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Esther D. Collins

Birth
Death
10 Jun 1848 (aged 26)
Burial
Lyndon Township, Washtenaw County, Michigan, USA Add to Map
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Esther D. Collins was the only daughter of Alpheus and Betsey Collins. She died 06/10/1848, although the cemetery transcription says 1849 (there are no remains of a tombstone). The 1848 date is documented in her brother Judson's diary. Esther was physically handicapped, crippled by a congenital malformation. Here is a little bit about her, as written in Judson's diary when he was serving as a missionary in China:

December 8, 1848: "Receive papers from America, a letter by overland from W.H.C. [his brother, Rev. Wellington H. Collins ??], from which I learn [of] the death of my dear sister, my only sister, Esther. I can scarcely realize it. No particulars are related. They are, I suppose, elsewhere given. I think my sister is in Paradise, for which I think she has been gradually preparing for several years. I have often thought of her since I have been here and thought I should have more interest myself in spiritual communion with her. I know I have too much neglected it. Heretofore I have not enough labored to rid her soul of that deformity which more than the malformation under which the dear girl suffered was by nature stressed upon her soul. I have not been earnest enough, kind enough, sympathizing enough. What shall I say to her in eternity for this nothing? The Lord is beginning to gather our family to himself. How sorry mother must be, and father, and Sidney! The Lord bless them. She was the half of mother's life. Oh my Lord, do not let this visitation so sober be in vain to my poor sick heart."

December 9, 1848: "Think almost all day about Esther."

Undoubtedly Esther's middle name was Damaris, after her maternal grandmother Damaris Moore Hall.
Esther D. Collins was the only daughter of Alpheus and Betsey Collins. She died 06/10/1848, although the cemetery transcription says 1849 (there are no remains of a tombstone). The 1848 date is documented in her brother Judson's diary. Esther was physically handicapped, crippled by a congenital malformation. Here is a little bit about her, as written in Judson's diary when he was serving as a missionary in China:

December 8, 1848: "Receive papers from America, a letter by overland from W.H.C. [his brother, Rev. Wellington H. Collins ??], from which I learn [of] the death of my dear sister, my only sister, Esther. I can scarcely realize it. No particulars are related. They are, I suppose, elsewhere given. I think my sister is in Paradise, for which I think she has been gradually preparing for several years. I have often thought of her since I have been here and thought I should have more interest myself in spiritual communion with her. I know I have too much neglected it. Heretofore I have not enough labored to rid her soul of that deformity which more than the malformation under which the dear girl suffered was by nature stressed upon her soul. I have not been earnest enough, kind enough, sympathizing enough. What shall I say to her in eternity for this nothing? The Lord is beginning to gather our family to himself. How sorry mother must be, and father, and Sidney! The Lord bless them. She was the half of mother's life. Oh my Lord, do not let this visitation so sober be in vain to my poor sick heart."

December 9, 1848: "Think almost all day about Esther."

Undoubtedly Esther's middle name was Damaris, after her maternal grandmother Damaris Moore Hall.

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