Amelia Jane Trembath

Note:

[Trem112598.FTW]

!On October 8, 1908, Florence wrote the following letter from Republi c, Michigan to her cousin, Charlotte Trembath:

Dear Cousin:

I know you would be patiently waiting for a letter relating to ou r dear grandma's death so I wrote while I felt able. We are all sic k and broken hearted.

Dear Gr'ma would be brought up to our place before she died. We br ought her up last Friday afternoon. She was not up twentyfour hour s before she died.

No one knows what she suffered. She was so patient during all he r illness. Her legs were swollen like stove pipes when she died. Sh e had dropsy so badly and kidney trouble.

Gr'ma died at 9:20 Sat. morning. She was sensible to the last minu te and moved around a great deal. Her last words were "Give me a mou thful of cold water" She died sitting up. She was buried Tuesday af ternoon. Gr'ma's grave is next to Aunt's two children. She always w anted to be buried by Jimmy and Walter and she had her wish.

We have purchased the lot. Someday we are going to put a stone rai ling around the lot and we hope Uncle Jim will help us.

We did everything Gr'ma wished but one thing. She never wanted t o be embalmed but had to have it done in order to keep her. The Doct or was afraid she would burst. Her stomach was like a barrel.

Her casket was lovely. It was oak inside and covered with broadclo th. There were five inches of padding in it and a beautiful satin pi llow.

Gr'ma was so afraid her casket would look bare. But she was certain ly buried well.

Uncle Hugh sent $100 three weeks ago to pay all expenses. Mother t old him how sick Gr'ma was and he sent money to be prepared for it . It took $75 of the money to pay for the casket.

Gr'ma's flowers were simply grand and she had stacks of them. Ever yone knew and respected her. People from different places sent flowe rs and some attended the funeral.

Gr'pa's and Gr'ma's pictures are in one of the Detroit newspapers w ith an account of their life and the length of time they have lived t ogether. So you may think how much they were thought of.

Gr'pa talks of her all day long. He says "Poor mother. Mother, mo ther, mother. She's gone, gone forever and won't speak to me again . She will never have a cup of tea with me again." He says he know s he makes us feel worse but he can't help it.

I never thought he would break down so completely. He has cried hi mself sick. Now he is praying for the Lord to take him right away . Do you wonder how we can stand it? Mother is almost frantic. W e cannot spare him too just yet.

Aunt Ellen did not come nor my sister Olive either. Uncle Hugh wa s too far away. Mother was alone. How she wished some one had come.

We had to pass Gr'ma's house to go to town. We always went in fo r a few minutes at least. I never missed many days in not going ther e. Now we have no place to go in the evenings. I really wish the ho use would burn down for then it will not be so hard for us to pass th ere.

Mother is going to send you each something of Gr'ma's. Aunt Susa n is to have her best black dress. If it does not suit her, it can b e fixed for you. It is a lovely dress.

You will find enclosed a flower out of the wreath we grandchildre n gave. We had "Grandma" worked in it. My! but it was pretty.

Gr'ma was buried in a black satin skirt and a black taffeta dressin g sacque with white ruche (?) around the throat. She looked so peace ful.

Everyone said she looked as though she was so happy.

Gr'ma was always afraid she would not have an easy death. Many i s the times she prayed to the Lord to grant her an easy death and h e did.

I watched her die. Not one muscle moved. She was sitting up whe n she died and one of the neighbors was fanning her. In fact she ha d to be fanned every minute for three days because her breath was s o short.

The choir sang "Nearer My God To Thee", "Rock Of Ages" and "Waiting ". The sermon began like this: In my father's mansions are many sou ls." I don't remember just where it is. This is not correct but al l I remember.

Well Lottie dear you must excuse all mistakes and inconsistencies f or I am writing under difficulties.

I could write you much more but I'm too grief stricken just at pres ent. This will satisfy you for the time. I sincerely hope you wil l answer by return mail for Gr'pa is waiting to hear from you.

By the way your mother knows Mr. Cowlin. He was one of the pall be arers.

Mother wants Richie and his wife to write to her and also Maud. Sh e is so lonesome already. I hope they won't hesitate in doing so.

Well good bye sweetheart for the time with love and kisses to all f rom your heart broken cousin. Florence.

See Hugh Trembath's notes for information on their golden wedding ann iversary.

Biography: Contributed by Barbara Tucker

RELI Methodist

Hugh and Amelia were said to have had 13 children in all. Many die d before they left Cornwall. Listed in the I.G. I. as christened i n St. Just-in-Penwith were: Elizabeth christened 11 February 1855, A melia Jane christened 1 Feb 1857, Hugh christened 1 February 1857, Am elia Jane christened 21 December 1863. Evidently, they all died as t he same names were used again for future children.

No record was found for Richard's christening but he showed up in th e 1870 census in Hancock, MI.

Amelia had a granddaughter (born to Elizabeth Ellen Trembath Tucker 1 0 Jul 1886) who was named Elizabeth Hattie Walls Tucker. Elizabeth H attie Walls Tucker later married William Trebilcock and they lived i n Michigan.