by Cathy Bryant
The next afternoon, Susanna and William packed up a picnic, donned some warm clothing, and headed out. As they trotted along on horseback, they joyfully discussed their upcoming nuptials. Additionally, they expressed their astonishment that God had moved on their hearts in such a way that they were now prepared to spend their lives together—despite all that had taken place between their families.
In no time at all, with the picnic basket open, they were situated on a blanket by the pond. While they ate the cold chicken, greens, and fresh bread, they shared their dreams regarding their future together.
As each listened to the other, a sense that God had truly brought together two people who shared the same goals, swept over them. The peace they felt was so overwhelming it brought tears to their eyes.
It was getting late. William suggested it was time to return to the house. “I am looking forward to the time when we do not have to be parted at the end of the day.”
While rising to her feet, Susanna agreed that being together was going to be wonderful. They scooped up the picnic basket and blanket, and then made their way over to the horses. Once William had assisted Susanna onto her horse, he mounted his own.
With hearts full of joy, they made their way back to the house where they were certain Maddie was patiently waiting for their return.
Chapter 45
The day of the wedding had arrived. Susanna had spent the night at her parents’ home one last time before becoming Mrs. William Pressey. William had planned to convey Maddie and Charles to town while the Jamesons, including Susanna, were to come in Mr. Jameson’s wagon.
While her family bustled about, Susanna nervously donned her wedding gown. Following that, Jane assisted her with arranging her hair. She scooped up the sides, and allowed the rest to cascade down her sister’s back. Having always admired Susanna’s lovely blonde hair, Jane had no desire to stuff the beautiful locks up in a bun.
With her blue, bridal gown in place—hair fashioned, and cape draped over her shoulders—Susanna was prepared to set off for town.
Mr. Jameson, with an enthusiastic family in tow, commenced with the trip to town.
Before long, they arrived at their destination. Spotting William, as her father helped her down from the wagon, Susanna felt a flutter in her stomach at the thought of becoming Mrs. William Pressey within the hour.
William, too, found that his nerves were a bit on edge. Having prayed for this day for so long he hoped nothing would go wrong. While moving in Susanna’s direction, he silently prayed that their marriage would be blessed.
Upon seeing his soon-to-be son-in-law approaching, Mr. Jameson handed his daughter off to William. At which point, they made their way in to meet with the magistrate, as was the custom. Their pastor had counseled and prayed with them in the weeks leading up to the wedding.
Everyone had arrived by now. Elizabeth, accompanied by Fred, grabbed hold of Jane’s hand as they made their way into the building to observe the wedding.
A short time later, the newly married couple took leave of the magistrate. His countenance one of joy, William pulled Susanna close while leading her in the direction of his wagon. The trip to Maddie’s would be made by just the two of them, as Charles and Maddie were to go along with Elizabeth and Fred to the Osgood farm.
After assisting Susanna onto the wagon, William quickly climbed up and settled in beside her. However, before setting off he placed a blanket over his wife’s lap. Smiling, he leaned down and brushed his lips against hers.
“Are you ready, Mrs. Pressey?”
Looking up at William with love in her every expression, Susanna answered, “Definitely, Mr. Pressey.”
Epilogue
One year later, Susanna had just given birth to a sprightly baby boy, which they named John. At present, she was snuggled in her bed with the child. William had shepherded the anxious family members in, one at a time, to look upon the adorable, new baby with his curly, blonde hair and chubby cheeks. Though Susanna was exhausted, she understood their need to see that she was all right and that the baby was well.
Maddie was the third to enter the room. Full of joy for the young couple, she approached the bed. Though she had not been blessed with any children of her own, God had seen fit to allow her to play a role in the lives of more than one generation of her friends’ children. This being the case, she felt she had been blessed beyond measure.
The only people missing from the scene were William’s parents. Though they had been informed of their son’s marriage to Susanna North Martin’s granddaughter, they never acknowledged their new daughter-in-law through a missive or by any other means. Though William and Susanna had hoped that things would change with William’s parents, they had been prepared for either possibility.
For William, Maddie had become as a surrogate mother to him—better than his real mother had ever been. Therefore, not having his parents acknowledge his marriage was not as difficult as it might have been.
Looking back on all that had taken place in just a couple of years, Susanna felt as if her heart would take wings. Her wounded heart over the loss of her grandmother, though it would always bear the scars, to some degree had mended. She had married the man of her dreams and now had a beautiful baby boy. Her parents once told her that she viewed everything as though she were looking through a hangman’s noose. As she thought about it, she believed this was no longer true. She knew whom to thank for the change—her Savior and Lord—the Great Healer.
Postscript
Susanna North Martin was hung as a witch in July of 1692. She was a widow at the time. Her deceased husband’s name was George Martin. (Susanna Martin’s trial can be found online as well as in History of Amesbury: Including the First Seventeen Years of Salisbury, to the Separation in 1654; and Merrimac, from Its Incorporation in 1876 by Joseph Merrill.)
Esther Martin Jameson was married to John Jameson. By the year 1693, they had five daughters: Mary, Susanna, Jane, Esther, Hannah, and Elizabeth. They later had one son, John Jameson who was born in 1696.
Susanna Jameson, the namesake of Susanna North Martin, married William Pressey. They later had children; however, our genealogical outline does not include their names. Another source, http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~colby/colbyfam/b550.html, lists their children’s names as John, Hannah, and Sarah.
Henry Bleasdell/Blaisdell was the son of Ralph and Elizabeth Bleasdell. (Ralph and Elizabeth were included in the first book in this series, Lost Love and Shipwrecked, Madeline Pike Finds Hope in the New Land.) Henry was married to Mary, who later died. He then married Elizabeth Osgood.
Jonathan Bleasdell/Blaisdell, Henry Bleasdell/Blaisdell’s son, married Susanna Jameson’s sister, Hannah Jameson—circa 1698/99.
Jane Jameson married Thomas Nicholas—date not recorded in our genealogical outline.
John Martin, Susanna North Martin’s son, died the year after his mother was hung. One has to wonder if there might have been a connection; it had to have been an extremely stressful time.
Ralph, Elizabeth, and Henry Bleasdell/Blaisdell arrived from England on the Angel Gabriel in 1635. The ship went down just off the coast of Pemaquid Maine. Thankfully for us, they survived!
Photo Credit: Charles Bryant 2/2012
References
http://www.postalmuseum.si.edu/exhibits/2a1b_colonies.html
Joseph Merrill, History of Amesbury: Including the First Seven Years of Salisbury, to the Separation Years in 1654; And Merrimac, From Its Incorporation in 1876 (Haverhill: Press of Franklin P. Stiles, 1880), p. 128.
Genealogical Outline Published by the Blaisdell Family National Association
The Blaisdell Papers (“The Blaisdell Papers have been published by the Blaisdell Family National Association (BFNA) at least twice a year since 1935, making it the fifth oldest, continuously published family journal in the US.”)
Blaisdell Family National Association: http://www.blaisdell.org/Page3.htm
http://genforum.genealogy.com/blai
sdell/messages/309.html
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~colby/colbyfam/b550.html