Zipporah (Case) Thompson (1761 - aft. 1825)

Born 25 Jun 1761 in Willington, Tolland, Connecticut

Ancestors

Wife of Nathan Thompson — married 20 Jul 1786 in Adams, Berkshire, Massachusetts, United States

Died after 3 May 1825 after age 63 in Marcellus, Onondaga, New York, United States

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Biography

Zipporah Case was born June 25, 1761 in Willington, Tolland, Connecticut. She was the daughter of Jonathan and Alice Elsie Case. ^[1]

She married Nathan Thompson on July 20, 1786 in Adams, Berkshire, Massachusetts. ^[2]

In March 1793, she was baptized by Elder Edward Barber of the Baptist church in Greenwich, Washington County, New York.

In 1803, Nathan and Ziporah moved to the town of Marcellus, Onondaga County, and united with a church “just rising in the wilderness.”

Ziporah Thompson died May 3, 1825 in Marcellus, Onondaga County, New York. She is buried in the Thorn Hill Cemetery, Spafford, Onondaga County, New York. ^{[3] [4]}

Wife of Deacon Nathan Thompson, 4th signers of Declaration of Faith and Covenant at First Baptist Church of Marcellus (later known as Thorn Hill and currently Rose Hill Baptist Church)

Died at Marcellus, N.Y. May 3, 1825, Mrs. Ziporah Thompson, wife of Dea. Nathan Thompson, aged 63. She was born in Willington, Con. June 25, 1761. Her parents were members of the Congregational Church, and paid particular attention to the religious education of their children. She was, therefore, early taught the theory of the Christian religion, and was strongly attached to the doctrine and ordinances of the gospel as taught by that church. She possessed a clear, discriminating mind; was modest in her deportment, sensible and cheerful in her conversation, which endeared her to many friends. She was married to Nathan Thompson, July 18th, 1786. In her character as a wife, she exemplified that prudence, in dustry and economy, that patience, affec tion and fidelity, which is characterized by the wise man, when he says, “The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good, and not evil, all the days of her life. She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She stretcheth out her hands to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.” About the time of her marriage, she was brought very low with the bilious fever. During this sick ness, God was pleased solemnly to awa ken her mind to eternal things; and al though her bodily pain was great, yet that of her mind was much greater. But God, who is rich in mercy, by sovereign grace saw fit to reveal himself unto her as a just God and a Saviour, and to greatly console her wounded spirit by applying these words to her case, “Daughter, be of good comfort, thy faith hath made thee whole, go in peace.” From this time she obtain ed an evidence of the forgiveness of her sins, and enjoyed great peace in believing. She seemed to repose entirely in the mer cy of God through the mediation and atonement of Jesus Christ, in all her sub sequent trials of body and mind. Recov ering her health, she was impressed with the duty of making a public profession of her faith in Christ; and upon searching the Scriptures prayerfully, she was led to a firm conviction that believers were the only proper subjects, and immersion the only gospel mode of Christian bap tism. Here her trials were severe indeed. She felt her soul revolt at the thought of substituting what she viewed to be the traditions of men for the commandments of the Lord; and yet dreaded the idea of grieving a fond father, who had been the guardian of her juvenile years. These struggles between filial affection and ur gent duty, continued about eight years, £ which time she was repeatedly visited with sickness. . But upon being solemnly impressed with these words, “Let the dead bury their dead, but follow thou me,” she resolved in the strength of the Lord, to do what she believed her duty, and was baptized in the month of March, 1793, and united with the Baptist church in Greenwich, N.Y. under the W' care of Elder Edward Barber. ith this church she enjoyed much satis faction and great peace of mind. She was also by ti. church highly esteemed as a beloved sister, whose counsel and whose prayers were sought by her friends, and whose piety was approved by all. In the year 1803, she with her husband left their dear pastor and brethren, and removed to the town of Marcellus, in the county of Onondaga. Here they united with the infant church just rising in the wilderness. Having by this time arrived to that maturity of years, and to that un derstanding and experience which quali fies the matron for eminent usefulness, it was here in this rising church, that her virtues shone, and that her excellence was duly appreciated. Her soul was alive to the interests of the church. Her prayers were heard in heaven for the salvation of sinners. By her counsel, she often made peace between contending parties. By her fireside, and in her visits, she strength ened the weak, confirmed the wavering, warned the unruly, and encouraged the tender hearted. But most of all was she pre-eminent for instructing her younger sisters, and correcting their errors and manners. Her admonitions were sharp and plain, yet sweeter than honey, and they were always strongly enforced by her own example. It is not known that any person ever received her rebukes who did not love her the better for her faithful ness. In a word, she was truly a mother in Israel. Thus she continued until her last decline of life, an example of piety, patience and humility. The word of God was her instructer and companion; the saints were to her the excellent of the earth. The house of God was her home. The ordinances of God were her delight, and to enjoy and follow the Spirit of God was her life. For many years her constitution had been increasingly impaired by sickness. Her health for a long time had been rendered very delicate, and for years she had been afflicted with a cancerous affection in her left breast. This increased until her physician advised her to amputation: Her friends viewing her age and multiplied infirmities, greatly feared the consequen ces; but she seemed confident in God, that he would support her if this remedy were necessary. Consequently, the ope ration was performed on the 9th of De cember, 18 She appeared during the whole time to be absorbed in prayer, and would sometimes say, “This is nothing to what my Saviour suffered for me.” The spectators of the scene were aston ished at her fortitude and patience. Her wound was healed, and her health was so far restored, that she was able to take the oversight of her domestic affairs, and oc casionally to attend public worship, where she expressed thanksgiving to God for his great goodness to her in £ Divine support in all her times of trouble. About three months before her death, her strength began to fail, and in this state of decline, medical aid availed but little, and she was soon confined to her bed. She manifested some desires to re cover, on account of her husband and her adopted daughter, but especially on ac count of the church, which appeared to lay near her heart. Some weeks before she died, she said she had given them all up into the hands of the Lord, and felt erfectly willing to leave the church, her riends and herself there. She conversed much with her husband about her de cease, and told him what she wanted him to do if she should be taken from him, and prayed God to prepare him for such an event. As to herself, she felt resigned to the will of God. About three days be fore her death, her complaint threatened an immediate dissolution. When inform ed by her husband that he was apprehen sive she was dying, she said, “Welcome death, the end of fears, I am prepared to die.” She was unable to talk much after this. About 4 o'clock on the morning she died, her husband asked her if she thought that she was dying. She said, yes. He asked her if she was willing; she said she thought she was. These were her last words. On the same morning, between 8 and 9 o'clock, her spirit took its flight to the abodes of the blessed. She expired without a groan or a struggle. Her remains the following day were carried to the meeting-house, where an appropriate discourse was delivered by Rev. Mr. Warden, Pastor of the church, from Heb. iv. 9, and the church in token of their affection, followed her remains to the grave. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of the saints.”

Baptist Missionary Magazine, Volumes 5-6, Barfield, December 31, 1825

Sources

1. ↑ Connecticut, Vital Records, Prior to 1850; database, FamilySearch, Zeporah Case; citing: Birth, , Compiled by Lucius A. and Lucius B. Barbour, housed at State Library, Hartford, Connecticut; FHL microfilm 008272226.
2. ↑ Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001; database with images, FamilySearch (: 18 February 2020), Nathan Thompson and Ziporah Case, 20 Jul 1786; citing Marriage, Adams, Berkshire, Massachusetts, United States, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 007009570.
3. ↑ Obituary, Mrs. Ziporah Thompson; The American Baptist Magazine, Volume 6, 1826.
4. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #75073053

• Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 17 June 2019), memorial page for Zipporah Thompson (unknown–3 May 1825), Find A Grave Memorial no. 75073053, citing Thorn Hill Cemetery, Spafford, Onondaga County, New York, USA ; Maintained by Doug Nightingale, Jr (contributor 47310649) .

• "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29G-V8NV : 5 November 2017), Nathan Thompson and Ziporah Case, 20 Jul 1786; citing Marriage, Adams, Berkshire, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 760,652.