Book by Charlotte Potter Bothwell

Charlotte's Booklet
At one time, we thought we might be related to Charlo tte - possibly through her son James Kimball Bothwell. My great-aunt had obtained a copy of this little booklet; filial piety demanded that I treasure it. It turned out that we are not in fact related (or at any rate, not closely), but, being a would-be poet myself, I remain fond of Charlotte.

Personal Reminiscences
and
Subjects, original and selected,
compiled
For the information of my children
by Charlotte Bothwell

Hamilton, O. "The Mother's Farewell"
F. Egry, Printer (June 15, 1875)
1874

Introduction

I was born in the year 1788, January 22, in the State of Pennsylvania, Fayette County; the daughter of John Potter, and Rachel, his wife. In the year 1810 I was married to James Bothwell, son of Alexander and Catherine Bothwell, of New Geneva. After we were married, we lived in the State of Maryland, Allegheny County, til 1815; we then moved to the State of Ohio, into what was then Athens, but now Vinton county, where we remained until last June, when I came to Illinois. My husband died in 1863. It was just 53 years from the day we were married till the day my husband was buried. My parents were born in the State of New Jersey, Essex county. My mother was raised in Elizabethtown. She was the daughter of Thomas and Rachel Thompson. My father, John Potter, was born November 23, 1748. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, a captain of a company under Washington, and served till peace was made with England. My father moved with his family to Pennsylvania, Fayette county, in the year 1787, and bought a farm on Braddock's Road, 20 miles east of Uniontown, and kept entertainment for travelers, and lived on the same farm till he died, November 1826. My father lived 39 years on the same farm, and served as magistrate 36 years. In Pennsylvania, magistrates were not chosen by vote, but were appointed by the governor, and held office during good behavior. He was a surveyor, and did what surveying was done in his vicinity. The national turnpike, that crossed the Allegheny mountains, passed through my father's farm, and by his house. My mother died January 17, 1795 - the month I was seven years old. In two years my father married again. In the year 1807 I went to Geneva and learned the tailor's trade with Thomas Williams, Esq. We came to Ohio in August, 1814, and had then two children. We had nine born in Ohio. We had three daughters and eight sons.
I am now going on my 87th year, and I expect my days will soon come to a close. I have lived to see my 5th generation: my grandchild has a grandchild, a fine healthy boy, he was a year old on the fourth day of January last; and, as I believe my stay here to be must be short, I wish to leave this little volume as a keepsake to my rising generation.

I will leave you here a little book,
For you to look upon;
Where you may get advice from me,
When I am dead and gone.

I will finish my work, the time is short,
The sun is in the west;
The night will soon be here,
I must not stop to rest.

Family Record
James Bothwell and Charlotte Potter
Were married December 6, 1810

Births
James Bothwell, my husband, born August 20, 1785.
Charlotte Bothwell, myself, born January 22, 1788.
Maria Bothwell, our first daughter, born February 13, 1812.
Rachel Bothwell, second daughter, born June 13, 1813.
Catherine Bothwell, third daughter, born January 15, 1815.
John Thompson Bothwell, first son, born September 25, 1816.
James Kimble Bothwell, second son, born April 20, 1818.
Alexander William Bothwell, third son, born May 30, 1820.
Zara Costen Bothwell, fourth son, born April 17, 1822.
George Benson Bothwell, fifth son, born February 28, 1824.
Ezra Potter Bothwell, sixth son, born November 3, 1925.
Samuel Hagen Bothwell, seventh son, born June 18, 1827.
Henry Clay Bothwell, eighth son, born December 13, 1833.

Deaths
Rachel Bothwell, departed this life August 9, 1814.
Zara Costen Bothwell, departed this life March 9, 1827.
Samuel Hagen Bothwell, departed this life December 26, 1828.
Henry Clay Bothwell, departed this life February 27, 1857.
Maria Jones, the wife of David Jones, our first daughter, departed this life May 8, 1867.
James Bothwell, my husband, departed this life December 4, 1863.

We have had 11 children, 63 grandchildren, 45 great-grandchildren, and one grandchild's grandchild.

By Charlotte Bothwell
Sept. 30, 1873
My children dear, you soon must hear,
A last farewell from me -
Removed by death, I yield my breath,
Your face no more to see.

Soon I shall soar where sorrows o'er,
My troubles all shall cease;
I hope you'll come to that blest home,
To dwell with me in peace.

How short our stay, how rough the way,
How soon we leave this shore;
But oh, prepare to meet me there
Where we shall part no more.

I shall not mourn for to return,
I cannot come to thee;
But you may come to that blest home,
Where our Savior's face we'll see.

There is a tie that's not of earth,
Betwixt a mother and her child;
The affection claims a heavenly birth,
Where waiting angels smiled -
To see in Adam's fallen race
That sin did not somewhat erase.

I have no desire to outlive my days of usefulness. Let it not be said that I lived in vain. Oh! That my setting sun, which must so soon go down in death, may, during the evening of my days, be more and more blessed in shedding a beneficial light on my rising generation. Oh, how often do I think if I could meet all my children in heaven, how thrice happy I should be; but if there was one missing, how could I enjoy happiness.

Give me, oh Lord, thy heavenly grace,
Don't let my soul complain;
That these short remnants of my days,
Have all been spent in vain.

There is no repose like that of a peaceful conscience.

By Charlotte Bothwell
Feb. 8, 1874

For eighty-six eventful years
I've journeyed in this land of tears;
Faint, yet pursuing on the road
That leads to Canaan's bright abode.
Since toil and sorrow must attend
The exile traveler to the end,
Why should I wish to linger here,
Shut out from every useful sphere?

Were centuries the common date
Of pilgrims in their low estate,
I would not live that lifetime o'er
For all the wealth that earth can store.
Its honors should not tempt my feet,
The toilsome journey to repeat;
Nor all its transient scenes of joy
Could compensate for life's alloy.

Yet, God hath gently dealt with me,
And kept my heart from anguish free;
When grief had almost sunk me down
To ruin's brink so often drawn.
An endless bliss awaits the just,
Who in the Savior learn to trust,
Where growth, the law of life on earth,
Succeeds the resurrection birth.

Now I am old, and, oh, how soon
Did life's sweet morn yield to noon
Noon's broad, fervent, earnest light,
Is shaded in the gloomy night,
And, like a story well nigh told
My life seems now, when I am old.

Now I am old, this breezy earth
Has lost for me its voice of mirth;
The streams have got an undertone,
Of sadness not by right their own;
And spring's sweet flowers in vain unfold
Their rosy charm - now I am old.

When I am old, that time is now,
For youth has left a furrowed brow;
Yet my limbs are strong and free,
And life has many charms for me.

Earth has a joy unknown in heaven,
The new born joy of sins forgiven;
Tears of such pure and deep delight,
Oh, angels, never dimmed your sight.

When the patient soul is pressed with its burden of sin, and sunk in deep sorrow, just ready to sink in despair, and feels its burden removed, its sins forgiven, its conscience clear, feels an interest in Jesus, it is happy past expression, and feels as if all its trials were over, and they think they will have no more sorrow, but will always be happy; but, lasting happiness is not on this
side of the grave, while we live in the flesh we will have our trials, difficulties, and temptations, through this toilsome march of life. But if we put our trust in God he will never forsake us, he will support us and guide us safe through where the saints' rest is prepared. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord will deliver them out of them all.

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