The following is the entirety of the memorial:
Thomas Edgerton survived his brother Jesse about three years. He departed this life on Fourth Day the 1st of Ninth Month, 1847, in the 26th year of his age.
He had been in a declining state of health for several years, and for the last nine months of his life was confined to his room, and most of the time to his bed. He often expressed a hope if it was right that he might be restored to a comfortable state of health, even after friends and physician had lost all hopes of his recovery. But by submitting to the operation of Divine Grace in the heart he was brought into a state of entire resignation, wherein he could feelingly adopt the language, "Not my will but thine, O God, be done."
A few weeks before his death he said "I have more to bind me to this world than many others, more of the comforts of life, and a large circle of connexions and friends to whom I am very much endeared, and whose society I love, but I hope to be resigned." A few days after he said, "In looking over my past life I know I have often missed the right way. I believe my motives were not always bad, but I carried things to extremes. I hope, through adorable Mercy, my Heavenly Father will forgive me and take me to Himself." On being queried of relative to the state of his mind he replied, "I feel pretty comfortable; I have thought perhaps I have sometimg more to do, but if I have I believe it will be shown to me." On being encouraged to be faithful if he had any thing to say to any person, he replied, "I feel so unworthy myself." Observing his sister weep, he said, "I do not want you to be uneasy on my account. I believe all will be well."
Taking leave of one of his sisters, he said, "If we should never meet again in this world, I hope we shall meet in a happier clime; I feel comfortable."
On the 20th of Eighth Month he said, "I have been striving to be resigned and to seek for Best Help and I think I have been favored to give up all. If there is anything more for me to do I believe I shall be enabled to see it; I feel comfortable now."
On the 24th, speaking to his sister of the deaths that had taken place in the family he said, "The last brother will soon be gone, and it matters not which of you follow me next if you can be favored to land safely." On being informed of the death of a much loved friend, he replied, "I hope I shall soon meet him," and then queried of his sisters how long they thought he might continue. One of them replied, she thought not long. He said, "I have no wish to stay longer than my appointed time. I believe I can resignedly say, 'Not my will, but thine, O God, be done.'" In the course of the day he requested to hear one of the prayers of David. At the conclusion of which, he emphatically said, "Yes, bless the Lord," and then commented on the sublimity and excellency of the Holy Scriptures, particularly the Psalms, adding, "I do not know how any can disbelieve or lightly esteem them."
On the 25th, addressing his sisters he said, "It is a great comfort to have you with me. I love you all, I love every body." His sister speaking of the innocent state to which he had attained, he replied, "I feel like a little child," and added, "Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven." In the evening he remarked that night was approaching, and then adverted to the truth of the declaration, "Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge;' I can say with the Psalmist, his mercies are new every morning. I hope that faith and patience will hold out to the end." Speaking to his sisters of the favors he enjoyed beyond many who were afflicted, he said, "I have had excellent attention, you will have your reward;" and afterwards said, "My sufferings are very great, but if they were greater I could bear them; I have strength given me."
On the 28th some symptoms appeared which threatened dissolution, and on being informed thereof, he replied, "It does not alarm me, I am in readiness and quietly looking towards an everlasting home where I shall be at rest."
On the 30th his nephew taking leave of him, he said, "I want thee to be a good boy, and you that are older to set a good example to your younger brothers and sisters, and be obedient to your parents."
In the evening, when suffering extremely, he supplicated as follows: "Oh, Almighty Father, be pleased in the plenitude of thy mercy to be with me and strengthen me to bear with patience and resignation whatever thou mayst see meet; while passing through the valley and shadow of death, enable me to say, Not my will, but thine, O God, be done."
On the 1st of Ninth Month, a short time before the close, he supplicated thus, "O Lord, be pleased to strengthen me to bear whatever thou mayst see meet to inflict, if consistent with thy Holy will," and shortly after said, "This is the last," and again repeated, "This is the last struggle." On being asked if the prospect was comfortable, he replied, "Yes," and in a few minutes quietly passed away.
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