HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1977-06-30, Page 142Page 102
Sarah
Walter
enrolled
gladly
Sarah Walter, from
Devonshire, "gladly enrolled
her name with the few who
composed the first Bible
Christian church in Colborne,
and remained united with it
until the day of her death.",
That church, known as
Zion, was erected on a
quarter -acre of Lot 1, Con-
cession VI, conveyed on Jan,
2, 1857, by Nicholas Morrish
to the trustees of the Bible
Christian Chapel,
On the Colborne map in the
Belden Atlas, Lot 1 is shown
as . occupied by a Walter,
encouraging belief that there
was some connection with
Sarah Walter's family. In the
account of her life which has
come to hand there is mention
of children with whom she
visited, and it is stated that
she' "left a numerous con-
nection to mourn her loss, but
the writer of her life story,
probably a Bible Christian
minister, gives us no help in
the matter of names or Lot
numbers.
In the Registry Office
record of Lot 1 transactions,
the name is spelled Walters in
every instance. The will of
William Walters, who died
June 4, 1890, is signed
Walters. It mentions two sons
and four daughters. It was
William C.S. Treble who in
1955 sold the school site, four
-acres, to Colborne Township
hoard.
None of which helps us to
trace Sarah Walter: perhaps
her descendants can, At this
time there is available only
an account of her religious
experiences, published in an
1.854 issue of the Bible
Christian Magazine. It was
discovered by a London,`
England, professional
genealogist and relayed by a
Canadian genealogist, W.F.
Strangway of Sarnia. It is
condensed as follows:
"Sarah Walter was the
daughter of John and Sarah
Stevens and was born in
Hartland parish, Devonshire,
about 1779. Soon after her
birth, her parents removed to
Bradworthy, where she
remained until her removal
to America. Her parents were
strict attendants at the
Church of England, and
brought up their children in
all its customs and usages.
Sarah was naturally of an
open, free, generous, kind
and forgiving disposition:
generally in high spirits. .
When about 26 years of age
she became the affectionate
wife ,of Mr. Charles Walter.
with whom she lived about 19
years, when he was removed
by death.
"As a mother. she
discharged her duties beyond
many. In the midst of all her
care, God took away her
second child while an infant,
which she felt to be a very
heavy stroke, She was in the
habit of attending at times to
hear the Bible Christians, and
one day while sitting under
the word, the Lord in mercy
poured his Spirit upon her.. .
She was now brought to seek
God, in bitter cries and tears.
Her husband said she was
melancholy and wanted her
to keep away from the noisy
meetings, but she continued
to seek the Lord in earnest,
and was able to walk in the
light of God's. reconciled
countenance,
"She was then desirous of
uniting with the 'Bible
Christians, but they were too
noisy to please her husband,
and he was not willing that
she should unite with them.
She proposed joining the
Wesleyan Methodists, on
condition she would go with
him to church one Sabbath
and that he would go with her
to her meeting the next. To
this he consented and she
went on to enjoy many happy
Seasons.
"After the death of her
husband she had great trials
from her eldest son, who
became quite an enemy to
true piety. However. the Lord
removed him by death, and
he was also made truly
happy before he departed.
"In the year 1837, she, with
her. youngest child,
emigrated to Canada West,
and took up her residence
near the town of Goderich.
After she arrived here, she
found that her privileges
were not such as they were in
England. Her stay in one
place was but short, as she
lived among her children. , .
After some time, Brother P.
James visited Colborne, and
with joy of heart she
welcomed him among them.
When he formed a society she
was one of the first to join.
"About two years previous
to her decease, she had a
stroke of palsy, which often
prevented her from getting
out to the means of grace, but
to accommodate her the
meeting was occasionally
held where she resided. Her
last fit of sickness terminated
her pilgrimage in a world of
affliction, and her haRpy
spirit took its flight May the
2nd, 1852. As neither of the
Bible Christian preachers
were then near her, her death
was improved by an
Episcopal Methodist
minister, and her remains
were interred in the town of
Goderich."
CONGRATULATIONS
GODERICH
ON YOUR
1 50th ANNIVERSARY
CUSTOM GRATING
GODERICH AIRPORT
ED. SCUTON JR.
524-7731
Jdb,f
gwrii
TOWN OF GODERICH
COUNTY OF HURON
PROVINCE OF ONTARIO
CANADA
PROCLAMATION
TO' ALL TO WHOM THESE WORDS SHALL COME, BE SEEN, HEART) CR
GREETING!
WHEREAS the Town of Goderich was founded on June .:+,
1827 in the reign of His late Majesty George IV, by John.
and William Dunlop; and
• WHEI•EAS on the 29th day of June, 1977 the said TNT
Goderich will mark the 150th anniversary of its founding, :,.1;:i:
anniversary taking place in the Silver Jubilee year of Her
Gracious Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II; and
WHEREAS Divine Providence has blessed the said TOwn;
WHEREAS the Jubilee 3 Committee, a committee dal) c.!tab-
lished by the Municipal Council of the said Town of Goderi to
plan and execute proper celebrations of the said anniversary,
has requestea that the .period June 29, 1977 to July IOth,
be designated the main period of celebration.
Now Therefore, I, DELBERT J. SHEWFELT, Mayor of the
said Town of Goderich, with the full consent of the Reeve, 7eputY-
Reeve and Councillors of the said Town DO PROCLAIM the period
June 29 to July 10th, 1977, as a time of special festivity, merry
making and celebration of the said anniversary, and do hereby
invite all citizens of and visitors to the said Town to join in
the planned festivities and encourage others so to do, in order
that all shall have a happy, merry and memorable celebration;
and I do request all citizens to decorate their homes, fly the
Town flag and show hospitality to visitors so that all may know
that we are proud of, the Prettiest Town in Canada.
GOD SAVE THE Q U EE N!
GOD BLESS GODERICH!
IN WITNESS WHEREOF ,I have,„he''eunto signed My name, and
have caused the Corporate Seal of the said Town to be affixed
hereto this 16thday of May 1977.
WITNNEESS:
Reebe'�
puty -Reeve,
r =7Ai fr,.,
Co o�i�
QA rte /
Counc'� or
27ft4> /L!%Zilli
C�%ncillor?:
Coun llor ✓ ,
,G' '
Counci or -
Councillor
•
"DELBERT
Mayor./
J. SHEWFELT”
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Amin stre or