Ellen Armistead (1789-1846)
- Name:
- Ellen Armistead
- First name:
- Ellen
- Last name:
- Armistead
- Last name (variant):
- Armisted
- Birth date:
- 1789-10-29
- Birth place:
-
Tory-lane
- Death date:
- 1846-09-xx
- Death place:
-
Unknown
- Gender:
- Female
- ML ID:
-
mlper000578
Memoir:
- Archive: Fulneck Archives
- Shelfmark: MemFul Ful/3/122
Ellen Armistead was born on October 29, 1789, at a farmhouse at the bottom of Tory-lane, and raised in the Moravian faith before being received into the congregation in 1805 and admitted to communion in 1808. She served the community for many years at Wyke and Fulneck before marrying William Armistead in December 1843. Contracting English cholera in September 1846, she continued her duties for a fortnight before sinking into a final stupor, and passed away on a Wednesday morning, aged fifty-seven.
View Transcription of Memoir
1
Ful/3/122 Ellen Armistead died Sep. /46
Our late Sr was born at the farm
house at the bottom of Tory-lane
Oct. 29th 1789. Her parents brot her &
all their children with them to our
chapel, which they constantly attended.
They afterwards joined our church, &
are both buried [inserted above line: entered] in our burying ground.
In her 13th year she went to reside [inserted above line: live]
in the Srs house at Wyke, & continued
there till that institution was
broken up in 1805; she then came
to Fulneck & resided in the S. Srs
house, where she was employed a
short time in the wash, & then near-
ly 4 yrs. as cook. She then lived for
10 years with her mother at West-
gate-hill. Both of them came to
Fulneck every Sunday, & on all fes-
tive occasions, when it was practi-
cable. In the yr 1825 they both came
to reside [inserted above line: the place & took 2 rooms] in our Srs house here.
Next yr [inserted above line: The following] our late Sr went to live
with Br & Sr Holmes; & was after-
wards twice housekeeper & cook in
the S. Brns house. She then retired
into the Sisters' house, & lived there
until Decr 1843, when she married
her [inserted above line: her relict,] Br Willm Armistead.
She had the happiness to know the
truth from her childhood, & that,
we have every reason to believe, not
2
only theoretically, but so that her
heart was savingly influenced thereby,
so that she devoted herself to the Lord, &
lived in communion with him. She was
recd into the church in 1805 & admit-
ted to the H. Comn in 1808. - Like all
of us, who [inserted above line: for who does not] feel the effects of our natural
corruption, more or less, to our [inserted above line: his] dying day the flesh lusting against the spirit
& the spirit against the flesh;) she had
her failings, as well as her sharp con-
flicts & heavy trials; yet, generally
speaking, her spirit & conduct were
consistent with her profession; & occa-
sional spiritual conversation with
her shewed that she knew herself to
be a poor sinner, but that she belie-
ved in Xt. as her all-sufficient
Savr, loved him & clave to him.
A few days before her last illness
commenced we called upon her & her
husband, & had a conversation, chiefly
of a spiritual character, with them,
when we were struck with her being
unusually & pleasingly fluent &
communicative on the concerns of
her soul. - She appears to have taken
cold on Septr 7th; but the com-
plaint soon developed itself as
the English cholera. As, however,
she did not suppose it was anything
serious, she continued her usual oc-
cupations for a fortnight, tho' very
weak & poorly. At length she was ne-
3
-cessitated to call in medical ad-
vice; - but, in spite of all the
means used, she grew worse &, on
Tuesday morning last between 5 & 6
she fell into a sleep, which, for several
hours, was thot to be a natural &
refreshing slumber; at length, however,
it appeared to be a stupor, from which
she would never awake; & ??? was then
turn red! the retreat blessing for her
departure between 7 & 8 a.m. on Wed-
nesday morng, & abt 11 o'clock breathed
her last - of course in a state of
unconsciousness.
She had, on several occasions, previous
to her sinking into this lethargyic
state, spoken very satisfactorily of
her spiritual state, & of her hope &
confidence in her Redeemer. She
declared her consciousness of her
own sinfulness & utter demerit,
saying, on one occasion, "When I look
at myself I see nothing but [inserted above line: only] sin &
misery. & nothing but turning to
my Savr can comfort ??? cheer me."
But she clave to Jesus with purpose
of heart, saying, "Poor sinner as I am,
I know whom I have believed; I feel
our Savrs mercy & peace; for he is
with, he is near me." - & being
asked, if she had a good hope, that
he would receive her, she replied: "I
have not the least doubt, that he
will do so, for his mercy & merits
(sake)"
4
We cannot do have, therefore, a confident
hope, that she has entered into that
rest, which remaineth for the people
of God.
Her character was such, that she
was generally respected while living,
& is as generally regretted in her deed.
Her own relations loved her - & her
husbands children & grandchildren
- one of whom was the last ???
person conveyed to our burying-ground
here - felt no little affection for
her. - Her relict declares no man could
have a more affectionate & valuable
helpmate than he has lost in her. He
speaks particularly of her spirituality
of mind; as one proof of which he has
told the writer, that she used to take
great delight in the family devotions
which they held together in the mid-
night hour each day, so that she
would [inserted above line: cheerfully] rise from her bed to join him
in it, even tho' she had retired, con-
trary to her usual practice, while
he went his rounds as watchman.
May the Lord be [inserted above line: her afflicted husbands] her support &
comfort [inserted above line: under his bereavement], & give him & all her rela-
tives grace to make their calling &
election sure! - ??? may we all
meet her, & others who have gone be-
fore us, in the city of the living God,
& before the throne of the Lamb!
Her age was 57 years within 28
days.