At two o'clock in the morning the old father Martin Hauser died peacefully in Bethania. His body was buried there on the 13th. He was born Nov. 1696 at Striesenweier in the Muempelgard District, where he learned the carpenter trade.In his 26th year he married the woman, who is now his widow. Their marriage was blessed with eight children ,seven sons and one daughter, of which six sons and one daughter are still living - as far as one knows - five sons are living in Bethania. About 34 years ago he came toAmerica and lived first in Pennsylvania, next in Maryland, and now he is in his eighth year here in North Carolina. .He thought the state of religion here in this country was too insufficient, wherefore he held his services of worship separately together with his children in his house, and he tried to bring them up in fear and admonition of theLord. With all that he was always troubled in heart, always seeking for the right thing; therefore he often went all by himself into the forest, where he knelt or prostrated himself with tears and asked the Lord for mercy,of which he graciously was assured. He was seeking for the people of God, to whom he came very near, but whom he had never found. When he came to Bethabara to the preaching, it came right out of his heart, "I would like to live in the Community of these people," and he desired the mercy to share with the congregation the Holy Communion. Very soon he asked for the permission to move to Bethabara, and when this was rejected, he said, "Well, then I an going to live as a stranger with the Brothers." When in July 1759 Bethania was measured out, he asked for the permission to become a citizen there. When he obtained permission he moved there with his family. He was one of the first taken in the congregation there through Brother Joseph[Spangenberg], and soon after that he was also one of the first who received the Holy Communion with the Congregation in Wachovia, and again he was the first to go from this Cummunity in Bethania to a still higher Community.
Since Easter he felt a great weakness over his whole body. About four weeks ago he was at the Holy Communion,where he was very happy that his desire to share with the Congregation the flesh and the blood of the Lord had been fulfilled. Shortly after that he had to lie down. In the first days of his sickness he was praying constantly the most beautiful Lutheran verses and was happy as a child; he was a very good Lutheran. During the last 14 days he could talk very little and his heart and mind were directed towards Jesus. He testified on all occasions his love and faith in the Lord. If one talked to him about blood and wounds or sang to him, he could hardly show how glad he felt in his heart. Once somebody sang to him "O come quickly ..." and after that he was waving with his hand for a long time for Him to come. And again the words "There I will look at Thee, there I will press You to my heart ..."he reached out both his hands and did as if he really wanted to press Him to his heart. When there was a talkabout his sickness and the brother of his wife said thathe, Martin, would be thankful to the Lord and kiss his feet, for letting him be sick for such a long time, becausehe has so may happy hours during that time, quickly helifted his folded hands and said, "O, yes, O yes." In this happy condition and with great desire for His Bridegroom he lay until the 12th of June in the morning, when he died calmly and quietly, before anybody knew it. At his funeral, where also many Brothers of Bethabara were congregated, we all had a very happy feeling.
BIOGRAPHY: On Jan. 12, 1775 our widowed Sister Margaretha Hauser (maiden name Schaefer) went to the Lord of her Joy. About her life she has had written the following:
I was born on Nov. 2, 1702, at Lamberchtslock in Alsace. Already in my third year I lost my father. I lived with my mother and grandmother and had much hardship. When I was seven, I had to earn my daily bread from strangers, since my stepfather did not want to take care of me because of an increase of prices at the time. When I was twelve years old I served as a children's maid. Whenever I visited my mother, she told me to keep on the path of God, and asked me to pray always; she would do the same for me.
In 1721, I married my dear husband Martin Hauser. In the year 1726 we went to Pennsylvania, because I had received a letter from my mother saying that we should follow them soon. During the sea voyage my first son Martin, who was two years old, died, however, since I myself was so sick, I took hardly notice of that event. On September 28 of the same year we arrived in Philadelphia. From there we went at once to my mother to Guschehope, since we were able to pay our passage fees. My mother had come among the Mennonites in the meantime and since she was a very pious woman, she would have liked to see us stay there. However, we could not make this resolution. Nevertheless, I wanted to follow her advice and tried to become quiet through my own good deeds.
Soon after that my mother died. From there we went to Canawaga on this side of the Susquehanna, where according to my own understanding, I served the Lord and believed to love Him above all things. I felt right happy and comforted for about 1 1/2 years. However, I did not know myself and the deep rooted and hidden evil that is basic. Therefore all my happiness could not last, but fell to pieces at once, and I got into such a great soul depression that all my sins suddenly stood in front of my eyes, and because there were so many of them, I thought that I might be condemned and lost forever. However, sometimes I still had some hope in me; I thought that Jesus, Who had shed His blood also for me, poor child, would have mercy on me. Nevertheless, the anxiety of my soul was increasing. I finally did not know any solution to my life and wanted to run away. When I really went so far that I had left my house and was already in the bush, I heard the crying of my children, because they saw themselves left alone (my husband spent most of the time with other people as a carpenter). That persuaded me to return, with the intention to put them to sleep. When they were supposed to go to sleep, I lay down beside them in order to satisfy them, and when I fell just a little bit asleep, I was reminded of the verse, "Though the Lord has left you, He is going to come back and is going to embrace you with joy like the lost son." After that I felt very well and easy, because I sensed that He has heard me and had mercy on me. From this time on I could go my way gladly and with happiness.
In the year 1753, we moved to North Carolina, several weeks before the arrival of the first group of the Brothers. However, we did not know anything about them, until a mill was built and one of my sons went there to have something ground. He got into a conversation about becoming a pardoned sinner, and told about it at home later on. I took this to heart and drove very soon after that one Friday with the wagon to the mill. I stayed there overnight and when Brother Christian Sindel heard about us, he preached a sermon on Saturday at noontime. There my whole condition stood clearly before my eyes, and from then on I could regard myself in all my misery as a poor sinner, who could address herself to the Lord.
Soon after that the Indian war broke out, and we had to flee with our whole family to Bethabara. Near the Gemin House we blocked up a little house. During this stay I was convinced of the verity of the Gospel and when we went back late in that year, the Brothers often visited us, with much comfort and blessing to us. Since the war with the Indians broke out again several times, we had to flee again to the Brothers of Bethabara, until on the occasion for the start of Bethania we finally got the permission to move there and settle there. In Feb. 1759, I went with my dear husband to Bethania.
So far she herself had written -
Jun 7, 1760, she was accepted as a member of the Congregation, and in the month of October of this same year, she participated in the Holy Communion. In June1761, her dear husband went to his Savior. From this time on, she led a happy life, recognizing with gratefulness her last days in the Congregation. She lived with her youngest son Peter and helped in the household as well as in the education of the children; often it was more than she should have done. In her heart she was in a very close connection with her Lord, and she was angry with everything that would disturb her in that connection. About those things she often complained, mainly that so much time is spent with unnecessary talking, also harmful, if in the presence of the children.
When in the year 1771 our Deputation from the Unity Elders Conference, the Brethren Lorentz and Gregor, came to Wachovia, Brother Gregor asked the married people to come in pairs two by two to the Holy Communion. That was a time when everything was in confusion. He also talked to her, and she disclosed to him the reason why some of the inhabitatants here were so suspicious of the Brothers, which had not been clear before. Brother Gregor gave them the necessary information, so that they could be satisfied. When our Deputation took leave and talked for the last time in the meetinghouse to every family, also this old mother came with her four sons, who are here in the Congregation, and it made a nice ending. On the whole, we can truly say about her, that not only on account of her years, but also on account of her deeds, she was a mother respected and loved by everybody; particularly since she was violently opposed to anything that was, according to her opinion, against the orders of the Congregation, and she showed her honest dislike to whomsoever it might concern. When on August 27, 1773, we started the Hourly Prayer here, she was very happy to be counted in it. At the beginning of November of the same she had apoplexy, so that almost the whole left side was stiff. However, she recovered by and by so that she could do things and also go to the Saal (church). The year 1774 was one of her hardest years, because of several family circumstances, which she took very much to her heart and about which she often lamented. Several weeks ago she had to lie down because of Tuberculoses, from which she had suffered before, more or less. Others as well as herself did not think that the hour of her home-going would still be so far away, for which reason it often seeded too long to her. Upon the question whether there was still something left between herself and her Savior, she said, "No, all my heart I have given to Him a long time ago as His own property. I am waiting now for my dear Lord with great desire." Jan. 11of the year 1775, we realized a strong change within herself, so that we could see clearly that the Lord was coming to take her away. On the same evening and in the night the liturgy was read to her, where she herself asked for the verse of the song "Jesus has died..." with a broken voice. Knowing that she would have to go through much pain yet, she had laid down quietly for the night. On the morning of the 12th at 6 o'clock she passed calmly and blessedly in the arms of Jesus.
Her age was 72 years, 2 months and 8 day. She leaves six sons and one daughter, 39 grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren, without counting those who are already with the Lord.
MORAVIAN ARCHIVES
DRAWER M, SALEM STATION
WINSTON-SALEM, NC 27108
DEATH: AFN: 4389-TPAS
k!BIR-MAR-DEATH: Owen County Cousins by Rosemary FaulkLoveall 1977.
DEATH: AFN: 4389-TPAS
The married Brother Martin Hauser, who died Nov. 9, 1794 was born Oct. 16, 1733 in Shippach (Shippack) Township near Philadelphia. Only the following can be mentioned of his life circumstances out of his own narrations:
He looked upon it as a special preservation of God that in his fourth year he had been saved from the danger of drowning. Immediately after this, his parents had him baptized. When he was about 7 years old, he moved with his parents and brothers and sisters across the Susquehanna to Pinerun, and after they had been there 6 or 7 years, they moved 4 miles farther into Maryland. However, as his father was not able to support himself in the possession of the land which he had taken up and was therefore compelled to look around further, that because the occasion that after about 7 years there he went to North Carolina with the entire family. Our departed brother remained here only a year and a half and then returned to Maryland. When he learned after some time that his parents adhered to the so-called Herrnhuters, against whom he had heard all kinds of evil reports, he was so wrought up-according to his own account-that he decided to pray earnestly to God that He would deliver his parents from this sort. Furthermore, he was already troubled about his own salvation and often turned to God in his perplexity. His efforts to obtain apiece of land in the then western part of Pennsylvania were without result, and he believed that the Lord had led him also in this matter. While he was still of this opinion toward the Brethren, his brother Jacob came to him from North Carolina. From him he inquired about the doctrine and constitution of the Brethren and received from him the answer to his questions: The ground on which they build is Christ and His blood; this means that they find true everlasting good. He said that this so entered into his heart that he could no only give up all opposition to the Brethern, but that he resolved to move to Carolina and seek the company of the Brethren.
This happened in 1762 after he had married on July 27,1760 the now surviving widow Sus[anna] Maria ... [born] Kessler. From this marriage there were 4 sons and 4daughters, of whom he lived to see 15 grandchildren. He immediatley took the Brethren's doctrine so to heart that his own expression was "I will stay with this doctrine." and he implored the Savior's grace for it. He remained steadfast in this condition of heart and he often asserted how much he wished that the Lord would keep him to the end of his days faithful in his heart to this doctrine and the enjoyment of it.
On Dec. 29, 1765 he was received into the congregation; June 1, 1771 he partook of the Holy Communion for the first time. His course from this time on was not always joyful. His rough and straight-forward nature was the occasion for frequent offense, whereby not only strangers and Brothers and Sisters were offended, but also the peace of his own family was very much disturbed. Therefore, at various times he was advised not to attend Holy Communion. Although he often had reason to lay the blame elsewhere, yet he did no longer long in recognizing his own faults and the resulting offenses with sadness, and one can say of him in general that he recognized himself as a poor sinner. The word of God was important to him, which he evidenced not only in the meditations of his heart but also in his uninterrupted attendance at the services. In that connection he knew how to treasure the good fortune of belonging to the Brethren's Congregation and too much interest in the spread of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ among Christians, and especially among the heathen.
His last illness began already in the spring of this year (1794). He complained chiefly about weakness of the stomach which hindered him more and more from taking food and caused him gradually to loose strength so that in a short time he had to stop working. This was at first hard for him for he had always from his youth taken pleasure in his work. But he soon yielded to the Savior's will evenin this and one can say joyfully that the attitude of his heart during this time was pleasing and an indication of the special work of the Holy Spirit. In July or August he made the following Declaration: "I can say in truth that I love the Lord with all my [heart] and it is a true joy to my heart to hear of His death and suffering; I can also believe that what He has done, He has done for me, but I still lack certainty of heart that all my sins are forgiven, and about this I should like to be assured before the hour for my departure comes." He continued with this explanation for some time. Soon after this when he could no longer attend services, and was visited for the first time, he could witness with joy that the Savior had comforted him about his perplexity; he knew and could now believe assuredly that all his sins were forgiven by the Savior and he could depart hence joyfully to be with Him. "Oh I thank the Savior for all that He has done for me in my life!"
After he had given this testimony, he remained patient and relaxed on his sickbed. He also tried to settle all misunderstandings as far as possible, not only with members of the Congregation, but also with strangers. In response to his expressed longing, Holy Communion was given to him on the 7th of the month (Nov.) and soon there after the benediction of the Lord for his departure was imparted, during which the tears of those present gave evidence of the feelings of the nearness of the Savior. Previously in reply to a question he had said that nothing could now disturb his joy that he would soon be with the Lord and free from all. From then on he lay quietly and waited with longing for the hour of his release, which followed on Sunday, the 9th of this month, at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. He remained conscious until the last moment, when he quietly and blessedly fell asleep at the age of 61years, 3 months, and 3 days.
FRIES: Records of the Moravians in North Carolina; May 1, 1766. We heard the distressing news that thirteen miles this side of Pinetree Store, Michael Hauser, of Bethania, who had gone with his wagon to Charlestown, fell under the wagon wheel and broke both bones in his leg. Abraham Krishan, storekeeper on the Yadkin, had been to Pinetree Store and had spoken with him, but did not tell us. We discussed what to do, and decided to ask Daniel Hauser to ride to Pinetree Store and visit his brother, which he was willing to do. May 9th the wagons returned from Charlestown, and Hauser's leg was so much better that he was able to come with them, and to walk a little with a crutch.BIRTH: Twin to Jacob.