An Old Newspaper Clipping

It is incredibly exciting to find an ancestor’s record. You can imagine my surprise when I discovered the obituary for my paternal 4th great grandmother, Obedience Woodlief Ryan  (1743-1838).

Her husband, Philip Ryan, fought in the Revolutionary War and had died two years earlier.

Obedience’s obituary appeared in the Jan. 27, 1838 edition of Atlanta’s The Southern Banner. What made this find more special is to read about the spiritual heritage she left. I am descended through one of those great, great grandchildren mentioned in the article. Her strong faith in the Lord is an encouragement for her twenty-first century descendants.

Transcript of obituary: “Departed this life on the 25th ult. Mrs. OBEDIENCE RYAN, in her 93 year, a native of Hanover county, Virginia. In 1809 her family moved to Georgia, where she has remained ever since. She was a friend and neighbor of Patrick Henry, whose biography, by Wirt, was put in her hands a few years ago, and afforded her a high intellectual repast. Of the great orator she related several interesting and characteristic anecdotes. She was a woman of strong mind and fond of reading. Such was her familiarity with the sacred Scriptures, that a glance at the beginning of a paragraph, was sufficient to enable her to repeat most of it verbatim. She was a pious member of the Methodist Church. She endured her last illness, which was truly painful, with Christian patience. She was impressed with the conviction at the beginning of her sicknesss, that she was afflicted for the last time. She retained her mind to the last, and expressed great willingness to die, believing her peace made with God, and feeling wonderfully supported by a clear view of her acceptance with the Saviour. When asked by one of her daughters, if any thing pressed upon her mind, she answered, ‘Nothing; I am done with this world.’ Having set her house in order, she was ready to obey her Master’s summons to take her place among the mansions of the blessed. She has left a numerous offspring scattered over the South and West, to mourn her loss; having lived contemporary with a train of great, great grandchildren.”