The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1865-03-18
OBITUARY.

Died. October the 18th, 1864 in Charles City county
ae the residence oi her husband, Mrs. ANN II
+ CHRISTIAN, wife Of Thomas Christian Esq
III the sevcniy-second year OF her ase.
Died, in the hands df the public enemy, ON the 6tl
| of December, 1864, Mr.. THOMAS CHRIS
TIAN, Of Charles City county, in the seventy
seventh year Of his age.
Their funeral will take place at DR.. Reads Pres
fbytcrian) Church on SABBATH AFTERNOON
the 10th instant at alt-past o'clock. The friend
| of the family, and those Of their son, William N
Christian, are invited to attend.
Thus i: becomes our mournfuf duty to record tLe
death Of two most honored representatives OF
past generation. After a matrimonial union oil
| tfty-two years, they both lie together, side by
side, in the bosom OF the family cemetery their
| old home. The writer Of these lines las known
! those deceased friends for many years, and con-
siders that he writes but the simple truth in saying
that they faithfully filled up the of every
duty growing out Of all the relations which they
sustained in life They were the kndest OF friends
their hospitality was unbounded in time of war as
| well as peace. They were most genial, cheerful
and pleasant ompanlonS.
They were most devoted parents. The happiness
of their chi14een one Of the chief earthly OBJ
jects OF their lives. For them, they loved to live
and labor. They were most useful citzens-indus-
tr1ousy engaged in the discharge OF their duties.
Ihey augmented their own resources and the pros.
perity OF the country. Their servants too will %
member them as their greatest benetactors and at
their burial, these servants among the sadd-st
n.ourners. Mr.. aud Mrs. Christian long since gave
their hearts to the Lord and their hands to the
Church. From the earlidst acquaintance of the
writer with thpm-which was many years ago
until the time Of their death, they were consistent
pious and honored members Of the Methodist
Episcopal Church and in every way they adorned
the doctrine OF their high profession Living they
confessed Christ before men; and diving their
Saviour made their dying beds "teel soft as Aowny
pillows are.'
Mrs. Christian died at her home which had been
desolated by the enemy before her death She
breathed her last III the midst OF her famy " which
she so ardentfy loved. She was patient, calm and
perfectly resigned during the pains Of protracted
illness. When 1t Was apparent that she must soon
die, she had no regret to express. Her lamp was
trimmed and burning, and filled with the oil of di-
vine grace. She was perfectly willing to die; tor
she Was fully assured that she had made her peace
With God and that heaven was her home: Thus has
passsd away ons Of the most estmable Christian
ladies' that 1t has ever been the privilege Of the
writer to know.
Not many days after the death of Mrs. Christian.
her husband, MIR. Thomas Christian, was arrested
by the public enemy; and, without making known
the ground Of their action, they marched him Oft to
General Buffers headquarters, near James river.
The domestic aIiiiction the family did not elicit
the sympathy OF the foe. They mocked 1t the griet
CT his two daughters who were left alone with the
servants 1t their country home ~vhen their father
was thus torn from them. The only response
which the enemy coudestended to their grief was
that old age and sickness had played OUT On
arriving at General Buffers quarters, he was not
granted an interview with the General, but was
connIed with the prisoners III literal slaughter
pen without hcter, exposed to all the inceinencies
OF u rigorous winter, with snow the ground He
remained for four weeks III the enemys hands, until,
At Last overcome by exposure and harsh treatment,
this true spC cimen OF Virginia gentleman sank
down into the arms Of death and the grave. lie
Was the victim OF murdererS.
lie was urged, whilst prisoner, to take the oath
Of allegiance to the United States; by doing 80 he
might probably have secured hi, release But he
spurned the protfer preer1ing infinitely death to
dlshonor. He died be had lived, spotless Christ
ian gentlemen bcqueatlng to his children the
richest legacy in his example, and eciting the al.
sistency ard devotion to his principles. Ills BODY
has been secured by friends and placed in the family
burying-groun It dwaits the sound OF the trum-
pet 1T the Morning Of the Resurrection, when it
viii stand honored as martyr to truth and con-
sistcncy. WIG
RICHMOND March l6 l3Hj