About Rebecca Anne Tillery
From Her Husband
Submitted by Martha McKay,
satellitehistorian@hevanet.com
Excerpts from Autobiography of H. P. Lewis, A superannuate member of the Mississippi
Conference, having been fifty-six years in the Itinerant Ministry of the M. E. Church,
South, December, 1913, New Orleans Press.
Rev. Henry P. Lewis, born 1 April 1836 was the son of Quinea Lewis. He married
Rebecca Anne Tillery, daughter of Thomas Tillery and Rachel Jane McNeil. Rebecca
was born 2 March 1843. They married 8 Nov 1859.
H P Lewis' thoughts about marrying:
Being brought up in a pure, Christian home, where love predominated—the
right kind of parental love—where there were peace and happiness, with Jesus the Christ
in the home, it is not at all surprising that I should contemplate a union with some good
woman. Some women are not good. Then not all good, pure women are adapted to the
work of an itinerant life. In my young manhood, I was often told to "look before you
leap."
If all young people, especially preachers and women contemplating marrying
preachers, would move cautiously, thoughtful and prayerfully on this subject by taking
time to think seriously, and to talk often face to face with the good Lord about it, there
would be more happiness, less jars, misunderstandings, etc. and fewer divorces. (p.28)
Rebecca Ann Tillery—courtship:
It was in the latter part of 1858 that I heard of the young woman I afterwards
married. I heard she was sensible, young, soundly converted, able in prayer and a good
worker in the church. Without telling anybody, I said to myself, "I will marry her if I
can, the Lord being willing." (p.28)
At conference it made it convenient to go by where she lived, in the home of
Rev. C. A. McNeill, her uncle. I met her for the first time on Dec. 3, 1858. But, O, alas!
She was engaged to another. Yet we saw each other, and I guess loved each other on first
sight. I head her sing one of J. Newton's grand hymns, "Though troubles assail and
dangers affright." I sat and listened and thought it the sweetest sound I had ever heard.
But my hopes and expectations were thwarted.
Early in the year I learned that the engagement between Miss Tillery and Mr.
McFarland was broken off. Fortunately for me, Mr. McFarland got drunk; hence he was
dismissed and I lost no time in getting into communication with Miss Tillery. We were
l00 miles apart. There were no railroads near us. Mail facilities were scarce. Yet we
soon got into an interesting correspondence. It was three weeks after I had asked her to
marry me before she gave me an answer. What was the trouble? She was praying over
the matter. Finally the answer came. It read: "I have made up my mind in your favor."
Later in the year, a young preacher spent the night with me at the home of Dr.
Blackborn near Fordsville. After retiring for the night, he said to me: "Brother Lewis, I
am going to get married."
"To whom?" I said.
He replied: "I am not engaged to anyone yet, but I know I can get her."
I asked who she was and he replied: "Miss Rebecca Ann Tillery"
I replied, "You are too late, my brother; we have been engaged for six months,
and I am going to see her next week." He was shocked.
Hardships around time of Civil War:
We had spent the year in a humble home near Tylertown, Mississippi. Five
months of the year I spent in teaching school. At the same time I served as junior
preacher on Franklinton Circuit. The year had been one of great hardships. Many times
during the year I had gone to bed hungry. The War between the States was getting to be
a serious matter. We had, including one negro woman and her child, seven mouths to
feed. The precious woman I had the honor to call my wife never complained of hard
times. The dry goods the merchants had on hand when the war was declared were soon
gone. Wearing apparel could not be bought for love or money. We had no money, but
such as we had we were willing to give to feed and clothe those depending upon us.
What did we have? Nothing but health, strength and a willingness to work.
A Mrs. C who gave us milk occasionally, to partly satisfy our hunger, and said
one day, "Brother and Sister Lewis, you work like Turks." Yes, my good wife especially
worked hard all day, and often into the night, carding, spinning, reeling, warping and
weaving that we might have clothes to put on. It put me to my wits end to look after the
meat and bread question. My wife soon learned to work the treadles, throw the shuttles,
handle the batten, beam the cloth and cut and make garments. Now, some of her children
and grandchildren would not know a loom if they were to meet one in the road.
When the children were ill:
On my return from Conference in 1885, I said to my wife, 'Well, we have to
move to Lauderdale.' She looked surprised and troubled; then said, 'I wish Bishop
McTyreire could look in our house and see the sick ones.' About five of our children and
two grandchildren were sick with measles in our house, and my poor wife was about
broken down. It was a month or more before we could move. Late in January, we left
Tryus with two children still sick.
Prayers at Lauderdale:
The holiness people met for worship every Friday night. In my absence my
wife attended one of their meetings. She heard the bell ring, so went to church, not
knowing that it was a holiness meeting. She was well dressed; had a nice bonnet with a
feather in it. She had no idea what a sensation her presence produced amount some of the
people. She listened attentively to what was read, sung and said. She soon felt at home.
At the proper time she arose with a face beaming with love and sweetness, and gave one
of the brightest, most testimonials of entire satisfaction that some of those people had
ever heard. She notwithstanding her bonnet with a feather in it captivated the entire
congregation. They were delighted to know they had a preacher whose wife had religion
enough to prompt her to get up and tell it. Then, a few evenings afterwards wife and I
went to one of their prayer meetings.
Another day in prayer:
Brother Garrett handed me the Bible to conduct family prayers. I passed it on to another
brother and he passed it on to Mrs. Lewis. She read a lesson; we sang a hymn; she led in
prayer. What a prayer!! It seemed to bring us all to the gates of heaven. After the
prayer it was at least an hour before we could eat breakfast; the power of God was so
great among us. ..."
More later:
Yes, times were hard. yet, ...that precious now sainted mother never complained. It
mattered not how common the house or cottage we lived in, how hard the bed we slept
on, how poor or scanty the fare we subsisted upon; this precious mother enjoyed the
pleasure of hearing five of her six boys and one of her two sons-in-law preach the
glorious gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Rebecca passes on:
On the 28th of July 1904, we had a family reunion. It was a great occasion.
Nine children, twenty-five grandchildren all happy together for the last time, on earth. "It
is the jolliest crowd I ever saw," said a photographer to me. The following morning at
the proper time, we met in the parlor for family worship. It was indeed a time of great
rejoicing. All five of our preacher-boys--together with Brother Terry, our son-in-law.
The service lasted quite awhile. We all got happy, even the children, and rejoiced
together. It was the last time. In less than a month ... the grandmother was called home.
It was on Friday, the 26th day of August 1904, and partner of my bosom, the
mother of my nine children, shared my joys and sorrows so patiently, surrounded by all
her children, fell asleep in Jesus. Her ambition was to live to see all of her children
grown, saved from sin, and educated. She fully realized the desire of her heart. In less
than three months after her last one got his diploma from Millsaps College, she went
home to rest.
|