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Note: N351 “My mother was an able, strong, energetic and intellectual woman. She was a great reader and strong mentally and spiritually. No one could impose on her and she did no evil, more that that she would suffer no evil. Open and straightforward, nothing remained doubtful where she was. As a mother she was strict and impartial, and whatever she planned for her children to do they had to do. Her word was law, but it was the law of love and justice. She was a faithful and tender nurse to the sick in her home and a comforter in affliction everywhere. A neighbor in trouble who sent for her said, “Oh Mrs. Stockton! If you were only a Methodist I would love you more than anyone in the world.” Mother answered “If you love me enough as a Universalist to send for me when you need me, I am satisfied.”
(from Recollections of Nancy Stockton, Sally Hall Lord’s youngest child)
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Letter written in 1851 from Sally to her daughter Nancy Edwards is in the possession of Freda Eberle in 2009, transcription follows:
Stockton Prairie September 1851
My Ever dear Children john and Nancy, I seat Myself this Beautiful Morning to inform you that your father and myself are in the enjoyment of good health and Spirits, (for the present Sign of the times seems to say to me your dear Children will all be near you in the course of another year) and you May rest assured the anticipation of that happy day gives us More joy than I can express. Benjamin wrote us he was coming to see us but did not apper to be determined whether he would come this fall or in the Spring, So I wrote him in answer (not knowing any thing about your plan you know) he had better come here this fall, and in the Spring, we would go round with him, and see you, unless it turned out so that you was Coming here,(which would be still better)
We received your last letter and feel very thankfull to you both for your kind invitation to spend the winter with you, and for Myself I could do so with pleasure (provided your Father was there to and was contented) but you know he is so much attached to his Own fire side and his little domestick affairs (and it is almost indespensible for him to be busy about something) that I hope you will not allow yourselves to be disappointed when I say we wish you to excuse us this time, Now dear Nancy believe me when I tell you I am with you in Mind, and heart, daily and hourly and rest assured no earthly power shall ever separate us, but fate has cast our lots so far from each other that it seems necessary for us to arm ourselves with Christian patience and fortitude and hope on hope ever for the good time Coming, which I have a strong presentiment is not far distant, ---
Amanda has been out and made us a visit and returned this morning. She said she would write you a good letter so I put this into hers and next time I will say more, Edwin and family are well except Diantha has a very bad sore on her arm I believe it is a blood boil, ----They wish to be remembered in love to you all,
I walked over to Gustavus Chapins last friday to see them and found him and Polly just returned from Hendersonville, they had ben to pay the last sad duties to the remains of his sister Sarah Hitchcock, She Died of Consumption, Lorenzo Chapin Family are well also are Gustavus Polly wished to be remembered in love to all friends, We have not seen any of our Mercer County friends since you left us but are anxiously looking for them,
We have fine weather now, good roads and in short the aspect of everything is changed since last May, Cousin Hary G Lord writes us the prospect is dull with them, darying business quite poor in consequence of scarcety of Money, he said he should write to you soon, Harry longs to be on his Farm in the Prairie Land.
Adelia Rodgers has a Daughter which She calls Elen Amanda, Diantha is looking for her aunt Martha to spend the winter - and now dear Nancy keep good courage, the winter will soon Hide away and Smiling Spring with all its Beauties will SUrely impart some of her charms to you and me if we are patient and try to merit them, give my kind regards to your friends and my friends -
your dear Parents and Elvira in particular, and except of the best wishes of your Loving Mother for your happiness
Sarah H Stockton
to John and Nancy E
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Tombstone inscription:
Stockton Sally H wife of I F died Sept 4 1864 76 y 5 m 9 d
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