Memoirs of Martha Laurens Ramsay, who died in Charleston, S. C., on the 10th of June, 1811, in the 52d year of her age

Front matter

IL-WDodsonSc.

( AT THE AGE OF 17.)

AtneTicaii Sunday School Uraon Philadelphia.

Preface

The manuscripts which gave rise to this publication were found among the private papers of their author, Martha Laurens Ramsay, after her death, and were unseen by every human eye but her own, previous to that event. The first mention she ever made of them was in the full view of death, and only three days before its fatal stroke. She then designated the drawer in which they were deposited, and at the same time requested, that after they were read they might be kept as a common book of the family, or divided among its members They appeared, on perusal, to be well calculated to excite serious impressions fa-

PREFACE.

vourable to the interests of religion ; for they were a practical, experimental comment on its nature and salutary effects, even in this life ; its tendency to promote human happiness, and its sovereign efficacy to tranquillize the mind and administer consolation under afflictions, disappointments and trials. They exhibited an example which teaches more compendiously and forcibly than precept the value of piety and the comfort of submission to the will of God. In this view of the subject, it became an interesting inquiry, how far it would be proper to withhold them from that more enlarged sphere of usefulness which would result from their publication ? In determining this question, recourse was had to the opinions of the Rev. Drs. Hollinshead and Keith, under whose ministry the writer of the private papers, now published, had sat upward of tvventy years, and to whom she was intimately know^n. They strongly recommended the publication as well calculated to do good. Their opinions, and the reasons of them, were given in the subjoined letters.*

* A letter from the Rev. Dr. Hollinshead to Dr. David Ramsay.

Charleston, S. C. July 1, ISll.

Deak Sir : — The perusal of our much esteemed Mrs. Ramsay's papers, has awakened in me many pleasing, though painful reflections. The loss of such a friend, and such a member of our church, is unspeakable. Her example, while she abode with us, was a living lecture on the importance of the human character in every part it has to act upon the stage of life, and eminently recommended the maxims and habits of our holy religion as^ worthy of all acceptation. The devout reflections of her retired hours exhibit a mind impressed with the great realities of its eternal interests, truly solicitous to improve in godliness and virtue, and highly favoured at the same time with an intimate intercourse with heaven. Permit me to say, that I think the publication of these devout exercises of her heart, with a sketch of her life, might contribute much to the establishment and comfort of many pious exercised Christians, who walk in fear 1^

PREFACE.

In publishing to the world the private religious exercises of an individual, it seemed a thing of course that some ac-

and darkness, for want of knowing how others have been affected in scenes of trial like their own. It would be read with interest and improvement by Christians in every situation, whether of prosperity or affliction. It would be peculiarly gratifying to a numerous circle, to whom every memorial of their beloved departed friend will be precious. In presenting it to the community, which I think no person can so well do as yourself, you will perform an interesting and acceptable duty to society, and embalm, at the same time, the virtues and the memory of a most amiable Christian. Your undertaking this will gratify many others as well as.

Dear sir, your truly sympathizing

and affectionate friend,

W. HOLLIXSKEAD.

A Utter from the Rev. Dr. Keith to Dr. David Rufyisay. Charleston, S. C, June 28, 1811. Dear Sir: — The manuscripts which you were so good as to leave with me, I now return with my cordial thanks for the favour of having them submitted to my perusal.

count of that individual should be given at the same time ; for, without some such knowledge, many of the reflections of the

I have read them with that close attention, with that lively interest, with that melancholy pleasure, which have been naturally excited by the circumstance of their relating to a person who stood high in my esteem and regards as a Christian and a friend while living, and whose precious memory my heart is disposed ever to cherish with the tenderest mingled emotions of affection and regret.

From the earliest period of my acquaintance with Mrs. Ramsay, I have considered her as a lady of a very superior mind; of dispositions eminently benevolent, friendly, and generous ; and of those various and valuable accomplishments which could be derived only from the best education, from an assiduous attention to the most proper and effectual means of improvement, and from a long and intimate intercourse with many of the first characters in her native country and in Europe. She was, however, still much more honourably and happily distinguished by the grace of God, by which, in her early years, her heart was renewed and sanctified, and under the influence of which, through the succeeding course of her life, she exhibited, in the view of all attentive and judicious observers, a bright and attractive example of the writer would be comparatively uninteresting, if not unintelligible. It was therefore resolved to prefix to the manuscripts

temper and conduct of a real Christian. But it required that delineation of the sentiments, feelings, and exercises of her heart, which her own pen has drawn, for her own use in her most secret transactions with her Saviour and her God, to enable even her most intimate friends to see her character displayed in its brightest and most amiable beauties : in her deep and unaffected humility ; in her undissembled and uncommon sense of sinfulness and un worthiness ; in her remarkable self-denial in respect to worldly interests and enjoyments ; in her strong and steadfast faith, trust, and hope, and quiet, sweet resignation, under the most painful disappointments, afflictions, and trials ; in the fervour of her devotions, in the closet as well as in the family, and the sanctuary, and at the table of the Lord ; in the overflowings of her benevolence and charity toward all around her, according to their respective circumstances, and in the ardour of her affections, especially to her own family and peculiar friends, expressed in her many prayers for them, and her often renewed solemn resolutions to do every thing within her power, by a conscientious, faithful, cheerful performance of every personal, relative, and religious duty, for promoting

PREFACE.

some general account of the author, as far as was necessary to throw light on their contents. The publication of these private their temporal, spiritual, and eternal interests and happiness.

Truly, "her walk was close with God," and "her light shone brightly before men."

The impressions made on my mind by the perusal of these Memoirs of Mrs. Ramsay, and extracts from her Diary, &c., have irresistibly led me to wish and earnestly to desire that they may be permitted to appear in print. To withhold such papers from the public, would be to deprive many, very many, into whose hands they might come, of a most pleasing entertainment and a rich benefit. To her family and friends, in whose hearts she still lives, the volume would be a most welcome and precious memorial of what she was in herself, and of what she was to them ; while to an extensive circle of readers, fond of books of this description, it v/ould afford the desirable means of becoming acquainted with the excellent and amiable character, with the eminent Christian virtues and attainments, of one who adorned every relation which she sustained, and filled with dignity and usefulness every sphere of life in which she moved.

papers was the original design, the publication of the life of their author only secondary and incidental, as an introduction

Thus, " she being dead, would continue to speak" forcibly and persuasively, it is hoped, to the children of the world, in favour of the divine and blessed Saviour, to whom she lived and died; and more especially to the disciples and friends of this Saviour, she would speak with the best effect in the way of instruction, encouragement and consolation, relative to the various scenes of duty and trial, in which they may be called to be followers of her, and of all like her, " who, through faith and patience, inherit the promises."

Under the influence of these and similar reasons, you will, I trust, yield to the call of duty, and consider yourself as rendering an important service to the public, and a due tribute of praise to the God of all grace, by consenting to publish these valuable papers as soon as may be practicable.

In all Christian regards, including a tender sympathy towards yourself and your dear children, under every trial, and especially under this peculiarly heavy affliction, Mrs. K. cordially joins with, Dear sir, your sincere and

affectionate friend,

Isaac S. Keith.

to the effusions of her heart, which had been put on paper solely for her own private use. God grant that their publication may be the means of exciting in others, and especially the connections and friends of their author, the same lively sentiments of fervent rational piety with which she

was animated.

David Ramsay.

Charleston, S. C, July 15, 1811.

MEMOIRS.

Martha Laurens Ramsay was born in Charleston, S. C, on the 3d of November, 1759. She was the daughter of Henry Laurens and of Eleanor Ball, and was born in the ninth year after their marriage. By the father's side she was of French extraction. Her great-grand-parents were born in Rochelle, and suffered in the famous siege of that place. They were Huguenots or Protestants."^'" Being, by the revocation of the edict of Nantz, compelled to leave their native country, they came to America in the latter end of the seventeenth century. Her maternal ancestors emigrated from Devonshire in England, and settled in South Carolina about the same time.

In the first year of her hfe she had the smallpox so severely that she was supposed to be dead, and upon that supposition her body

* A history of this interesting people has been prepared and published by the American Sunday-school Union.

2 13 was actually laid out preparatory to her funeral. It was placed by an open window, and Dr. Moultrie coming in, pronounced her to be still alive, — probably revived by the fresh air. Under other circumstances she would shortly have been buried, as was then commonly done with persons who died of the smallpox in that year of extensive mortality. A valuable life was thus providentiallj' saved for future usefulness.

Martha Laurens early discovered a great capacity and eagerness for learning. In the course of her third year she could readily read any book, and, what is extraordinary, she could read it in an inverted position, Avithout any difficulty. As very trivial circumstances in one's childhood serve to show the dispositions and habits which afterwards appear in the outline of the mature character, we cannot refrain from recording the following anecdote.

Martha was walking with a httle cousin of hers, when they came to a wet place which was too wide for them to jump over. As they stood consulting together — half disappointed and half glad at their dilemma — a sailor appeared. At that time children had a dreadful idea of sailors, (perhaps from the popular stories of impressments and piracies which were then so current,) and when the two little girls saw a sailor coming towards them, they were not a little alarmed. He very kindly took Martha up and carried her quietly across the wet place, for which service she curtesied and thanked him. He then went back for the other little girl, but before she was half over she cried and struggled with so much violence that the sailor took her back, and left her where she was at first. There she stood lamenting her folly until help came from another quarter. Good manners never fail to secure the respect and friendship of others.

An amusing incident, which occurred when she was but three or four 3rears old, serves to show how much mischief and suffering may result from a single act of indiscretion or injustice in a teacher: —

The mistress of the school to which Martha was sent, was an ill-natured, waspish person, and one day in a moment of irritation she took her doll away and threw it out at the window. The little girl was of course much grieved at this treatment, and took it so much to heart that she could not, for a long time, approach the woman, or even hear her name without crying. Not being disposed to tell why she cried on these occasions, she was accustomed to say — " I am crying because sister Nelly's dead ;" this was a sister she had lost some time before the affair at school.

Miss Laurens often said, in after-life, that it gave her great sorrow to think how often she had told this untruth. So common was it that it grew into a proverb among her playmates, when any one cried without knowing exactly for what, to say — She is crying for sister Nelly.

In youth her vivacity and spirits were exuberant. Feats of activity, though attended with personal danger, w^ere to her famihar ; great exertions of bodily labour ; romantic projects ; excesses of the wildest play were preferred to stagnant life ; but from all these she could be turned off in a moment to serious business. As she grew up, the same activity was exerted in acquiring the useful and ornamental parts of female education. She very soon obtained a grammatical knowledge of the French language ; a considerable eminence in reading, writing, arithmetic, English grammar, geography, and the use of the globes. She even acquired a considerable acquaintance with geometry* and mo.thematical science. At the same time she was indefatigable in cultivating an acquaintance with books ; and, by means of abridging, transcribing, and committing to memory, was very successful in retaining much of what she read. In accomplishments and the ornamental parts of education, she excelled, and in the exercise of them took great delight.

In the eleventh year of her age she sustained an immense loss by the death of her excellent mother ; but this was in some measure made up by the maternal care of her good aunt,- Mary Laurens, the wife of James Laurens, whose sound judgment, refined manners, and eminent piety, well fitted her for

* Among her private papers has been found, accurately drawn by her hand, the first plan of the present circular church, in the city of Charleston, but without the western projection afterward added by others. This preceded the elegant plan of the ingenious architect, Mr. Mills, and was introductory to the motion which ultimately terminated in the adoption of the circular form. 2* training up her orphan niece for both worlds. To her care, and to that of his brother, Henry Laurens committed the charge of his two daughters, while he went to superintend the education of his sons in Europe. There he continued till the end of the year 1774, when love for his country brought him back to its defence against the aggressions of Britain. Thus, while God in his providence deprived Miss Laurens of the instructions and example of her natural mother, He raised up another friend, who performed the maternal duties with signal capacity, fidehty and affection. Though she was deprived of the company of her wase and virtuous father, for almost the whole of that interesting period, which extended from the eleventh to the twenty-second year of her age, she continued to receive letters from him. As a specimen of the style of this correspondence, we insert one or two of the letters addressed to her when she was twelve years of age :

" Philadelphia, August IS, 1771.

"ilij/ dear est P at sy,^ remember my precepts ; be dutiful, kind, and good to your aunt ; learn * Or Patty, a familiar substitute for Martha.

to prevent (or anticipate) all her wishes and. commands ; you can do so if you please. God has blessed you with sufficient abilities. Let all your reading, your study, and your practice tend to make you a wise and a virtuous woman, rather than a fine lady ; the former character always comprehends the latter ; but the modern fine lady, according to common acceptation, is too often found to be deficient both in wisdom and virtue. Strive, then, my dearest girl, to be virtuous, dutiful, affable, courteous, modest ; and be assured that you will become a fine lady. Set God before your eyes, my dear child ; pray to him ; place your whole confidence in him, and strive to do his will ; so shall you never be dismayed."

" Wfstminster, May 18, 1774.

" My dear Patsy., — I have recollected your request for a pair of globes ; therefore, I have wrote to Mr. Grubb to ship a pair of the best eighteen inch, with caps and a book of directions, and to add a case of neat instruments, and one dozen Middleton's best pencils, marked M. L., directed to your uncle, who will deliver them to you. When you are measuring the surface of this world, remember you are to act a part on it, and think of a plum-pudding, and other domestic duties."

The pleasantry about the plum-pudding had its effect. Miss Laurens made a pudding before she began to make use of her globes, and profited by the hint, that the knowledge of housewifery was as much a part of female education, as a knowledge of geography.

These paternal instructions were calculated to forward the virtuous education of a beloved daughter, growing up with fair prospects of an ample fortune ; but in and after 1775, he Avarned her of the probability that his estate would be forfeited, and that her father and brother in arms would lose their lives, and that she must prepare to maintain herself by her own exertions. The reasons of these apprehensions, and the deportment which he wished her to maintain, should they be realized, will be seen in the following letters : —

" Charleston, S. C, Feb. 29, 1776.

" My dear Dcmghter, — When I look around me and behold increasing preparations for civil war ; every man seeming bent and determined to carry those preparations into execution to the last extremity ; when, therefore, I consider our estates in this country as being on the very precipice of bankruptcy, how can I forbear lamenting, what will become of my dear sister, what will become of my dear Patsy and Polly, in case of my brother's death. Not only tears, but irresistible groans accompany this afflicting inquiry ; after a moment's pain, I console myself by this reply: *God will take care of them — that God who led your ancestors through a cruel persecution, and through a wilderness a hundred years ago, and you through ten thousand dangers, will not forsake your sister nor your children. Your brother will do well, and be made the guardian of your fatherles-s children after you are slaughtered.' My dear child, I could fill pages with accounts of causes for lamentation ; but alas, what good fruit would such accounts produce ; I will not grieve your young heart by a recital of afflictions which are the portion of age, and which I ought to bear alone. Nevertheless, it is my duty to warn you again, as I did in my last letter, to prepare yourself for a reverse of fortune — prepare for the trial of earning your daily bread by daily labour. This, whether it be matter of affliction, whether

22 MEMOIRSOr

it be a subject for grief or not, will, according to present appearances, be your portion. My love for you constrains me to give you timely notice. I have done so with an aching heart and overflowing eyes. Methinks 1 hear you reply, ' But, my dear papa, why will yoti make a sacrifice of your fortune, and hazard the happiness of your children ; labour day and night to earn poverty for yourself and them.' I answer briefly, ' It is the will of God that it should be so, and he gives me resolution to concur in and to submit to his will.' Now act your part well, my dear ; love God, and all things will work together for your good. I would proceed and advise you how to act, but you are in an excellent school. You learn your duty every day from sensible and pious friends. Follow their counsel and you will be happy.

" What money I now have in England, is devoted to the service of your uncle, aunt, our brothers, yourself and sister. I do not know that I shall ever be able to add one penny to that small stock. It will be wisdom, it will be piety, and a proof of gratitude in your elder brother and you, to consume as little as possible, in order that there may be more for the service of your dear imcie and aunt, and for the little ones who cannot help themselves. It would please me, it would rejoice me, to hear that you had cheerfully entered upon your new scene of life ; that you earned as much every day by your needle as would pay your daily expenses."

" Charleston, S. C, Aug. 17, 1776.

" My dear Daughter, — Your brother will tell you a great deal of American news, and particularly of the escape we have had from enemies who talked of nothing less than eating us up.

"All the mischiefs which have happened, and all that shall still happen to the contending parties, are to be charged to wicked and foolish counsellors. I pray God to raise up wiser and better men, who may devise means for effecting a friendly intercourse between Great Britain and these now ' United, free, and independent States,' and for promoting the mutual happiness of both parties. It is not impossible, but that the separation, lately announced, may produce great benefit to both. I am persuaded you will not give offence to anybody, by interposing your opinions concerning these matters ; to relate to you what has happened, cannot be amiss, which is all I mean. You will in silence submit the future progress and final determination to the wise order of that superintending Being, who holds the scales of justice in his hand ; who never fails to help those who confide in him and do right ; who hath set bounds to the bared arm of the mightiest monarch on earth, as he hath to the seemingly irresistible power of the ocean. ' Hitherto shalt thou come, and here shall thy proud waves be stayed.' Your part will be to join with the sons and daughters of piety, and pray incessantly for peace — peace to all the world, especially to the country in which you reside, and that to which you more particularly belong ; and 5''0U will lament that it is your father's unhappy lot to be engaged in war, in civil war, God's severest scourge upon mankind.

"I have no doubt, my dear daughter, but that you will take every advantage which the country you are in affords for the improvement of your mind and your address. The latter is of more importance to a lady than is sometimes thought ; to you in particular your friends should recommend it. God knows through what scenes you are to pass. If, instead of affluence, (of which you had lately a prospect, and to which you have still a just claim,) if servitude is to be your portion, quahfy yourself for an upper place. Fear not servitude, encounter it if it shall be necessary, with a spirit becoming a woman of an honest and a pious heart ; a woman who has not been affectedly nor fashionably religious.

" I need not tell you to be dutiful to your uncle and aunt ; to love and reverence them as tender parents. They may be reduced to very great straits. There my heart is most wrung ; but I must forbear ; the subject overpowers me ; God, in whom 1 trust, will protect you all. Adieu, my dear daughter ; write as often as you can, and in some measure lessen the anxiety which arises from the uncertainty of your being restored to your faithful friend, your affectionate father,

Henry Laurens."

These anticipations were not fully realized, but the expectation of them had a direct ten- 3 dency to assist in forming the solid education of the person to whom they were addressed.

Miss Laurens, in her twelfth year, began to be the subject of serious religious impressions. She was well instructed in the great gospel mystery of salvation by the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the sins of the world. And there is good reason to believe, that at a very early period she was brought by the grace of God cordially to accept of salvation freely offered, though dearly purchased.

In the fifteenth year of her age, in conformity to the advice of Dr. Doddridge, and in a form of words recommended by him, she prepared, and solemnly executed an instrument of writing, called by her, with great propriety, "A self-dedication and solemn covenant with God." In the Old Testament, we several times read of the rulers, priests, and people among the Jews solemnly covenanting before God, to renounce their transgressions and to adhere to his service. In the ninth and tenth chapters of Nehemiah there is a particular account of a covenant to this effect, drawn up in writing, and ratified by the names and seals of the persons who consented to it. Whether in addition to these examples from Holy Writ, and the recommendation of Dr. Doddrids"e, there were any particular circumstances, which, at that time, induced Miss Laurens to enter into this written engagement to be the Lord's, is unknown. It is believed that she kept the transaction secret from all the world, and that the paper in question, now thirt}^- seven years old, was never seen by any human being before her death.* At the time of

* The original writing is preserved in the family, and IS naturally regarded with much interest. We copy it for the benefit of those who may not have access to such a form of self-dedication.

"Thursday, Dec. 23, 1773.

" Being tJds day fourteen years and seven weeks old.

" I do this day, after full consideration, and serious deliberation, and after earnest prayer for the assistance of Divine Grace, resolve to surrender and devote my youth, my strength, my soul, with all I have, and all I am, to the service of that great and good God, who has preserved and kept me all my hfe until now, and who in infinite compassion has given me to see the folly of my ways, and by faith to lay hold on a dear Redeemer, and obtain peace to my soul through his precious blood. Martha Laurens.

" A self-dedication and solemn covenant with God. " Eternal and unchangeable Jehovah ! Thou great Creator of Heaven and Earth ! and adorable Lord of the execution of this writing, she was in the very spring-time of life — in possession of ail the comforts which wealth could bestow, and

angels and men, I desire, with the deepest humihation and abasement of soul, to fall down at this time in thine awful presence, and earnestly pray that thou wilt penetrate my very heart and soul with a suitable sense of thine unutterable and inconceivable glories ! Trembhng may justly lay hold upon me when I, a sinful worm, presume to lift up my head to thee, presume to appear in thy majestic presence on such an occasion as this.

Who am I, O Lord God, or what is my house ? What is my natui'e or descent, my character and desert, that I should speak of this, and desire that I may be one party in a covenant, where thou, the King of kings and Lord of lords, art the other. I blush and am confounded, even to mention it before thee. But, O Lord, great as is thy majesty, so also is thy mercy. If thou wilt hold converse with any of thy creatures, thy superlatively exalted nature must stoop, must stoop infinitely low ; and I know that in and through Jesus the Son of thy love, thou condescendest to visit sinful mortals, and to allow their approach to thee, and their covenant intercourse with thee. Nay, I know that the scheme and plan is thine own, and that thou hast graciously sent to propose it to us; as none untaught by thee would have been able to form it, or inclined to embrace it even when actually proposed. To thee, therefore, do I now come, invited by the name of thy Son, and trusting in his righteousness and grace : layhad as brilliant prospects before her as any of her sex in Carolina. The only serious affliction she had then met with, was the loss of

ing myself at thy feet with shame and confusion of face, and smiting upon my breast, I say with the humble publican, ' God be merciful to me a sinner.' I acknowledge, Lord, I have been a great transgressor. My sins have reached unto heaven, and mine iniquities are lifted up unto the skies. The irregular propensities of my corrupt and degenerate nature have, in ten thousand aggravated instances, wrought to bring forth fruit unto death. And if thou shouldst be strict to mark mine offences, I must be silent under a load of guilt, and immediately sink into destruction. But thou hast graciously called me to return unto thee, though I have been a wandering sheep, a prodigal daughter, a backsliding child. Behold, therefore, O Lord, I come unto thee. I come, convinced not only of my sin but of my folly. I come, from my very heart ashamed of myself, and with sincerity and humility confess that I have erred exceedingly. I am confounded with the remembrance of these things ; but be thou merciful to my unrighteousness, and do not remember against me my sins and my transgressions. Permit me, Lord ! to bring back unto thee those powers and faculties, which I have ungratefully and sacrilegiously alienated from thy service, and receive, I beseech thee, thy poor perverted creature, who is now convinced of the right thou hast to her, and desires nothing in the whole earth so much as to be truly thine ! Blessed God ! it is with the utmost solemnity that I make this surren- 3* her mother. This had taken place three years and seven months before, and the keen sensations occasioned thereby must, in the order of myself to thee.