Relatively Speaking

Obituary for Julia Smith
Hartford Times of March 11, 1886
Mrs. Julia E. Smith Parker died at her house in Parkville at 8:30 o’clock on Saturday evening, March 6, at the age of 93 years—almost 94.

On the 7th of last November, without any apparent cause, she fell upon the floor and broke her hip, and for many weeks was a great sufferer; but for the past few weeks she had but little pain, and passed away at last as peacefully as though dropping into a dreamless sleep.

Her old neighbor and long-tried friend, Mrs. Kellogg of Glastonbury, was with her, and the only one who to her was linked with the past.

Julia Evelina Smith was the last of her race and the last of a remarkable family. She was born May 27, 1792, in Eastbury, that part of Glastonbury now called Buckingham. Her mother named her Julietta Abelinda, but her father afterward improved the name by change it to Julia Evelina, from Miss Burney’s three-volume novel so popular in those days.

She was the fourth child of a family of 5 daughters, Abby Smith being the youngest. Julia studied Heberw and translated the Bible when she was over 50; she resisted taxation without representation and made herself famous at the age of 80 or over; she published her bible at the age of 84, and married at 87. These are the prominent points in her life.
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A Bride at Eighty-Seven
Hartford, Conn., April 10
Miss Julia Evelina Smith of Glastonbury, the only survivor of the Smith sisters, celebrated for their resistance to taxation without representation, was married, yesterday to Amos G. Parker of New Hampshire. Both Bride and groom are in their 87th year.

To see the news article and read the 1879 letter of Aida Austin to her sister Emma, go to Julia Smith, Bride at 87

Glastenbury, CT, May 16, 1869
Dear Cousin,
When your letter came to hand, I was suffering with tooth ache and swelled face or I should have answered it immediately.

We were very sorry to hear of your grandmother’s death, one of the three cousins left of our mothers. We had much to say respecting her and her father’s family. My sisters remember her coming here once while they lived in Hartford. Our mother calling there on her return form Southbury, brought her home with her, but they said her sisters came for her the next day.

Truly you must miss her very much if she was always so busy seeing to everything as she was when we were there. I became much attached to her. Your grandfather was living then with whom my sister and I were much pleased. He possessed? so much intelligence. He died about the time she did, I think. You may not remember him, I cannot think of your place without them. I thought I should see them again, especially your grandmother. I am glad you girls are grown to take her place with your mother who was always feeble like our mother, but our mother knew how to contrive for the benefit of her family as I believe yours does and this is quite as necessary as working with the hands.

I hope her grandchildren can do both. There is no comfort in anything without health is certain and very little I do believe without work.

I was much pleased with what you wrote about the newcomer. Nothing can be more amiable in a young girl than to give a welcome to the little ones…but they will love them well enough in a short time for ‘tis said they pay their way as they go, but I have known some much displeased at first making it very hard for their mother.

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