Lines on Death of Mary Blanchard, 1818

A handwritten document in memory of Mary Blanchard (1817-1818). Mary's parents were Rachel Clements (1787-1843) and Josiah Blanchard (1781-1853). The document is addressed to Clarissa Clement (1798-1870).

Ancestry shows a Mary Blanchard born 1817 who lived until 1923, however this document matches that Mary's birth date (June 8 1817) and indicates she died after less than a year. Both Ancestry and this document mention Mary's twin sister Sarah Blanchard (1817-1904), which further indicates that this is the same Mary and suggests incorrect information at Ancestry. I've corrected my Ancestry tree based on this document.

Outside of letter:

Lines on death of little Mary
Miss Clarissa Clement
Dracut

Inside:

Lines Written By Melitta Marley
On the Death of Mary Blanchard of Whitingham Who Died April 29th, 1818, Aged Ten Months And 21 Days
1 Your little infant now is gone
no more returns to earth again
her pleasant smiles and charming voice
2 death came and snatched her life away
although she is near and dear to you
she is gone and bid a long farewell
to parents and to relatives
3 do not repine that Mary's gone
and left this vain and troubled world
although she is gone she's left behind
her little mate Sarah by name
4 few days ago I little thought
your little twins so soon must part
since one is called away by death
and laid among the silent dead
5 that lieele babe is here no more
to meet with sickness pain nor death
we hope she's made a happy change
and rests amongst the saints above
6 although she slumbers with the dead
her eyes now clothed in silent dust
her spirits may be active still
a prasing god above the hills
[line missing]
distresst yet making no complaint
come saints admire and prindes the grace
for Jesus is a hiding place
all flesh like unreadable does quickly fade
and man beneath the ground is laid
of may we there prepared to be
to reign with christ eternally

Notes:

• I don't know who Melitta Marley was.
• "repine", verb, "feel or express discontent"