John Brown
Brown wrote the following letter to his children and second wife from Charlestown Prison two days before his execution.
Charlestown, Prison, Jefferson Co. Va. 30th Nov. 1859
My Dearly beloved Wife, Sons: & Daughters, every one
As I now begin what is probably the last letter I shall ever write to any of you; I conclude to write you all at the same time. I will mentions [sic] some little matters particularly applicable to little property concerns in another place. I yesterday received a letter from my wife from near Philadelphia: dated Nov 27th, by which it would seem that she has about given up the idea of seeing me again. I had written her to come on; if she felt equal to the undertaking; but I do not know as she will get my letter in time. It was on her own account chiefly that I asked her to stay back at first. I had a most strong desire to see her again; but there appeared to be very serious objections; & should we never meet in this life; I trust she will in the end be satisfied it was for the best at least; if not most for her comfort. I enclosed in my last letter to her a Draft of $50, Fifty Dollars from John Jay made payable to her order. I have now another to send her from my excellent old friend Edward Harris of Woonsocket Rhode Island for $100, One Hundred Dollars; which I shall also make payable to her order. I am writing the hour of my public murder with great composure of mind, & cheerfulness; feeling the strongest assurance that in no other possible way could I be used to so much advance the cause of God; & of humanity; & that nothing that either I or all my family have sacrifised or suffered: will be lost. The reflection that a wise, & merciful, as well as Just, & holy God: rules not only the affairs of this world; but of all worlds; is a rock to set our feet upon; under all circumstances; even those more severely trying ones: into which our own follies; & [w]rongs have placed us. I have now no doubt but that our seeming disaster: will ultimately result in the most glorious success. So my dear shattered; & broken family; be of good cheer; & believe & trust in God; “with all your heart; & with all your soul; for he doeth All things well.” Do not feel ashamed on my account; nor for one moment despair of the cause; or grow weary of well doing. I bless God; I never felt stronger confidence in the certain & near approach of a bright Morning; & glorious day; then I have felt; & do now feel; since my confinement here. I am endeavouring to “return” like a “poor Prodigal” as I am; to my Father: against whom I have always sined [sic]: in the hope; that he may kindly, & forgivingly “meet me: though; a verry [sic] great way off.” Oh my dear Wife & Children would “to God” you could know how I have been “traveling in birth for you” all; that no one of you “may fail of the grace of God, through Jesus Christ”: that no one of you may be blind to the truth: & glorious “light of his word”; in which Life; & Immortality; are brought to light.” I beseech you every one to make the bible your dayly [sic] & Nightly study; with a childlike honest, candid, teachable spirit: out of love and respect for your Husband; & Father: & I beseech the God of my Fathers; to open all your eyes to a discovery of the truth. You cannot imagine how much you may soon need the consolations of the Christian religion.
Circumstances like my own; for more than a month past; convince me beyound [sic] all doubt of our great need: of something more to rest our hopes on; than merely our own vague theories framed up, while our prejudices are excited; or our Vanity worked up to its highest pitch. Oh do not trust your eternal all uppon [sic] the boisterous Ocean, without even a Helm; or Compass to aid you in steering. I do not ask any of you; to throw away your reason: I only ask you, to make a candid, & sober use of your reason: My dear younger children will you listen to this last poor admonition of one who can only love you? Oh be determined at once to give your whole hearts to God; & let nothing shake; or alter; that resolution. You need have no fear of REGRETING [sic] it. Do not be in vain; and thoughtless: but sober minded. And let me entreat you all to love the whole remnant of our once great family: “with a pure heart fervently.” Try to build again: your broken walls: & to make the utmost of every stone that is left. Nothing can so tend to make life a blessing as the consciousness that you love; & are beloved: & “love ye the stranger” still. It is a ground of the utmost comfort to my mind: to know that so many of you as have had the opportunity; have given full proof of your fidelity to the great family of man. Be faithful until death. From the exercise of habitual love to man: it cannot be very hard: to learn to love his maker. I must yet insert a reason for my firm belief in the Divine inspiration of the Bible: notwithstanding I am (perhaps naturally) skeptical. (certainly not, credulous.) I wish you all to consider it most thoroughly; when you read that blessed book; & see whether you can not discover such evidence yourselves. It is the purity of heart, feeling, or motive: as well as word, & action which is every where insisted on; that distinguish it from all other teachings; that commends it to my conscience: whether my heart be “willing, & obedient” or not. The inducements that it holds out; are another reason of my conviction or its truth: & genuineness; that I cannot here omit; in this my last argument, for the Bible Eternal life: is that my soul is “panting after” this moment. I mention this; as reason for endeavouring to leave a valuable copy of the Bible to be carefully preserved in remembrance of me: to so many of my posterity; instead of some other thing: of equal cost. I beseech you all to live in habitual contentment with verry [sic] moderate circumstances: & gains, of worldly store: & most earnestly to teach this: to your children; & Childrens, Children; after you: by example: as well: as precept. Be determined to know by experience as soon as may be: whether bible instruction is of Divine origin or not; which says; “Owe no man anything but to love one another.” John Rogers wrote to his children, “Abhor that arrant whore of Rome.” John Brown writes to his children to abhor with undiing hatred, also: that “sum of all vilanies;” Slavery. Remember that “he that is slow to anger is better than the mighty: and he that ruleth his spirit; than he that taketh a city.” Remember also: that “they that be wise shall shine: and they that turn many to righteousness: as the stars forever; & ever.” And now dearly beloved Farewell To God & the word of his grace I comme[n]d you all.
Your Affectionate Husband & Father, John Brown
(1859)