Robert M Woods Montgomery

Male 1775 - 1863  (88 years)


 

    --- On Fri, 4/16/10, Mildred Bryan  wrote:
        From: Mildred Bryan 
        Subject: a find in box
        To: "Albany Musician" , "Clark Montgomery"
, familydog@comcast.net, fhd@verison.net
        Date: Friday, April 16, 2010, 1:19 PM

        Hi folks,
        I have found something I think will be of interest. It verifies some info we have but also
disagrees with several facts and adds some new understanding. Clark this is not your line but I
thought you might be interested anyway. I will probably have to send it in parts as it is several
pages long, almost like a diary. I think you"ll soon figure out it is about Robert Woods
Montgomery, son of James Montgomery and Ann Woods and a piece of it we had before but
was out of context. It does get a bit long and wordy & religious but I felt it should be as written,
spelling and all. My copy is typewritten from the original handwriting. DuFay Montgomery,
Decatur, Illinois back in Dec 28, 1938. At that time he had the original handwritten sketch. I've
run across sketches (really autobiographies) before and they can have a lot of info.
         
                                          A SHORT SKETCH OF THE RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE OF R. M.
         
             I was born in North Carolina Maclenburg county 1775 of Religious parents of the old
Presbyterian Order who were native of Pennsylvania, I believe they were truely pious. I was
taught the Fundamental Doctrens of Christianety - when I was quite young - & my Mother being
a truly Religeous woman, she taught me the necessety of attending to the duty of Secret Prayer
which I would sometimes try to attend to, but I seemed to make such a poor out at praying that I
in a great measure quit trying to pray in secret - & I thought when the Lords Time would come
(especially if I was one of the Elect) I would then pray with more freedom - for theold doctren
was that the Lord had a set time for all they Elect to be converted-I had at that time a verry poor
chance for schooling - it being a new country - & then the Revelution War coming on - there was
but a poor chance for schools - so I had but little schooling except what I received at home with
the instructions of my parents - they were verry perticuler instructing their children in the
Doctren of Morality - I was taught the Lords Prayer when I was quite young - & that little prayer
when I went to bed -viz - now I lay me down to sleep etc. - & I don't think there has been many
nites passed, especiely sinc I have profest Religion, but what I have thought over that little
prayer when I would go to Bed - this shos the grate propreity of early instructions being made on
the mind of children when the are verry youn - I have frequently thought that my Mothers early
Religeous instructions - was in a secondary sence the cause of my becoming Religeous - about 2
or 3 weeks before my Mothers Death she had spoken to an old Gentleman to take me & learn me
the Tailor Trade. My Father died about 3 years before my Mother. I went to the Trade and served
3 1/2 years, my old Master had 3 sons & they were of a frolicksum cast - & I was naturealy of a
lively turn & I was as apt to take in with frolicking & vanety - as I was to learn the Trade - after
my apprenticship was out - I was then without any human controle, & was left without Father or
Mother to Instruct or controle me, & had the Raines of government in my own hand & was
without posesions or property - my father had a good ----- farm onley part paid for - & when that
was paid for & a verry ---------- came against the Estate - there was verry little left for the
children which was 7 in number, 5 sons, & 2 Daughters - I went between 2 & 3 Months to
School - I onley had earnd a few dolars before I agread with an uncle of mine to help to drive a
Drove of cattle to pensylvania - for a $11 dollars - I went with him as far as Hares Burg there I
left my uncle & went up the Susquahance to an uncle Clarks who maried my Mothers Sister
Nancy Woods. I winterd with Uncle Clark - that winter & worked in a little town part of the
winter & in the Spring I went up the River to an Uncle Robert Montgomerys who had maried a
cousen of his own - a sister of my Fathers i stayed with Uncle Montgomery a month or 6 weeks -
& I with a little Iresh Man who was going to Kentucky, the Ireshman - & I fixt each of us a
napsack he was a survayer he had his chain & cumpes & a Rifel gun which we had to carry time
about - our napsacks weighed about 30 pounds a piece & the rifel gun over & above - we started
for Pitsburg - a quite inferiour town at that time, about the year 1797 or 8 Pitsburg stands direcly
in the fork of 2 rivers the Monongahela an the--------------------South East & the Alegainey of the
North west - the two Rivers makes the Ohio. We lodged one Night in fort Pit as it was then caled
- there were 2 flat botemd boats in the River redy to start down the Ohio to Maisvil Ky. one of
the Boats lacked two hands so we agread to work out passage ----------p for out victules &
lodging - we had to work at the side oars every 3 hours -passed on about a week - it was in Sept
& the River was so low that we had to get out of the Boat every ------ we came to & clear away
the gravel & rock - so that the Boat could pass - we made such slow speed that we told the owner
of the Boat that we thought we would have to leave the boat & go by land, but he couldent do
without us - & ofered us 50 cts per day so we agreed to remain with him the balenc of the trip,
we were 97 dayes on the River before we got to Mayes Vill in Kentucky whare thare I parted
with the little Ireshman - & never saw him aney more  I wnet on my way Eastward threw
Dansville - & on towards the craborchar whare I thought I could find 2 or 3 of my uncels who I
understood the had setled - but I couldent find aney of them - So I turned my course & went back
threw Lexing Town, & so on to Cincinata, whare I wintred & worked jurney work in several
shops - in the Spring I concluded I would go & see Dayton - 2 or 3 dayes travel a little Town that
was about starting on Mad River - there was 2 young men with whom I had some acquaintenc in
Cincinati - they ware making some inprovements on land they had entred within a few miles of
Daten, I had been but a few days with them before I was attacted by a voilent attect of the head
pluerecy - under which I lay 3 dayes & 3 nites with a verry high feavour withou intermision all
the bed I had to lie on was a few forks stuck in the ground with some boards & a few Indean
blankets for my  bed - I thought I would die - & I was verry unwilling to die being away in a
strange land far from aney of my relations & I knew that I was unprepared to meet with death &
I promised in my own mind that if the Lord would onley spare my life, I would spend my dayes
better then I had don - the 3 day of my Ilness thare was an Old Indean came into the caben whare
I lay - the young men I suppose had told the Inden of their fears about my Recovery - the Old
Indean went out - & in a short time returne with a handfull of Vegetabel roots in his hand
washed clean he took some of the roots in his mouth & chewd them, & then took his gunflint for
a lancet & came whare I lay & scoured my tempels with his gunflint I thought it was a verry
rough way of Scerefying he then chewed som of the roots & tied them to my tempels & signed
to me to chew some  of the rootes - & swallow them - I done as he drected, he then took a
mouthful of water & opned my bosem & made the water flye like a mist on the pit of my
stomach, & bloed with his mouth like he was blowing a coal of fire untill I thought I could feel
the cold to my backbone, this is all he don - & the next day I was abel to be up & about I still
believe that Old Indean was the means of cureing me at that tim - I according to promes I lived a
tolerabel moral life untill I returned to North Carolina amongst my associates. I forgot my
former promes & I was more frolicksom & vain then I had formerly been - I think then I came
under the charecter spoken of by one of the Avengelists - where it is said - when the unclean
Spirit is gon out of a man he walketh threw dry places. seeking rest & findeth none, hereturneth
to the House from whence he came out & findeth it swept & garneshed, he entreth in & taketh
other spirets more wicked then himself - & the last state of that man is wors then the first - thus I
found the unfrootful efects of a sick bed repentanc ---- I continued on in my vain persuite until I
was in my 26 year of my Age - about the year 1800 thare was an Extreordinary
        Revivel broak out in Kentucky at what was caled the cain Ridg Camp Meeting -one of our
old Presbytariens (Doctor Hull) went to Kentrck, to one of their camp Meetings & he was so
well pleased with the work that was caried on that when he returned to Carolina, he must have a
campmeeting so thare was one appointed in Roan county about 30 miles from whare I made my
home - a grate maney of the neighbors took their wagons & went to the meeting - Hugh
McDowel & I went on hors back on Saterday we got to the meetings - when I came in site of the
encampment to see such a lare colection of people -& wagons & tents & I felt some unusual
impresions of mind - when Old Dotor Hull would get on the stand  to preach - they people would
begin to fall down - some as tho they ware lifeless - others would screams out & some crying for
Mearcy - & I still remained as a spectator with as megorety of they crowd - thare was groups of
peolel geatherd together some  argueing in favour of the work, & some against it - as for my part
I couldent say yea or nay - conserning the work whether it was good or bad -
         
        (More Later, Mildred)

Subject:
Montgomery Sketch continued
From:
"Mildred Bryan" 
Date:
Fri, 16 Apr 2010 23:13:48 -0500
To:
, "Albany Musician" , "Clark
Montgomery" 

I & my asociate remained until Sabeth Evning & we left the meeting & dident wait to the
meeting broak up - thare was a camp meeting appointed 3 weeks from that time, at what was
cald new provedanc in the Neighbourhood whare I had served my Aprentischip. 12 miles from
whare I was born & raised - I was determoned if I was Spared - to attind that meeting - that I
might be satiffyd whether the work was of God or not I had a cousen (Livi Housten) who had
just Returned from Kentuck & who profesed Religon at one of their camp meetings in Kentuck.
He & I was a good deal together between the two meetings & he appeard to be verry anxious
that I would try to get Religon at that meeting that was coming on - he was verry zelous in the
caus of Religon, & he wouldhave prayer meetings appointed in the Neighbourhood, & by
attending prayer meetings & my cousens Religeous conversation, I became quite serious - our 3
weeks camp meeting came on - & I attended at that Meeting & I was affectually convinced that
the work was of God & that I was a stranger to Religon & I became verry anxious to obtain
Relkgon - for I had been taught by my pious parents, that I must beBorn again, as our Saviour
told Nicodemus. I became so powerfully convinced of my profligacy that I went like a child that
was severly whipt - one of my wicked associates saw me lying on the groung weeping. He
thought it was time for him to leave the grown he told this to one of my intemate associates who
told me after the meeting that he thought when Montgomery was taken, it was time for him to
leave. I onley mention this to show that the Rowdys considered me the most hardy,  or rither, the
Ring leader amongst them - but however notwithstanding my profligacy - I have grate Reason to
Bless God that I had been spaired to see the Providenc camp meeting which was held about the
20th of March 1802 - & I can say with the Blind Man altho he couldent tell who opened his eyes
- one thing he knew, as he was once Blind now he could see, & the change in my mind was so
clear that I couldent be decieved, but what it was rought by the Spirit of God for from that time  I
had as grate a desire - & inclineation to attend Religeous meetings, as I formerly had for
frolicking, which was  my greatest delite - altho I was not perfectly satesfyd the young people at
that time held prayer meetings I would attent the Meetings, & would try to take part in praying &
etc. but I found it such a cross that I was enclined to think that the work of Grace was not deep
enough, or I wouldent feel it so grate a cross to pray before my fellow beings this was partly
threw ignoranc that I was thus temted - I think it was betwen 3 or 4 months I was at preaching
one day, & the preachers text was He that is ashamed of Me before Men, of him will I be
ashamed, when I come  in the Glory of the Father, with the Holy Angels, when the preacher
repeated the text - he looked as I though directly at me, & there was a nother preacher in the
stand - he also (as I thought) lookd directly at me - I hung my head - I was afraid to look at aney
body - for I thought every body in the house knew that I was the Man that was ashamed of Christ
before Men - I took my hat & went out of the House & went to the woods & knelt down at the
root of an old ded tree. I cant tell how long I remained praying & medetating - I thought I was
willing to be aney thing - so that I could receive the Blessings that I thought was lacking & I
seemd to rfledt on God, for not blessing me & I was tempted to think I had comit the
unpardenabel sin - I had been taught that light & Malles - was what constetuted the unpardenable
sin & I was fild with a malicious feeling & when I came back to the meeting House the
congragation was dismist & was about scatring & I felt a mulicious feeling towards every person
that I thought was a Christian - I told my feelings to severel of my friends - they would try to
comfort me, but I could get no comfort - I remained about 3 dayes & nights in despair. I would
sometimes have to get up & walk about in order to divert my mind from falling into outer
despair - sometimes I would go & try to pray but I would try to pray without thinking of the
Name of Christ - It was His Name, that was the obstecal that was in the way. it was His words in
the Text, that condemd me - by Saying that he who is ashamed of Me before Men of him will I
be ashamed when I come in the Glory of the father with the Holy Angels etc - I think it was the
third evening about sunsetting I picked up an Old auther that was lying by to devert my mind. I
believe it was the larger catechism of the Old Presbytarien order thare was a passage of Scripture
quoted to prove the questens - the words that was quoted & that was attended with powerto my
mind was God out of Christ, is a consumeing fire. I then saw clearly the deceitfullness of my
proud heart by trying to come to God without Christ - I was then unabled to Receive Christ with
all my heart & hope sprung up in my Sou - then I found that joy that is unspeakabel & full of
Glory - then that name that was a terer to my Soul was the joy of my heart - I then knew what
David ment when he said -My feet was taken out of an horebel pit & set my feet on a Rock -
(which was Chrest) I then experienced wat is caled the laughing exercise which formerly was a
stumbling block for me. I cant recolect how long I remained in this cumfortabel frame of mind
before I had a powerful temtation - at that time I worked threw the countery at my trad & all who
were acquainted with me knew that I was a strong advocate of the grate Revivel that was at that
time in North Carolina in 1802 & of corce I would meet with a number who would opose me
with respect to my Religeious feelings & I hapened to have a gob of work to do for a man who
was a profest Deaft & he was a man that was prety well red & of good information in his way of
thinking & knowing that I was a professor of Religon he set himself to reason with me on the
inconcistency of some of Moseses writings - & I not being much of a Scholer & not verry abel to
reason aspeciely on the writings of the old Testament - he provest to believe the 'scriptures was
Priest craft & by the influence of his reasoning & the temtation of the devel got such a hold on
my mine that I was verry much pesterd for a considerabel time -why the tempation had such
influenc on my mind, was because I had too much self confidenc at that time - thaare was one of
our old preachers, turnd to be a ------------ preacher & when in company with some of my young
Brethren I told them that I dident think it would be safe to go & hear him But for my part I told
them that I could listen to him or aney other Skeptic & they couldent shake my faith in the
doctren of Christianety - I have thought that this was the reason why the temter was permitted to
Inject into my mind that temtation  - however all I had to go upon was the faculty of Reason,
which I was in possission of - the strongest Reason I could produce was as follows -
 
Subject:
more of sketch
From:
"Mildred Bryan" 
Date:
Sat, 17 Apr 2010 10:08:26 -0500
To:
"Albany Musician" , "Clark Montgomery"
, 

all I had to go upon was the faculty of Reason, which I was in possession of - the strongest
Reason I could produce was as follows - if a man would attempt to Impose a Systom of
christianety on the world - he would have something that would be more agreeabel to the natural
disposition of man kind for it is a uneversal custem for all Men when about to impose aney
systom on the world to ------------------------- eye to self-intrest or honour or smething as their
motiv but I found by examoning the Spriptures that the Devine Aconemy of Grace had none of
those alurements attached to It but on the contrary all its ingunetions were contrary to all our
fleshly apetites or propenseties that falen man are subgekt to so that by thus reasoning I was in a
good measur freed from the influenc of the temptation - those two most powerfull temtations
was while I remained in Singel life - & in order to shun the temtations that I might - & of cource
would be Exposed to  from my formly vain asociates - I thought it would be best for me to get
married & on the 4th day of October 1804 I was joined in the Bond of Matremoney with Elonar
McLeary - the youngest Daugh of Old Robert McCleary & Abegail - Elonars Father & Mother -
we remained in North Carolina untill we had 7 children, viz - Abagail, Wm., Newton, Emly,
James Franklen, Roena, Ann, Adeline, Margaret - in the year 1816 we moved to west Tennessee
- now caled midel Tenness - we remained thare about 19 years & we had 6 children aded to our
family viz - Mary, Robert, Andrew, Hanna, Tresa, Martha, Elonar Catheline - we moved to
Ilenoies the 4th of April, 1834 & in the year 1847 the 27th day of Janry my companion died, in
the 62 year of her Age - I & my companion were both members of the old Presbytarien Church
when maried & Remained in that Branch of the Church untill 1816 when we united ourselves to
the M. E. Branch of the Church - & I altho unworthy as I am are still permited to remain
amongst Mortals until I have arived to the 88th year of my age - and 61st year of my Religeous
pilgremage. And altho I have been upwards of 60 years - in the Christian warfare - I still find
that I am in an Enemys land - & still find frequent attacts from the enemy of Souls - but when I
recolect that the Capten of our Salvation hath conquerd & is still interceading for us - I am
encourage to strive for Victory threw His name & Merets - altho at the present - I must
acknoweg that I am not as active - or valient in the christian warfare as I ought to be - I am too
far back on the back grown & it apears that all who have profest to be soldiers of the cross are
laging behind or loitering - perhaps one grate cause of the deadness that so much prevails in the
Christian world is - in consecuenc of the confused State into which our American land have
poten into by war & political contentions which will have a natural tendancy to wean the minds
of manking from the subgect of Religon - I have tryed to run the Analogy - between the Spiretul
& Temprel ware - fare - this temperal warfare comenced shortly after the Serpent beguled our
first Parents  in the garden of Eden. this Old Serpent - the ringleader of those who left their first
habetation - See Luke 6th verc -- this Ringleader with under officers have been inlisting soldiers
ever since the fall of Man untill they have became a verry large armey Our Spiretual comander
(the governer of the Uneverc) have had an armey also- from the Begining-but they have been
comeretivley few for He himself hath told us that maney were caled but few were chosen - but
when a suitabel time roled round our Spiretuel comander sent his onley Son & not verry long
after He was Sent into the world & was comisiond thare ware 3 thousand soldiers inlisted in one
day - & not long after the 3 thousand ware inlisted in the Spiretul Armey - the Capten -------
Salvation chose a number of under oficers & sent them -------------------------------------- to inlist
Soldiers of the cross & the appeard to be successful in getting volenteers into His Armey - & He
our capten-have been sending out oficer severtime with inlisting orders for mor volentiers until
our Spiretul armey have becom quite larg so that thare will be a larg inforcemen to add to the
originel armey - So that if our officers & soldiers would onley prove loial we might be more
successfull in subduing the armey of the Old  Serpent - but we have our fears whether thare are
not numbers of boath Officers & Soldiers - that will prove traitors in this Spiretual warfare - as
well as thare are traitors in our political war - procrastenation is the thief of time - we have
reason to think that if our union armies had have been truly loial our politecal war might have
been over by this time.
 
Charlotte's added on the bottom " Copied from the original handwriting which is in the hands of
Robert DuFay Montgomery, Decatur, Illinois" The letter is postmarked from Decatur Dec
28,(looks like 1938) and sent to Miss Charlotte M. Brett c/o Leland Hotel Springfield, Illinois.
Mildred (Brett) Bryan




Montgomery, Robert M Woods (1775-1863)

Robert Woods Montgomery was the grandson of John and Martha Montgomery of Mecklenburg, NC. He was the grandson who carried Martha's 1797 letters from NC to PA. This is a sketch of his travels.


File nameRobertMontgomeryBiographicalSketch.txt
File Size22.11k
Linked toLevi Houston; Eleanor McCleary; Martha Montgomery; Robert Montgomery; Robert M Woods Montgomery; Sarah Nancy Woods