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From: (Barbara Bell)
Subject: [SACKETT-L] Rev. Nathaniel Sackett
Date: Mon, 19 May 2003 20:42:14 -0400 (EDT)



The following is from a memorial piece we have that was written in the
year following the death of Nathaniel in 1834. It has always hung in
our house and is printed in black ink on ivory colored silk. Most of
the wording is of the serious religious tone of the time but there is
some good information there as well, for other descendants who might be
interested. Nathaniel is my gt-gt-great grandfather through his
daughter Rosetta Sackett Chellborg.

MEMOIR OF REV. NATHANIEL SACKETT

Who was Born July 3, 1787, in the Town of Cornwall, Orange County, N.Y.,
and Died in the Town of Benton, Yates Co., N.Y., Nov.8, 1834

No chilling winds nor pois'nous breath
Can reach that healthful shore
Sickness and sorrow, pain and death
Are felt and fear'd no more.

He was converted at the age of twenty-one years. His conviction for sin
was eminently of a Scriptural character. He felt the force of that
command, "Rend your hearts, and not your garments." He had sleepless
nights and days of penitential sorrow. His language was, "My sin is
ever before me." He was passionately fond of dancing,--at that time a
very fashionable amusement in the place; but such were his convictions,
even in the ballroom, that he resolved to dance no more. It was the
last time. He soon after obtained a clear sense of pardon, the Spirit
witnessing with his that he was a child of God. He did not, could not
doubt. With him conversion was not only a "change of purpose," but a
change of heart. He was truly "a new creature." The whole of his after
life bore evidence that it was a genuine work of God in the soul. He
immediately joined the M.E. Church, and all his subsequent actions told
how strong was his attachment to that church. He embraced her doctrines
with an unwavering faith, as those of the Gospel of Christ. He received
her discipline cordially, and loved to be governed by it.
Brother Sackett believed that there was something distinctive in the
Christian character, something more than a mere profession, or
maintaining a decent exterior. He understood that to be a disciple of
Christ he "must take up his cross and follow him;" to be a Christian he
must "come out from the world, and be separate;" that he must "show his
faith by his works."
In short, he was singularly pious. If he erred, the universal suffrage
in and out of the Church was, that it was an error of judgement, not of
heart.
I was intimately acquainted with Brother Sackett, and knew "his manner
of life." Ever since I was a little boy I can recollect him. We were
neighbors, belonged to the same class for years, though I was much his
junior. He was my friend, and in the early years of my religious
experience my spiritual guide. His presence, even in youth, was an
effectual check to the outbreaking of folly. His father died, and left
him to bring up his younger brothers and sisters. In this ardous task
he acquitted himself to universal admiration.
Soon after his conversion he began to warn sinners "to flee from the
wrath to come." For more than twenty years he was a Local Preacher, and
much of that time an ordained Deacon. As a man, he was industrious,
sociable, kind, and obliging to his neighbors, and universally
respected. As a Christian, he was humble, devout,and circumspect above
all men with whom I have been so long and so intimately acquainted. I
have seen him in his business on the farm, in his family, in his
dealings with men, on Church trials, and in controversy with men of
opposing religious sentiments; but I never saw the least appearance of
anger, nor heard him speak a harsh word.
He was benevolent. His house was long a preaching house; and many no
doubt remember how kindly he received, how cheerfully he entertained,
and how reluctantly he parted with them. He gave all that he could
afford to the cause of Christ, and he was emphatically "a cheerful
giver."

This is about half of the Memoir, as he called it, written by a man by
the name of Paul R. Brown.
I am rather slow at typing but this gives one the gist of it. If anyone
is interested, let me know and I will post the rest of it.

Barbara Bell

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