Born ‎between. 1721–1749, died ‎between. 1737–1831‎
_P_CCINFO 1-21496

Born ‎between. 1721–1749, died ‎1773‎
_P_CCINFO 1-21496

Born ‎20 Oct 1724 Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, died ‎17 sep 1804 Forsyth, North Carolina, USA‎, 79 years, buried ‎sep 1804 Old Hope Moravian Ch. Cem., Copeland Road, Clemmons, n.C.
_P_CCINFO 1-21496 AALTJE SOELLE ELROD Memoirs The late widowed Sister Aaltje Elrod (Soelle) who died on September 17, 1804, at Hope had the following taken down about her life: "I was born October 20, 1724, in Germantown in Pennsylvania and since my parents belonged to the Mennonites, I was not baptized as achild.My father moved later to the Canawaga where I faithfully attendedthemeetings. After I was grown I was baptized by the Lutheran pastor by the nameofCan- zler and this made a deep impression on me. Soon after this myfathermoved to Maryland to the region of Manaskosy where I married my late husband Christopher Elrod on March 26, 1743. In 1751 we moved toNorthCarolina and settled on the Yadkin River. Some years later some of theBretherncame into the region and some of them visited in the country and preached inthehouses and thus we soon had the opportunity of hearing them preach. Thefirstin whose preaching I was awakened was the late Bro. Post. From thistimeon I sought to obtain my salvation and found much comfort in thepreachingof the Brethren Soelle, Ettwein and Utley. "In the dangerous time of the Indian War we fled to Bethabara where we to our blessing had occasion to become better acquainted withtheBrethren. When it again became safer in the country we moved back toourplantation but continued to attend the Sunday meetings in Bethabara until alittlecongregat- ion was organized on the Southfork in Friedberg, when we thenattendedthe meetings of the brethren there, which were very greatly blessed tomyheart, although they were held in the German language which I did notknowvery well. I will, however, never forget how I was encouraged and revivedanewwhen from time to time the late Sister Marschall visited in Friedberg and Icouldtalk with her in the English language very open-heartedly about the stateofmy heart and her conversation and advice was true balm for my poor heart. "On April 4, 1773, in Friedberg, I had the grace of being received in the congregation and on January 22, 1774, I became a communicant inthebody and blood of the Lord in the service of the Holy Communion. Someofour children were also baptized and when the congregation was organizedinthe year 1780, we had the joy of being among the first members ofthislittle congregation." So far it was in her own information. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From this time she found her greatest comfort and encouragement in the close association with the Saviour and in the observance ofhissuffering and death. In the olden times when the brethren frequently visited inthecountry and preached, they were always welcome in her house and couldberefreshed there from their heavy labors. The death of her dear husband in January, 1784 grieved her verymuch,and it was hard for her to adjust to her new condition, and only thehopeof follow- ing him soon into eternity often supported her for she had anunusuallonging to depart and be with Christ, her Redeemer, and finally becameveryimpatient that she had to wait so much longer than she had expected. Whenonespoke to her she usually expressed emphatically this longing to bewithChrist and if she was recommended to have patience, she said, "I belong totheSavior". He knows his time best and when it pleases him I will go to him,butsoon, soon.!" Manifestly she put her hope in God in her almost twentyyearsof Widow- hood and this hope was not destroyed when she lived by turns withherfour sons who all belonged to the congregation and who cared for and tendedherwith the love of a child. Her quiet way of life, withdrawn from this worldandher attach- ment to and persistant association with the Saviour which shoneforthfrom all her activities, made her generally beloved. Since for severalyears,because of her age and weakness, she was unable to come to the meetings ofthecongreg- ation, so much the more she was comforted and refreshed bytheassociation with the Saviour at home and when her children sometimes brought hertocommunion or otherwise at times to church festivals, it was for her always a dayofblessing. God had blessed her marriage with 12 children, of whom 9 arestillliving. From these she had 63 grandchildren and 73 great-grandchildren ofwhom57 grandchildren and 68 great-grandchildren are still living. Twoweeksago, in the house of her son, John Elrod, where she is now living, shebecamesick with the prevailing fever and it was appointed for her to go home toherSaviour as she had so many years longed to do. While conscious and evenindelirium she called on the Saviour often and prayed English and German verses.Whenher children asked her whether she was now ready to go to the Saviourshegave witness of that with joy that she was really separated from theworldand had a complete desire to be at home with her Saviour and this wasevidentin a lovely manner in her last illness. On Sunday, the 16th of this month, in the presence of several of her children and children's children and blessing of the Lord andthecongregation was administered to her for her homegoing and she departed intheafternoon of September 17, 1804. Her age was 79 years, one month, and 3 days. From Document found in Moravian Archives, Winston-Salem,NorthCarolina. The late widowed Sister Aaltje Elrod (maiden name Soell) who diedonSeptember 17 (1804) at Hope had the following taken down aboutherlife: "I was born October 20, 1724 in Germantown in Pa. and since myparentsbelonged to the Mennonites, I was not baptized as a child. Myfathermoved later to the Canawage where I faithfully attended themeetings.After I was grown I was baptized by the Lutheran pastor bythe name ofCanzler and this made a deep impression on me. Soon afterthis myfather moved to Md. to the region of Manaskosy where I marriedmylate husband Christopher Elrod on March 26, 1743. In 1751 we movedtoN.C. and settled on the Yadkin River. Some years later some oftheBrethren came into the region and some of them visited in thecountryand preached in the houses and thus we soon had the opportunityofhearing them preach. The first in whose preaching I was awakenedwasthe late Brother Post. From this time on I sought to obtainmysalvation and found much comfort in the preaching of thebrethrenSoelle, Ettwein and Utley. In the dangerous times of the Indian war we fled to Bethabara(Dutchfort) where we to our blessing had occasion to becomebetteracquainted with the Brethren. When it again became safer inthecountry we moved back to our plantation but continued to attendtheSunday meetings in Bethabara until a little congregation wasorganizedon the Southfork in Friedberg, when we then attended themeetings ofthe brethren there, which were very greatly blessed to myheart,although they were held in the German language which I did notknowvery well. I will however never forget how I was encouragedandrevived anew when from time to time the late Sister Marschallvisitedin Friedberg and I could talk with her in the English languageveryopenheartedly about the state of my heart and her conversationandadvice was true balm for my poor heart. On April 4, 1773 in Friedberg I had the grace of being received inthecongregation and on January 22, 1774 I became a communicant inthebody and blood of the Lord in the services of the holy communion.Someof our children were also baptized and when the congregationwasorganized in the year 1780, we had the joy of being among thefirstmembers of this little congregation." (So far it was in herowninformation.) From this time she found her greatest comfort and encouragement intheclose association with the Savior and in the observance ofhissuffering and death. In the olden times when the brethrenvisitedfrequently in the country and preached, they were alwayswelcome inher house and could be refreshed there from their heavylabors. The death of her dear husband in January, 1784 grieved her verymuchand it was hard for her to adjust to her new condition and onlythehope of following him soon into eternity often supported her forshehad an unusual longing to depart and to be with Christ, herRedeemerand finally became impatient that she had to wait so muchlonger herethen she had expected. When one spoke to her she usuallyexpressedemphatically this longing to be with Christ and if she wasrecommendedto have patience she said: "I belong to the Savior. Heknows his timebest and when it pleases him, I will go to him. Butsoon, soon!"Manifestly she put her hope in God in her almost twentyyears ofwidowhood and this hope was not destroyed when she lived byturns withher four sons who all belonged to the congregation and whocared forand tended her with the love of a child. Her quiet way oflifewithdrawn from the world and her attachment to andpersistentassociation with the Savior which shone forth from all heractivities,made her generally beloved. Since for several years becauseof age andweakness she was unable to come to the meetings of thecongregation,so much the more she was comforted and refreshed by theassociationwith the Savior at home and when her children sometimesbrought her tocommunion or otherwise at times to church festivals, itwas for heralways a day of blessing. God blessed her marriage with 12 children of whom 9 are stillliving.From these she had 63 grandchildren and 73 great grandchildrenof whom57 grandchildren and 68 great grandchildren are still living.Twoweeks ago in the house of her son John Elrod where she was nowliving,she became sick with the prevailing fever and it was appointedfor herto go home to her Savior as she had so many years longed todo. Whileconscious and even in delirium she called on the Savior oftenandprayed English and German verses. When her children asked herwhethershe was now ready to go to the Savior she gave witness of thatwithjoy that she was really separated from the world and had acompletedesire to be at home with her Savior and this was evident in alovelymanner in her last sickness. On Sunday, the 16th of thismonth(Sept.) in the presence of several of her children andchildren'schildren and blessing of the Lord and the congregationwasadministered to her for her home going and she departed intheafternoon of September 17. Her age was 79 years and one month and3days.

Born ‎1726 Pa, died ‎between. 1752–1820‎, 93 or 94 years
_P_CCINFO 1-21496

Born ‎29 Mar 1729 Pa, died ‎01 Dec 1800 Ga‎, 71 years
_P_CCINFO 1-21496

Born ‎1731, died ‎between. 1732–1821‎, 89 or 90 years
_P_CCINFO 1-21496

Born ‎1735, died ‎between. 1736–1825‎, 89 or 90 years
_P_CCINFO 1-21496

Born ‎1738, died ‎between. 1739–1828‎, 89 or 90 years
_P_CCINFO 1-21496

Born ‎20 Aug 1743 Pa, died ‎06 sep 1821 North Carolina, USA‎, 78 years
_P_CCINFO 1-21496

Born ‎1745, died ‎between. 1746–1835‎, 89 or 90 years
_P_CCINFO 1-21496