The following is the entirety of the memorial:
A Brief Account of Mary Edgerton, an Elder of Somerset Monthly Meeting of Friends, Ohio
She was the daughter of Joseph and Christiana Hall, and was born in Edgecombe County, North Carolina. Her parents removed to Ohio in 1802 and settled in Jefferson County, near the place where the town of Harrisville now stands. They were among the earliest settlers, and Joseph Hall was compelled to cut a road through the woods for several miles to reach the spot which he had selected for the home of his family.
About the twenty-fifth year of her age she was married to Richard Edgerton, and moved into the neighborhood of Stillwater, Belmont County, then a wilderness. She bore her portion of the difficulties and privations necessarily attendant upon the settling of a new country; and the removal of her husband by death in the year 1827 added to the cares which devolved upon her. Through all, she was concerned to keep in view the great object of existence, even a preparation for a heavenly home, and being engaged to dwell near the Source of all good, the weight of her spirit had a sensible, leavening effect upon those with whom she mingled. Her last illness was of short duration, but having, as a wise virgin, sought for the heavenly oil during health, her bodily sufferings were not rendered more difficult to bear by a sense of sins unrepented of and unforgiven.
She departed this life in the sixty-first year of her age, on Seventh Day morning, the 6th of Fourth month, 1844. On Fifth Day evening, in a very solemn manner, she said in substance, "Dear Thomas [her son], I have earnestly desired that he might give up to serve the Lord, that he might possess true and lasting peace. I have thought it my duty for the support of the family to be diligent in business, and sometimes seemed encumbered about more than was pleasant, but I saw no way to avoid it. I have desired my children might be satisfied with a competency, rather than to seek for great things. I have seen the emptiness of the things of the world. I have had many deep trials to pass through, hardly able to hold up my head above the waves, and very particularly so of latter time, until I was taken with this sickness, when all was taken away, and I have felt nothing but peace. I have not seen how it may turn with me as respects the present dispensation, but it has been for some time impressed upon my mind that I shall not stay with you long." She spoke for a considerable time, under a feeling of deep concern and exercise for her children, and evinced that the clothing of her mind was sweet and heavenly peace.
On Sixth Day afternoon, her son Jesse, who was then in very poor health, was taken into her room, and observed to her that she was very sick. She replied, "very weak," and a solemn pause ensued. After some time she said, "Oh, my dearest son," three times repeated, "there is no pen nor tongue can tell what I have suffered, beyond anything that language can express, but I don't suffer now." When he was about to leave her room, she observed that she had something to communicate, and then said, "I want to tell you, my dear children, my peace flows as a river. The night before I was taken sick I dreamed I was sitting in Stillwater meeting-house, and a tall young woman got up to move, and I thought I would like her to come and sit by me, which she did. I looked round and they were all dressed in pure white, and it was the most beautiful sight I ever witnessed," then twice exclaimed, "Oh, this pure white, how beautiful, how beautiful. I thought at the time I should not be here long."
After giving very suitable advice to one of her children, she said, "I never could, from my early life, do anything contrary to the wishes of my dear parents, either in dress or going abroad, but if anything was to be done they were to know it, and it has afforded me sweet peace all my life long. I know I have often missed the right way, but it was not wilfully, but through weakness." She then again adverted to her trials, which she said had been more than she could set forth, for some time past, and that she still felt nothing but peace. "My love flows to you, my dear children, and I have often desired that not one of you may ever swerve aside into the broad way. Keep on the watchtower; watch and pray continually – it is the only place of safety. I have never desired great things for you. It is good to have enough to live comfortably, but always keep the main thing in view;" and again repeated, "Keep on the watch, the only place of safety. Your dear father left in charge with me his dying bed, to do all that I could for you, and I have endeavored to do so; and I have often prayed that you might be taken in your infancy, rather than live to dishonor the Great Name."
In the evening she said to one of her daughters, "Oh, my dear lamb, how often do I feel for thee tenderly, very tenderly indeed;" and again, "how very comfortable I feel in body and mind – never so comfortable in all my life before: I am so happy, the very air I breathe seems as though it were sweetened. Oh, all of you magnify your Creator and my Creator."
To another daughter she said, "Go tell dear brother, that this is the happiest day I ever lived." To one of her sons she said, "I love thee dearly, I love everybody, black and white." And afterwards said, "Tell my friends the world over, that there is no cause of uneasiness on my account."
On Seventh Day morning (the day of her death), as well as the preceding evening, she frequently exclaimed, "Oh, the peace I feel!" And at one time, near the close, with her eyes raised, and a most impressive smile on her countenance, with uplifted hands, she several times repeated, "Oh, the beautiful prospect; all is peace, sweet peace." Thus, with the praises of God on her lips, and his peace flowing through her heart, she was safely gathered to that heavenly home which our blessed Redeemer has prepared for all that love and serve Him.
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