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TITLE: Orphaned in India | Previous Challenge Entry
By Charlene Reid
02/18/09
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Orphaned in India

A legend in our family history of my great-great-great-great grandmother having been raised by a Missionary in India had absolutely mesmerized me. I dreamed of what it must have been like and read many books about India and dreamed of finding out if the legend was true.

The magic of the India dream became buried by the burdens of life, until I was 35 when an uncle I had never met came from England to our yearly family reunion. He regaled us with stories about life in Watford Hert, England. I hung on every word and soon was his sole audience. I asked if he had any insight into the family legend, disappointed that he knew nothing new.

For the first time in years the longing was rekindled. On the way home I sat quietly allowing my mind to wander.

“Where have you gone?” my husband asked breaking the spell.

“No where. Yet.” I answered.

“Oh? Where are you going?” he asked amused.

“India.” I answered simply.

Now the car was alive with many voices wanting to know why I wanted to go to India.

With the flame of my dream reignited I shared the tale of my great-great-great-great grandmother and how I always wanted to know for sure if it was true or just legend. With the urging of my husband and children I decided it was time to find out.

I began the tedious task of calling family and getting names of all relatives. I made lists and charts, following every lead and hitting many dead ends. I spent hours on the internet and found many avenues to pursue.

Finally I had an answer.

May 13 1767 Bristol England - Hannah (Sheppard) Marshman was born - Orphaned at the age of 11 when her father died of a broken heart after losing Hannah’s mother just 3 years earlier. She was then raised by her grandfather. Her parents had been very pious Christians and Hannah had accepted Jesus as her Savior at a very young age. When she met and married Joshua Marshman she had no desire to be a missionary and discouraged her husband from going to North America for this purpose, urging him to seek further education and work in England. However, in 1799, when Joshua was asked to go to India by the Baptist Missionary Society they accepted.

Along with William Ward and William Grant they set sail. The British East India Company forced them to Serampore “city of refuge” twelve miles up the Hooghly River from Calcutta. William Carey “The Father of Modern Missions” joined them there.

Hannah, relentless in her commitment to serve, set up a boarding school to provide funding and devoted her life to the mission. She managed servants from many castes, handled community expenses, organized and directed girls’ schools, and served as counselor to native and missionary women. Along with raising their 6 children, she became a support to William Carey’s troubled family, missionary widows, and many orphans (native and missionary).

One of those orphans was 4 year old Adelaide Ward. Her parents had come as missionaries from Bristol, England and after just a few weeks had died. Remembering her own pain, Hannah made it a priority to see that Adelaide was provided for. An aunt was located back in England but was unable to take Adelaide. Another missionary family had lost their only child and Hannah asked them if they would consider taking Adelaide as their own. They adopted her, changing her name to Adelaide Pearce. They remained another 2 years and then returned to England. Adelaide spent the rest of her growing up years in London England where she met and married William Crowe – my great-great-great-great grandfather.

For two hundred years little was known of Hannah Marshman and her impact on many lives because history focused on male leaders’ achievements. The Baptist Missionary Society disallowed women missionaries so despite the fact that she was the rock that held the mission together she was never recognized.

However, to Baptists in Bengal she came to be known as the “Mother of the Serampore Mission”.

It was with much time and effort that I was able to bring the family legend to light and make it a bright part of our history. If not for the relentless fervor of Hannah Marshman and her undying devotion to the Lord and His mission a big part of our history would not be known today.

*References*

The legacy of William Ward and Joshua and Hannah Marshman.
By: Smith, A. Christopher
Publication: International Bulletin of Missionary Research
Date: Thursday, July 1 1999

Bengal Obituary (1848)

Wikipedia – Hannah Marshman

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