Death Comes to a Quakeress

DEATH COMES TO A QUAKERESS By Kenneth L. Carroll* Several years ago I came across an old volume entitled "Marianna Tylor's Book, being a present from her father who particularly wishes her to take care of it" and dated "29th of 5th month, 1850."1 The very first item written in this small manuscript tells of the 1854 death of little Marianna herself, recording that she succumbed to typhoid fever after a seventeen-day illness.2 Following this brief death and burial notice of Marianna there come several pages of genealogical material (births, marriages, and burials ) relating to various members of the Tylor family. Among the notes recorded is found the following: "Sarah Tylor died in Baltimore from an operation performed on her neck in the year 1823. She died a happy and triumphant death. Aged about 25 years."3 Quaker records of previous centuries are full of such early deaths. Frequently the Quaker historian reads of other "happy and triumphant " deaths, especially in seventeenth- and eighteenth-century sources. He occasionally pauses for a moment, wondering just what lies behind such a description, but usually he passes on rather rapidly in his search for more important biographical or historical material. The thing which makes this particular case different, however, is a series of letters which throw a strong light on the faith, suffering, and example of this Eastern Shore of Maryland Quakeress who died in Baltimore—far from her home and family. Baltimore Friends, as a part of the larger Quaker family, did what they could for Sarah Tylor in the time of her trial and then sought to comfort the grieving family back in Caroline County, Maryland. *Professor of Religion, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas. 1.A photostatic copy of this small manuscript was lent to me by Dr. Lawrence Claggett, Easton, Maryland, a descendant of Jonathan Tylor. He has given me permission to use this material (which I hereafter refer to as Tylor Ms). 2.Marianna Tylor (1843-1854) was the daughter of Eliza H. Wilson and Jonathan Tylor who were married at Third Haven Meeting House, Easton, Maryland, in 1841. 3.Tylor Ms. 96 DEATH COMES TO A QUAKERESS97 Even the great Stephen Grellet, on a religious visit to Baltimore, was moved by what he saw and heard. Not very much is known about Sarah Tylor herself. She was born about 1798 or 1799, probably the second of nine children of Mary Alexander Alford (c. 1770-1820) and Thomas Tylor (c. 1752-1829).4 Thomas Tylor, who was probably once a Nicholite or "New Quaker," became a member of Northwest Fork Monthly Meeting of Friends in 1800.5 He and his children appear to have been members of that monthly meeting throughout the rest of his life.6 In this very same manuscript volume which contains the record of Sarah's death, there are copied four letters, from Sarah Tylor and others, which together give a clear picture of the developments in this tragic story. They also give us a valuable glimpse into the quiet workings of the Society of Friends—showing the type of activity which seldom or never gets into the minutes of a monthly meeting. They also reflect the compassion and concern of some non-Friends such as Captain Vickers, as well as pointing out the fact that even a great concentration of medical skill (perhaps the greatest to be assembled on the East Coast at this period of its history) was unable to save Sarah Tylor. Somehow these letters, which follow here, almost transport us back into this tragedy of a century and a half ago. II [This letter from Sarah Tylor to her father, brothers, and sister back in Caroline County, describes her journey to Baltimore—where she was required to go for proper medical care. It also records her initial contacts with Baltimore Quakers (a number of whom had Eastern Shore connections) and with her surgeon.] 4.Ibid., p. 2. Other children were Joseph (d. 1817), John (c. 1800-1847), Matthias (died as an infant), Samuel (c. 1804-1822), Jonathan (c. 1806- ,1868), Elijah (c. 1810-1848), Rachel (c. 1811-1831), and Ann (c. 18151817 ). Perhaps it was the early...