Thomas Arnett, son of Valentine and Sarah

Thomas Arnett

son of Valentine and Sarah

Source info: Memoirs of Thomas Arnett, The Life, Travels, and Gospel Labors of Thomas Arnett. 422 page hardbound book. Published 1884. Chicago. Publishing Association of Friends. Author: Thomas Arnett. Published after the death of Thomas.

Pages 1-2 Thomas Arnett Journal

I was born, according to the best account I could obtain, on the 30th day of the 6th month, 1791, in the County of Guilford and State of North Carolina. My parents' names were Valentine and Sarah Arnett, who moved to the County of Stokes, a county joining and lying west of Guilford, when I was about two or three years of age, where I was brought up. I can say but little about my father, for he went a journey to the North when I was about eight or nine years old, where he died, many miles from home: so I never saw him afterwards. My mother was left in very limited circumstances, with ten children --one daughter and nine sons. She was a pious woman, having joined herself in connection with the Methodist Society before I was born, and continued a member with them as long as she lived. She embarked to train us up in piety and virtue as much as she could: but her circumstances were so limited that she thought it best to hire us out for her's and our support, and being able to keep us together: so that we were much from under her control, and also much exposed to the vain customs of the world.

I was the seventh son, and was soon old enough to be hired out for my own and her support.

Page 3 - Thomas Arnett Journal- 1812

"I thus procratinated the improvement of my mind till I arrived at the twentieth year of my age, when I began to reflect seriously upon my misspent time, and I felt sensible conviction for my sins and folly; having lived to this age in ignorance and vanity, my education having been neglected, for I could neither read nor write at this age, my mother not being able to send me to school, and I having been hired to many people, for whom I worked very hard and diligently on thier farms, and in whose service I found but little respite, therfore my opportunity for improvement was very limited. I now became renewedly desirous to attain a portion of school learning, feeling sensible of the loss I should sustain without it. I therefore, with the permission of my mother, went to school about this time, at my own expense, till I could read and write; and not being able to continue at school any longer (for I had nothing of this world except a few clothes, my mother having recieved most of my wages), I resumed my former occupation, that of hard labor on the farms of those to whom I was hired. I now began to take some delight in reading and reflection, and spent most of my leisure hours in perusing religious books. I also led a more thoughtful life than I formerly had done, though I was still addicted to many things which met the disapprobation of divine wisdom."

Page 5 - Thomas Arnett Journal - 1813

In this year I bagan again to go to school, and continued at school several month, having by my own industry enabled myself to defray the expenses therof. I became very desirous to procure a pretty good portion of school learning. I therefore used every exertion to improve in literature, but I too much neglected the refinement of my soul."

Page 6 - Thomas Arnett Journal - 1814

"In the twenty-third year of my age I taught school a few months myself, in the vicinity where I was brought up, having acquired a pretty good portion of school learning. After this school expired I again went to school several months to improve my own education, being resolved to attain a good portion of literature, being sensible of its value, if it be kept under the control and guidance of divine wisdom, and being also sensible of the loss that those sustain who travel though time without it. It is a worthy pursuit for youth, if virtue and piety keep pace with it."

Page 7 - Thomas Arnett Journal - 1815

In the twenty-fourth year of my age I again became rather forgetful, and began to procrastinate the improvement of my mind, and was aroused by the following remarkable warning: One evening I went to meetin (among the Methodists), and after meeting got into bad company, by whom I was persuaed to accompany them to a frolic not far distant (this was the last frolic I ever attended). Soon after I got there I was smitten with deep conviction, my pleasure was turned into sorrow. I felt sensible that the Lord's wrath was kindled against me; I felt condemned and distressed. Oh! the grief which came upon me on account of my sins and transgressions; the weight of guilt which I felt bore me down under deep compunction. I soon withdrew into the solitary woods, where I wept bitterly. I sat down and wrung my hands; the power the invincible power of the everlasting God was upon me, and it smote me, as it were, to the ground, for my sins and disobedience."

Page 8 - Thomas Arnett Journal - 1815

In this year I taught school some months in the norther part of Guilford county, among the Presbyterians, having learned most of the branches and sciences taught in common country schools."

Page 11- Thomas Arnett Journal - 1816

In the twenty-fifth year of my age I opened a school in the western part of Guilford county, where I taught for a number of months, mostly among those of the Society of Fiends."

Page 18 - Thomas Arnett Journal - 1816

"After I became fully convinced of these things, the Lord, I believe, impressed my mind with a desire to join myself in connection with the Society of Friends. My natural will had an aversion to this requisition, because of the simplicity and self-denial conspicuous in the genuine members of this Society; but I found that everything in me must be subject to heaven, and that I must attain to a thorough establishment in the everlasting truth before I could be a disciple of him who condescended to take on him the seed of Abraham, and was tried with all the temptations and probations to which I am exposed. I therefore, after spending some time in solemn diliberation, and finding that my peace consisted in joining this Society, fully acquainted myself with the religious priciples and profession of Friends; and finding they met my approbation, believing they were grounded in the ever blessed truth, and were consistent with the Holy Scriptures, and I being persueded that I could support them, I requested to be joined in connection with Friends of Deep River Monthly Meeting, in Guilford county, and Union Preparative Meeting, in Stokes county (the vicinity where I was brought up). I was received into membership on the 5th day of the eighth month, 1816, having given Friends of this Monthly Meeting proofs of my sincerity and thourough convincement of the truth.
...
Soon after I became a member of the Society of Friends I opened a school at Union meeting-house, and within the limits of this meeting. I afterwards taught school for some years. I also became a constant attender of this meeting, endeavoring to wait on teh Lord therin with a passively disposed and quiet spirit.

Page 64 - Thomas Arnett Journal - 1825

I then requested and obtained my certificate of right of membership among Friends to Center Monthly Meeting in the State of Ohio, believing that I saw the light before me pointing out the way to those parts. I had a farewell meeting at our meeting-house (Union). on the 8th day of the 5th moht, 1825, which was large, and it was truly a tendering and solemn season; after which I took my leave of my dear friends with tears and brokenness of heart, and after spending most of the next day with my relatives and some Friends, I took a very affectionate farewell of them and set forward on my intended journey, and after having a trying and solitary travel, I arrived among Friends of Center Monthly Meeting in the fore part of the following month.

Soon after I arrived I opened a school at New Hope, in Green County, a Preparative Meeting of Center Monthly Meeting, for Friends' children, where I taught school for a number of months, to satisfaction.

Page 67 1825

Believing the time had at length arrived for me to begin to think about marrying and settling myself, having hitherto lived in other people's houses, having never had a home of my own, and I now vergin on towards advanced age, I therefore thought when way opened in the truth that it would be right for me to have a home of my own. Having also of late felt more lonesome and tried in a single life than formerly. My dear mother departed this life in peace some years before I left my native country, the loss of whom increased my solitary hours. She was a good mother to me, and I have no doubt but she is at rest.
...
I was very much concerned to marry and settle myself according to the pointings and directions of him who has been very gracious to my soul, and who has preserved me through many tribulations and probations. I therefore with sincerity and purity of intention laid this weighty matter before my Heavenly Father, and sought his counsel with prayer and singleness of heart, and patiently waited for his divine influence and direction; and I believe that he, in the fullness of time, turned my heart towards my dear Friend Rachel Faulkner, and innocent and well-inclined young woman, and daughter of David Faulkner, deceased, and Judith his wife, and sister of Jesse Faulkner, (the Friend who traveled with me when I was in this country on a religious visit,) to whom I was married after mature and solid deliberation, on the second day of the 12th month this year, 1825, at our meeting at New Hope. Afterwards I settled myself in the vicinity, on the place where her father opened and improved; she possessing a sufficiency of this world for a good, comfortable living with good economy.

On the thirteenth day of the 3rd month, 1826, a Quarterly Meeting was opened and established at Center meeting-house, known by the name of "Center Quarterly Meeting."

Page 68 - 1826

For several years following, my domestic avocation was farming, which I managed in such a manner as to procure sufficient living for my family, and did not suffer the prosecution thereof to interfere with my religious discipline, as they came in course, and also, besides this service, found much to do for the Lord within the limits of our Yearly Meetings.

Page 69 - 1828

Sometime after I performed this visit, the Lord removed, by death, our dear little son, an infant, our only child; this was truly a great trial to us, but through divine mercy we were in a good degree preserved in Christian patience and fortitude, knowing that he was taken from teh evil to come, and recieved into everlasting rest.

Page 73 - 1833

The prospect of leaving all that is near and dear to me in this life, particularly my family, which consists of my beloved wife, my dear mother-in-law, and a promising little daughter, and being so long from home, was truly a great cross to me; but apprehending that my peace, both in time and eternity, consisted in a faithful obedience to this concern, I therefore, in a good degree, cheerfully yielded to the requiring of the Holy Head of the Church, believing that as true obedience as abode in, that the Lord in hiis infinite mercy and goodness would preserve and provide for both me and my family during the prosecution of this great undertaking; for teh earth is his and th fullness thereof, and he number even the very hairs of the heads of allhis faithful, dependent children. Blessed forever be his name, for he is worthy of all praise!

Page 80 - 1834

I found it to be my place to wait in silence before the Lord while in this meeting. I this evening recieved a letter from home, which informed me of the death of my dear little daughter, which to me was a very deep and close trial, and friends of this city finding that I was broken down in tenderness and tears on account of this deep trial, had much sympathy with me and encouraged me not to be cast down, but to go forth in the Lord's work as way may open. I besought the Lord to have mercy on me and to support me in this great trial, and after a little settling down in my mind before him, I was favored to say in perfect resignation to his will, "The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord."

Page 86 - 1834

Letter:
New Hope, Green County, Ohio, 3rd Month, 2d, 1834
My Dear Husband:-
I received thy letter of the 4th of last month, which afforded me much satisfaction. I was glad to find by thy letter, that thou wast enabled to bear the trial of the loss of our dear little daughter with becoming fortitude. I can assure thee, that this trial coming on me in thy absence was to me of a deeply-affecting nature, but through adorable mercy, I was enabled to bear it with resignation to the divine will. I can assure thee, my dear, that thou art often brought near to my best feelings, in which thou has my prayer and sympathy. I sometimes feel very lonesome and much cast down, but I desire to be patient and willing to endure affliction for Christ's sake. My friends and relatives are very kind to me and appear to have much sympathy and regard for me in all my trials. I feel for thee, my dear, apprehending that thou often feelest very lonesome, being as a stranger traveling in a straange land, but I want thee to be encouraged to travel on to the peace of thy own mind and to the satisfaction of Friends. Put thy trust in him who is able to support thee in all thy trials and conflicts. I have no doubt but friends will be kind to thee, and sypathize with thee in thy baptism. I want thee to be satisfied about home. I can assure thee that the want of thy company is a great privation to me, but I am fully willing to give thee up to the Lord's sevice, believing that he requires much of thee and has been very good to thee. I am willing to stay at home in thy absence and to do the best I can, being assured if we be faithful unto death, that the crown immortal will be our happy reward. In gospel love and true Christian sympathy, I remain thy loving and affectionate wife,
Rachel Arnett

Page 139 - 1835

So that on this day I was, through the mercy and protection of God, favored again to see my own home, and there meet with my dear wife and family, with that true peace which alone springs from teh Savior of the world. My dear wife and family and friends were very glad again to see me, and I was glad to see them and to be with them, after being so long from them.

I was from home on this great journey one year, six months, and about twelve days, and traveled, according to computation, about eight thousan miles, and attended, including the several sittings of the Yearly and Quarterly Meetings which I was at, and also some family opportunitied, about the number of five hundred meetings. May all praise forever be given to God! Amen!

After I returned home from off his lengthy journey, for about the space of the following five years I found much to do within the limits of our own Yearly Meeting;

Page 139

I also in these days found much to engage my attention and consideration at home, my dear wife being much afflicted with bodily indisposition for a considerable length of time, which was cause of trial and grief to me; but I trusted alone in that great and worthy being who has preserved andd sustained me through many troubles, and I daily experienced in degree his support and guidance. We at length had the deep mortification and trial to bury another dear son, our third child, and no language can describe our feelings on this deeply afflicting occasion; the fresh remembrance of all our dear children having been taken away from us, brought that deep humility upon us which enabled us in the obedience of faith both to hope an dquietly wait for teh salvation of the Lord, and to praise his great and holy name for all his gracious dealing toward us; he having, again and again, through great mercy, permitted the hand of adversity to be turned and overturned upon us for our good and advance in the path of the just, which is as the shining light which shineth more and more unto the perfect day. Under a deep sense of his mercy in his Son, our holy Saviour, that all infants that die in innocency are save through his meritorious sufferings and righteousness, we thankfully acknowledged his mercy in taking away our dear children from teh evil to come and blessing them with the crown of immortal glory that gadeth not away.

Page 147

Fourth month 21st, 1843. my aged mother-in-law, who has made a part of my family ever since I settled myself, for several months past has not been able to go out of her room, or to get up or down without help. She, on this morning, without help, left her room and walked out into the kitchen and sat down awhile, and then arose and returned to her room. In the afternoon she was taken with a violent chill and shaking, which terminated in a high fever. On the next day we apprehended that her end was nearr. We therefore sent for her children who were in reach, who landed in time to see her depart this life. Through the course of this day she appeared to be in much pain and misery, and towards evening her fever in some degree left her. On the 23rd, being the First-day of the week, we saw plainly that she was going, which caused this day to be a very solemn time with us. She continued to gradually pass away till about two o'clock in the afternoon, when she breather her last, and on the next day, in the afternoon, she was solemnly and decently buried in our graveyard at Newhope before a large congregation of people.

I obseved for some time before her departure that she was in a good degree calm and quiet in her mind, and appeared to be resigned to the divine will, for which favor we were thankful, apprehending that she is gone to the good and everlasting home. her age was eighty-two years, six month and twenty day, and she lived with me about seventeen years and four months, during which time I was favored to put my trust and confiddence, in all the trials that came upon me, in that worthy and holy Being who causes all things to work together for good to them who serve him with their whole heart.

Page 151 - 1844

On the 23rd we rode about forty miles over a very bad, difficult road to travel; attended Flatrock mid-week meeting, as it came in course on teh way, and in the evening we were favored to land at the house of my dear brother, Jesse Arnett, who is a approved and acceptable minister in our religious Society, and on the 24th commenced the sevice of Newgarden Quarterly Meeting, which ended on teh 26th, in the evening, with a Youth's Meeting, where we met with several other Friends, who were out engaged in the work of the ministry, and we all, with a united voice, harmoniously labored together, through the various sittings of this meeting; it appeared that the fountain of life and salvation was opened to the consolation and strength of the poor in spirit, so that this was a good and precious meeting, and closed with gratitude and thanksgiving.

Page 160 1847

14thD 4thM 1847 requested permission to move to Miami Monthly and Quarterly

Page 161 1847

23D 6thM 1847 Reported to Miami Monthly

Page 199

Letter:
Waynesville, 11th mo. 21, 1849
My Dear Husband: Though I have been very much afflicted since I wrote to the the last time, yet I am now happy to inform thee that my health has much improved. I am now able to be about the house and sit up all day, and my friends say that I look quite natural, considering the length of time that i was sick and the manner in which I was held. My dear, no doubt but thou has heard of our great loss and affliction, yet I will speak of it. Our dear nephew was taken with a very severe diarrhea on teh 22d of 9th mo. last. He called medical aid immediately; but to no lasting good effect, though many times through medicine relief was given for the time being. He was confined about one month, and suffered very much, which he endured with much patience, and was very thoughtful, frequently asking to have a suitable portion of the Holy Scriptures to be read to him, which was attended to. He passed away very quietly, and we believe that he went to everlasting reast. His funeral was largely attended, and a solemn meeting for divine worship was held on the occasion, and several living testimonies were delivered by concerned Friends. I feel the loss of him to be very great, and many others in some degree feel sensible of the same loss. But O, let us not murmur, but let us say in truth "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord!"
I was taken sick one week after our dear nephew was taken sick, with the same disease, though held differently. I suffered extremely; was confined to my bed and room six weeks, and was taken through a severe course of medicine. I did not see our dear nephew from teh time of my confinement till his remains were brought to my bed-side on teh day of his funeral, which thou knowest was indeed a very deep, sore, heart-melting trial to me, as he had been so very kind to me since I parted with thee. Thou knowest that I was left very much under his care, but now he is gone to his long home.
There are many inquiries after thee by many dear friends, who do very much desire they encouragement in every good word and work. I do earnestly desire thy preservation on every hand, to the glory and honor of him who separated thee from me, under this engagement, to promote his cause of truth and righteousness in teh earth. May he bless thee to the glory of his worthy name! And let us often be found at the throne of grace pouring out our souls in prayer and supplication before him. I now bid thee farewell.
Rachel Arnett

Pgs 243-244 1850

The25th. I arose this mornign with much pleasant feeling in mind, spirit and body; but as soon as I had dreesed myself, I had a most painful and bitter cup to drink. The deepest trial came upon me that I ever experienced - the heart-melting and the teas-flowing intelligence of the death of my dear wife--according to the account of a dear friend of mine from my own neighborhood--a worthy and experienced Christian of the Methodist Church, as contained in teh following letter:

Waynesville, 8th mo. 31, 1850
Thompson and Midgley--
Dear Friends: As Thomas Arnett has his letters from America directed to your care, I have taken the liberty of addressing you, and through you to his frineds. This morning, at 9 o'clock, his wife ceased to live amongst us. She had been sick about ten days only. Her principal disease was infammaation of the bowels, or modified cholera. I saw her daily, except one day, while she was sick. I did not think her dangerous until the last two days of her illness. Everything was done for her that could be done by earthly friends, and while we attended to her temporal wants, I trust that our Heavenly Father attended to her spiritual wants. She was submissive,a nd complained but little. I sat by her for some time before she died; and while the change was going on, I cound not compare it to anything better than a candle burning out in the socket. She passed off without a sturggle; but I hope that our loss was her eternal gain. We miss much her cheerful company and pleasant society, and feel that a blank is made amongst us that can never be filled. The ways of Divine Providence are mysterious.
I do feel truly for my dear frind, Thomas Arnett. He has met with a great loss. It may not be long until he will meet his dear wife in the great multitude which no man can number. I have no doubt but sister Rachel Arnett died happy, as she lived a very exemplary life. Her funeral was solemnly and impressively attended to throught in the order of teh Society of Friends.
I am, in Christian love, your friend,
John M. Hadden

Page 255 1850

12th month 2nd,
I this morning recieved another deeply affecting letter from a dear friend of my onw Yearly Meeting, conveying to me the sorrowful intelligence of the death of two dear sisters of my dear wife, who recently departed this life, - one in my onw neighborhood, and the other one near thereto. It appears that they made a glorious and happy end through the meritorious suffering and the righteousness of our adorable Redeemer. The succession of such intelligence deeply affects mem so that I again this day dwelt much alone and wept bitterly.

Page 358 - 1853

While meditating on this subject, with feelings of deep humility in the faith and in the hope of the gospel, with prayer and supplication to be rightly directed in a matter of so great magnitude, my mind was, I believe, in the light of truth, very affectionately in Christian love turned towards my dear, worthy and affectionate friend Hannah Hudson, a devoted, intelligent and acknowledged minister in our religious society, and daughter of Samuel and Dinah Hudson, of Ireland, under whose Christian care she has recieved a rigth training, and was brought up in the order of our religious society, consistent with the principles of truth, in connection with a good, gaurded, religious and literary education. And as way opened in the truth, I informed her of my very affectionate feelings towards her, proposing for her deliberation, at the time, the prospect renewed in my mind of our union in the marriage covenant, and she, afte a time of solid, deliberate religious consideration, informed me of this proposal meeting her approbation, and the was being clear on every hand to consummate our prospect, we were therefore, in the order of our religious society, with feelings of the deepest humility, united in teh solemn covenant of marriage on teh 2d day of the 11th month, 1853 in a large and highly favored meeting of Friends held at Miami meeting-house, in Waynesville. This meeting was crowned with the power of the glorious and everlasting truth; and on the next day after our marriage, with thankful hearts, we went and commenced house-kkeping at my own home in Waynesville, which I had some time prior to this bought for our comfortable accomodation, where we mutually comforted in spirit, and enjoy that true and sweet peace of mind which this world can neigher give nor take away. We feel in the spirit of our minds that the covenant of our marriage is sanctioned and recorded in teh Lamb's book of life.

Contact information:
E-mail: Arnett Services

Thomas Arnett

Contact information:E-mail: Arnett Services

Contact information:
E-mail: Arnett Services