Chat
|
Daily Search
|
My GenForum
|
Community Standards
|
Terms of Service
|
|
|
Samuel Abell ,a protestant and one time sheriff of St Mary's County Maryland married Ellen O'Brien, also of Maryland, who was a fervent Catholic. Sam Abell, though he permitted his wife to bring up her daughters in the knowledge and practice of her own religion, she was allowed no such priviledge in shaping the faith of her sons and when their son Phillip had grown to manhood he was taken to Leonardtown, Maryland, by his father to have him sworn in as deputy sheriff. At that time a Catholic could not hold an office in Maryland without first taking the "test oath" as it was called which was the equivalent to the renunciation of his faith. And when the oath was read to Phillip Abell he declared that he could not take it , and would not; that it would "choke him" to do so. Sam Abell was greatly displeased and tried hard to change the younger man's constancy but to no avail. Now Samuel Abell and his wife are said to have got along with fewer jars than come to most people professing different religions and it was the practice of the father of the family, upon entering the room in which his wife was sitting , to draw up a chair beside hers and tell her the news of the day, but on this day he came in to the room with an angry expression on his face and having taken a turn or two of the room, in silence, he brought his chair to a stand as far distant from his wife's as the opposite corner of the fire place to which usage had given her perscription and noisily banging it down on the floor he cried, Ellen Abell , you have deceived me. In defiance of my known will you have made Phil a Catholic. He has this day brought disgrace upon me and shown his contempt for the law and the religion of the state by refusing to take the oath of office. It is you, deceiving and deceitful woman that you are , that i am indepted for this shame that has this day come upon me.
Samuel Abell, returned to his wife, her eyes raining tears as she spoke, I have never deceived you. Not once since you took me for your wife have i ever disobeyed you. If Phil has learned to respect the religion of his mother it is to God's grace and not to that mother's instruction that both the son and Mother are indepted. And I thank Thee, Oh My God, she exclaimed falling on her knees and raising her eyes and her hands to Heaven, That Thou hast remembered me in mercy. From the fullness of my heart I give Thee thanks, that Thou hast led the son Thou gavest me, to render obedience to Thy law rather than to that which Thy erring creatures have set up in the Land .
Samuel Abell, convinced that his wife had spoken the truth and awed by her exhibition of faith, which was to him, inexplecable, said no more; neither did he, ever afterward, indicate either by word or manner that there had been strife between them. On his death bed, Samuel Abell became himself a Catholic.
written by Mae Newcomb descendant 1922 New Hope Ky
Notify Administrator about this message?
Followups:No followups yet |
| http://genforum.genealogy.com/abell/messages/698.html | ||
 |
Link to GenForum Add Forum |
|