Notes |
- Robert Wall's Life Events
Robert Wall was born on the 1st of February 1804 in England. His parents were Allen William Wall and Barbara Wakefield. He married Hannah Sweetnam. They had 6 children; Jane Barbara, Thomas Allen, Livinia Ann, Agusta Susannah, Robert William Wilson, and Halwell Henry James. { PTT: I have birth as 1803 and from his DN a child Oliver and no Halwell Henry James }
The following incidents of his life in Africa are taken from the diary of Eli Wiggill.
"I was now settled in Queenstown, working my trade. still investigating 'Mormonism'. Among my friends was a Mr. Robert Wall, and many an earnest talk we had. He had been a great Bible student, but the Bible now appeared like a new book to him. He wondered why he had not seen it before in this light. All he had ever read in explanation of the Bible was put in shade by these books. His friends called him a deluded fanatic. His brother-in-law, Mr. Henry Talbot, heard the Gospel from him and accepted the truth. When Mr. Talbot's wife heard of it, she told a dream she had many years before. She dreamed of a new religion not then in Africa. "But", she said at the time, "When it does come, you will join it." which she did." Robert Wall was quite an elderly man. He once wrote to me in fault finding spirit on the doctrines of the Church. This was before he moved to Bolongi, onto the farm adjoining mine. I did not visit him much then, because he was being visited by a Church of England minister. Soon after he was taken sick, and as the doctors gave up all hope of his recovery, I went to see him. I read a portion of scripture to him and then prayed for his recovery, that the Lord would bless and heal him. On another occassion, I asked if I should administer to him and anoit him with oil, and then lay my hands upon his head, in accordance with the Apostle James injunction, that we find in the Epistle, 5th Chapter, 14th and 15th verses. He answered 'yes', so I did, and he felt much better. I visited him many times after this, reading and explaining to him our doctrines, until he expressed a wish to be baptized, as he said he fully believed. When Rev. Green called, he told him not to call again, as his neighbors visited him regularly. We sent for his brother-in-law, Mr. Talbot, and his son who lived fifty miles away. He was carried from the house to the water, and baptized on the 6th of November 1858. After the baptism and confirmation Mr. Wall seemed perfectly happy. He declared the olive oil he took inwardly prolonged his life, for he lived 16 days after his baptism. He died happy and requested to be buried in the Bolongi, as he did not want anything to do with the religions in error, so I buried him on my farm. He was fifty-four years old, nearly fifty-five. He died on the 22 day of November. Was born in England on the first day of February 1804. Rev. Mr. Green made a great fuss about my taking a sick man out of his bed to baptize him in cold water, thus causing his death. The letter written to me by Mr. Wall is as follows.
Queenstown, November 18th, 1858
Most Respected Friend,
With painful regret, I have to observe the difference of opinion on things over which sinful man has no control. You may believe me that I am struck with astonishment. If it was upon worldly matters of business, or injuries sustained, there might be reasons. I would entreat of you to examine the case with your own conscience, and point out to me, where, and by what, I have wounded your feelings. Men in this age of the world are noted for learning, and we are told that the day will come when they will decieve the very elect, and as we very well know, that even the angels in Heaven are not to know our Master's secret will. It behooves us, therefore, to be careful and watchful, not to be led to and fro by every whirlwind. We do acknowledge our church to be a fallen church, full of error and traditions of men. We know we support a hireling priesthood, and are far from the true and ancient church. But we also believe that Almighty and All-Powerful god, still exists, who, in His own good time will call to account all nations of the earth, and until then, we may expect to see the cunning craft of men in every form. Now in reference to the sect called 'Mormons', I must acknowledge that I have found great pleasure in reading their books, to my great edification. I, therefore, after a careful study of their books pronounced them good, so far as being a true copy of the true and ancient church. Having read their books, I have a great desire to see their works also, before coming to any conclusion, which, if not true, would be denying my maker.
Robert Wall"
A Mr. Hayward came to Eli Wiggill's house from Orange River Colony, a distance of sixty miles. He told Eli of the talk in Queenstown, about Robert Wall's baptism, saying he was liable to be arrested. Eli Wiggill wrote in his diary...
"what I had done was at the man's urgent request and his family's desire."
On the voyage over to America from Africa, young Robert William Wilson Wall, son of Robert Wall, was with the Wiggill, Ellis, and Talbot families. Eli Wiggill wrote about him in his diary.
"It was late afternoon before we weighed anchor and sailed out of the bay, Algoa Bay. By the time the shores of sunny South Africa had gone out of sight, the vessel began to roll, and every one of us was glad to lie down. The distress of sea-sickness kept us all down quite a while. I was sick more or less the whole voyage. Our fare was good. We ate at the same table as the Captain. He was a very good man. His son was the second mate. The only thing I relished was raw oats, which fell from the oat hay, which was on board to feed the sheep. The sheep were for table use. We found we had made a mistake by not laying in a small stock of delicacies which sick people could relish. The first to recover was young Thomas Talbot, so he made himself useful in taking care of the young ladies, helping them on deck every day to get the fresh air. This caused our Captain to give him the title, 'doc Talbot'. Young Robert Wall was also very kind to the ladies and children."
not sure of the marriage date = 30 Jun 1832 - after the birth of their first child? {ptt}
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