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Eunice (Gardner) Worth (1781 - 1866)

Eunice Worth formerly Gardner
Born in Guilford, North Carolina, United Statesmap
Ancestors ancestors
Wife of — married 4 Oct 1798 in Deep River, Guilford, North Carolina, United Statesmap
Descendants descendants
Died at age 85 in Guilford, North Carolina, United Statesmap
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Profile last modified | Created 14 Sep 2014
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Biography

Parents: Stephen Gardner, Abigail Pinkham

Biographical sketch of David and Eunice Gardner Worth, taken from "Quaker Women of Carolina: freedom, achievement" by Algie I. Newlin "Going back for a moment into an earlier period in Carolina history, we could note thatin theyear 1798 DavidWorth and Eunice Gardner were married in the Centre community. Both were Quakers whose parents had come from Nantucket in the early 1770s. During the next few years two children were born. There was no doctor anywhere near, and both children died.

One can imagine David and Eunice standing in their simple home, weeping in anguish. Both were thinking the same thought: Might it not be possible for David to go to Philadelphia and study medicine? Finally she said, "Would you go, David?"

"Yes," he said. "I will get someone to manage the farm." With a small sweeping motion of his hand, he indicated the community: "They need a doctor. Friends believe that compassionate caring is a part of the Christian life."

hus began a husband-wife partnership of medical practice in which Eunice participated ftilly. She studied and worked with David, caring for the people who came from far and near. So many came that some had to lie out in the cold or in the heat of summer, often in wagons, waiting their turn for medical help. To remedy this situation a row of cabins was built where patients could wait in some comfort, cared for by workers under Worth supervision. This has been called the first "hospital" in North Carolina. Eunice was the first intern.

In the midst of caring for the sick, Eunice was the mother of ten more children, the oldest of whom was born in 1802. His name: Jonathan Worth, Governor of North Carolina during the trying days of Reconstruction following the Civil War. The name of Eunice Worth does not occur in history books, but she is the heroine of this story^. How did she manage to share so much with her children, while tending the sick who need her skillful, compassionate care?"

The Worths had to employ lots of workers, but they would not use slave labor. They believed in the sacredness of human life, and the basic equality of all God's children. They were demonstrating the practical application of Christian social concerns in the field of medicine.^ A more recent example of husband-wife cooperation in community medical service was that of Dr. Charles C. Hubbard and Frances Porter Hubbard in the Science Hill community during the first half of the present century. "


Sources

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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Eunice by comparing test results with other carriers of her mitochondrial DNA. Mitochondrial DNA test-takers in the direct maternal line: It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Eunice:

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Gardner-5407 and Gardner-4237 appear to represent the same person because: I believe these two are the same person
posted by Valerie (Worth) Noe