Charles and Sarah’s Courtship
Charles C. Rich and Sarah DeArmon Pea have an interesting courtship story. Soon after Sarah’s baptisms into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she had elders tell her on two different occasions they had an Elder picked out who was perfect for her to marry. They both were recommending Charles C. Rich.
Charles proposed to Sarah in a letter before they met in person.
Here is the letter:
“March 23, 1837
Miss Sarah Pea,
It is with pleasure that I at this time pen a few lines to you, although a perfect stranger to you. However, I trust that this few lines may be received by you and may be the beginning of a happy acquaintance with you.
I will now let you know the reason of my boldness in writing to you. It is because Elder Gell Hinkle and others have highly recommended you as a Saint of the Last Days as being worthy of my attention or any others. As I expect it will be the case that I shall tarry in Zion for some time, I think I should be happy to get a good companion. Such a one as I could take comfort with through life and such a one as could take comfort with me. As you have been recommended to me as such, I should be very happy to see you and converse with you on the subject.
I did expect to have taken a journey last winter with Elder H. Green and visited the church in that post, but I found it not possible to leave a multitude of other calls and temporal business. As I was making arrangements to go to Zion this spring, I have understood by Br. Hinkle that you was a going up to Zion this spring or summer.
I should be happy to see you there and if these lines is received with the same feeling that I write them, I trust that you may be single and unengaged. When this comes to pass after you read and meditate upon it, I should be glad you would write me an answer to it. If so, you can direct your letter to Liberty, Clay County, Missouri. If you write, you will please to write as soon as convenient.
So not more at present, but I remain yours with the best of respects.
To Miss Sarah Pea from Charles C. Rich”
Sarah’s reply:
“Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go: and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.”
SOURCES
https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/memories/LTW8-P81
https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/memories/KWJZ-H23
