Search

This volume contains Rebecca C. Sheppard's accounts of the illnesses and deaths of Martha H. Garrett of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and John R. Carpenter of Salem, New Jersey. Sheppard's writings concern religious aspects of death and dying.

This volume (98 pages) contains Rebecca C. Sheppard's accounts of the illnesses and deaths of Martha H. Garrett of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and John R. Carpenter of Salem, New Jersey. In her first narrative, "A short account of the last illness and death of Martha H. Garrett, of Philadelphia, who departed this life 10 mo. 31st 1837, Aged 26 years" (pp. 1-27), Sheppard recounted her cousin's final weeks and death, which was caused by a ruptured lung vessel. According to Sheppard, Garrett received numerous visitors, who often read Bible verses upon request. The second narrative, "Memoirs of John R. Carpenter of Salem, New Jersey" (pp. 28-98), describes Carpenter's final months, including conversations he had while suffering from "severe ulceration of the throat and windpipe." He discussed his faith and his feelings about death.