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Catharine Warriner Childs

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Birth	:	7 Mar 1795 West Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA
Death	:	12 Oct 1870 Deerfield, Franklin County, Massachusetts, USA
Burial	:	Laurel Hill Cemetery, Deerfield, Franklin County, USA
Coordinate	:	42.5416670, -72.5973020
Description	:	In Memoriam. Some forty-three years ago [1827] Catherine Warriner left her childhood home [Hawley] among the hills of western Massachusetts to become the wife of Henry Childs of Deerfield, assuming the position of mother to four orphan children, and supplying the place of one, who, on her dying bed, two and a half years before, consecrated them in the solemn ordinance of baptism, to that God whose promise, "When thy father and mother forsake thee, then the Lord will take thee up," has cheered the dying hour of many a believing mother, as she was leaving her... Read More	In Memoriam. Some forty-three years ago [1827] Catherine Warriner left her childhood home [Hawley] among the hills of western Massachusetts to become the wife of Henry Childs of Deerfield, assuming the position of mother to four orphan children, and supplying the place of one, who, on her dying bed, two and a half years before, consecrated them in the solemn ordinance of baptism, to that God whose promise, "When thy father and mother forsake thee, then the Lord will take thee up," has cheered the dying hour of many a believing mother, as she was leaving her little ones in a selfish world. The record of those forty-three years is now closed, and those four children, all in middle life, have been gathered around the dying bed of her who through them all, has been their friend, their counselor. Few who have taken the responsibilities which she assumed have discharged them so wisely, so conscientiously, and dying, have left a memory so fragrant in the hearts of the children of her adoption. In all their wanderings this tender interest has followed them. As they went out from her care to homes and families of their own, she still shared their joys and sorrows, and so long as health and strength remained, never permitted a call to their sick beds to be unheeded, even though it came at the midnight hour, or drew her away miles, to a distant town. The father of these children was laid to rest scarely two years ago, worn with life's toils and conflicts; and they had hoped that years of health and comfort might yet be in reserve for this dear mother, and that those living most remote might have the satisfaction of tenderly ministering to the wants of her last years in their own homes, thereby transmitting to the grandchildren such a personal knowledge of her worth and virtues as possesses the heart of their parents, but God had provided some better portion for her, even an Heavenly. She has left the worn body behind; around that they have gathered, while thoughts of all she has been to them and the debt of gratitude they owned to her, crowded their memories, while they thanked God that their mother's prayers, her precepts and example were left, a legacy as imperishable as their being. When first the conviction came home to her that her work was done and that she must set her house in order, to die, seeing much unfinished work which she had hoped to accomplish for the Master, she confessed to a feeling of keen disappointment, but soon peace and trust and resignation to the sweet will of God came and remained. For months she has lingered in great weakness, only waiting for the summons to enter into rest. When the message came to the far off ones that the hour was just at hand, how they feared lest she would be gone, and never again would they hear her voice in recognition. They longed to hear her say she knew them, loved them, had forgotten all their waywardness and childish ingratitude. In mercy this great desire of their hearts was granted. As one by one, children and grand children went to her bedside, with accents faltering and indistinct, she spoke their familiar names for the last time, adding, "I love you." The power of coming death over those changed and pallid features was disputed by earthly love, and a smile of joyful recognition spread over her face as her youngest grand child was brought to her notice. In this parting might be seen a foretaste of the joyous meeting so soon to take place above with her Savior and her glorified dead. It was found that in the last months of her life, as her strength would permit, she had written some parting words to her children, recalling the act of consecration their dying mother had performed so many years ago; and in bright and fitting, but deeply solemn words, she gave back her trust to her God, while anew she reminded them of their deep obligations to earnest Christian living. And so has passed away from the sight of her children this dear mother, and the old home is changed to them because Father and Mother are there no more. The neighborhood miss her consistent example and ready sympathy. The church, of which she had so long been a member, will ever remember her active zeal in maintaining all its ordinances, and the depth and warmth of her spiritual life. To this church, through her Pastor, she sent a solemn charge to make a new consecration of themselves to the service of Christ. The Sunday School will miss her, even though she had not recently joined in its activities. From the first establishment of Sunday Schools in our country she entered heart and soul into the work, foreseeing what rich blessings were to flow through this new method of introducing Bible instruction into families. It is the grateful testimony of one who early and long enjoyed her teachings in the Sunday Scjhool, that they evinced careful preparation, thorough research, a keen appreciation of the sublime passages. Her pupils are scattered now over this and other lands, in Christian homes and on missionary fields, but they are united in acknowledging their great indebtedness to her as a Christian friend and Sabbath School teacher. Not alone in this, but in the different causes of temperance, anti-slavery and moral reform, was she in advance of her age, and did pioneer work, ranking herself among their friends, when it cost some self denial to be seen there in the true spirit of a reformer. Following the example of our Lord, when in love and pity He said to a fallen, erring woman, "Go and sin no more," she early identified herself with efforts for the benefit of this class, loved that cause and followed it to the last with her prayers and benefactions. Of the friends of her childhood or mature years, few remain. Brother, sisters, tenderly loved, have all passed on before her to the spirit land, but in the church where she loved to worship, the aged and the young cast tearful glances toward her now vacant seat. Her dying pillow was smoothed by a loved companion of her girlhood, a sister, whose heart beat in unison with her own, who loved nature and nature's God as she did, one who knew her better, perhaps, than any other earthly friend, whose quiet ministrations lighted up the passage to the grave with hymns and words of holy writ and prayers, even down to the river's brink. Blessings on that faithful friend! When her turn comes to die, may "the fruit of her hands be given her." Buffalo, Nov. 3, 1870. EHC [Gazette & Courier, Greenfield MA, Nov. 14, 1870.] NOTE: EHC, i.e., Elizabeth (Hitchcock) Childs (born 1818), author of the foregoing "In Memorian", was the wife of Henry Childs, Jr., of Deerfield, Mass., and Buffalo, N.Y. Henry Childs, Jr., was the step-son of the subject of this memorial, Catharine (Warriner) Childs.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Catharine Warriner Childs's memorial?
Catharine Warriner Childs's memorial is located at: Laurel Hill Cemetery, Deerfield, Franklin County, USA.
When did Catharine Warriner Childs death?
Catharine Warriner Childs death on 12 Oct 1870 in Deerfield, Franklin County, Massachusetts, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Catharine Warriner Childs's memorial?
Latitude: 42.5416670
Longitude: -72.5973020

Family Members:

Parent

Spouse

Henry Childs

(1784 - 1869)

Siblings

Hervey Warriner

(1784 - 1785)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Laurel Hill Cemetery
Deerfield, Franklin County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5416670, -72.5973020

2. Old Deerfield Burying Ground
Deerfield, Franklin County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5449982, -72.6097031

3. Savage Farm Cemetery
Deerfield, Franklin County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5336700, -72.6245300

4. Baptist Cemetery
Deerfield, Franklin County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5555992, -72.6258011

5. East Deerfield Cemetery
Deerfield, Franklin County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5555992, -72.5642014

6. North Cemetery
Deerfield, Franklin County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5635100, -72.6249200

7. Calvary Cemetery
Greenfield, Franklin County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5764008, -72.6138992

8. Mater Dolorosa Cemetery
Greenfield, Franklin County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5758000, -72.6165000

9. Old Catholic Cemetery
Greenfield, Franklin County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5795753, -72.6064215

10. Green River Cemetery
Greenfield, Franklin County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5804400, -72.6052500

11. Pine Nook Cemetery
Deerfield, Franklin County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5086300, -72.5661400

12. Locust Hill Cemetery
Montague, Franklin County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5394700, -72.5363400

13. Elm Grove Cemetery
Montague, Franklin County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5418600, -72.5359000

14. Hawks Cemetery
Deerfield, Franklin County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5555992, -72.6583023

15. Old South Cemetery
Montague, Franklin County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5232500, -72.5360300

16. Burnham Cemetery
Montague, Franklin County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5875300, -72.5720140

17. Mill River Cemetery
Deerfield, Franklin County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5011890, -72.6377770

18. Federal Street Cemetery
Greenfield, Franklin County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5941400, -72.5977300

19. Lower Meadow Cemetery
Greenfield, Franklin County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5945600, -72.6200300

20. Cosby Family Cemetery
Shelburne, Franklin County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5566400, -72.6702100

21. Aaron Clark Memorial Cemetery
Montague, Franklin County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5836200, -72.5471600

22. Fairway Avenue Cemetery
Montague, Franklin County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5924270, -72.5646970

23. Our Lady of Czestochowa Cemetery
Montague, Franklin County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5846000, -72.5469400

24. North Sunderland Cemetery
Sunderland, Franklin County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4972000, -72.5492020