Evans, Rebekah. Memoir of Mrs. Rebekah Evans, of South Reading, Mass. Boston: J. Howe, Printer, 1836. First Edition. [10671]
Blue cloth, 6 x 4 inches, light stains/blotches to binding, joints good. Yellow end papers, rear end paper hinge torn. Bookplate of Sarah Marsh on the ffep. Lithograph frontispiece portrait with tissue guard, by Pendleton's of Boston, after a painting by Thomas Badger. 141, [1] pages. Stains in the text, including a damp stain in the top half of many leaves. Good. Hardcover.
Rebekah Evans (1758-1835), b. Reading, Massachusetts. Born to Ebenezer and Hepzibah Smith, she married Thomas Evans (1749-1814) of Reading, in 1776, who was a member of the local militia. Thomas became a prosperous farmer in Reading, and was considered a shrewd and energetic man of business.
"His wife, who survived him many years, was a pattern woman, - prudent, notable, and pious. A memoir of her life has been published...one trait in her character that was quite largely developed - this was a strong credulity in relation to ghosts, forerunners, and supernatural manifestations, dreams, and visions. She used often to relate to her trembling grandchildren ghost stories that she believed to be true; accounts of haunted houses, wonderful dreams, and spirit communications..." - Lilley, Eaton. Genealogical History of the Town of Reading, Mass....p. 334 (1874).
The Evans family were members of the Baptist Church in South Reading. There is nothing in her memoir about her belief in superstitions or ghosts, even though it was so strong that it is remembered in the history of her town. It is an interesting example of how such beliefs were thought compatible with an evangelical Christian faith.
Much of the material of this Memoir was written by Mrs. Evans in her 70th year. She remembered no significant religious feelings when a child, and never discussed the matter with her husband before their marriage, although they kept the Christian customs of church attendance and Bible reading. A fever struck her family in 1786, and she feared widowhood and a mortgaged farm. Her desire for salvation grew, and "was told an eccentric minister was preaching at W., who described mankind as a broken vessel."
The preacher was speaking of the potter and the clay, and the sovereignty of God in salvation. Her struggles led to faith and comfort (1792) and to an open profession of faith (1796). She had many earthly sufferings, burying two children and her husband; for the last thirty years of her life she was lame, and "unable to walk without crutches." She suffered a stroke February 5th, 1835, which impaired her speech. She suffered a second on April 6th, which left her incontinent, and she died April 22nd. During her last days she was asked if she saw angels about her, replying, "I see no angels about me, though the other morning some person seemed standing by me, saying, 'Praise the Lord, praise Him, praise Him.'"
The book is in two parts, first, her youth, marriage, conversion, and second, "Last years, and last sickness, of Mrs. Evans." Each part is followed by "Notes" further explaining the parts of Mrs. Evans own writing. The compiler and note writer was with Mrs. Evans during her last sickness and death, and may have been the minister of her church.
