucy, married to George Smith of Smith-town, L. Island;
Sarah Anne, married David Burr, Esq. of Fairfield; and William Pitt
Beers, Esq. of Albany, who married Anne, daughter of Hon. Jonathan
Sturges of Fairfield. 3. Elizabeth, married Rev. Abraham Davenport of
Stamford, and had two children; Hon. Jon. Davenport, M.C. and Hon.
James Davenport, a judge of the supreme court of Connecticut.
3. Anne, born in 1699, married John Ellworth, Esq. of East Windsor,
and died in 1798, aged 99. They had four children: 1. John, born Aug.
24, 1735, and had five children; 2. Solomon, born April 3, 1737, and
had twelve children; 3. Frederick; 4. Anne, who married Mr. John
Stoughton of East Windsor, and had six children.
4. Mary, born in 1701, and died single, Sept. 17, 1776, in the 76th
year of her age.
5. Jonathan, the subject of the present Memoir. For his children, see
Appendix, No. VI.
6. Eunice, born in 1706, married, in Oct., 1729, Rev. Simon Backus of
Newington, who went as chaplain of the Connecticut troops to
Louisburg, in 1745, and died there in 1746. They had seven children:
1. Unknown. 2. Eunice, born in 1732, died unmarried aged 75. 3.
Elizabeth, born in 1734, married David Bissell of East Windsor. They
had two children. 4. Esther, married Benjamin Ely of West Springfield,
and had fourteen children. 5. Rev. Simon Backus, A.B. of Yale, in
1759, married Rachel Moseley of East Haddam, and had nine children. 6.
Jerusha, married Mr. Smith Bailey, and had four children. 7. Mary,
died unmarried.
7. Abigail, born in 1708; married William Metcalf, Esq. of Lebanon,
and A.B. of Harvard college. She died in 1754. They had five children:
1. Abigail, married Moses Bliss, Esq. of Springfield, and had eight
children, Hon. George Bliss, Moses, William Metcalf, Lucy, married Dr.
Hezekiah Clark of Lebanon, Abigail, married Hon. William Ely of
Springfield, Frances, married Rev. William Rowland of Windsor, Emily,
and Harriet. 2. William, and 3. Eliphalet, who died young. 4. Lucy,
who married Mr. John Huntington of East Haddam, and had seven
children. 5. Eliphalet, born Dec. 6, 1748, married Mary West of
Lebanon.
8. Jerusha, born in 1710 and died Dec. 22, 1729, aged about 19 years.
9. Hannah, born in 1712, and married Seth Wetmore, Esq. of Middletown,
Conn.
10. Lucy, born in 1715, and died unmarried in East Windsor, Aug. 21,
1736, aged 21.
11. Martha, born in 1716, married Rev. Moses Tuthill of Granville,
Mass. and died Feb. 1794, aged 77.