EV. NATHANIEL P. TATEM lived in Norfolk county, Virginia. He died in New York city, away from his home and family, December 15, 1835. The Christian church at Providence in Norfolk county was organized in the year 1804, with Rev. Nathaniel P. Tatem as pastor till 1829, assisted in the time by Rev. Joshua Livesay. At the Conference at Union in Southampton county, in 1828, he was authorized to travel abroad by a letter from Elders Joshua Livesay and Mills Barrett. And he was requested to have a second edition of the "Christian Hymn Book by Mills Barrett" printed, and was also appointed on the committee to superintend the printing of [78] the Minutes of the Conference, with an address to the churches of the Conference, and was continued on the Standing Executive committee.

      In 1835, he left his home on November 29th, to visit New York on business. Immediately after his arrival there, he felt unwell, but not thinking any thing serious he attended to business till Saturday, the 5th of December, when he was confined to his bed. He had inflammation of the lungs, which soon placed him beyond the reach of medicine. When he found there was no hope of his recovery, he told Rev. Isaac N. Walter, who then resided in that city, that he wished to have his temporal concerns attended to, which was promptly done to his mind. It is said he signed his will with all the composure of a servant of God. That during his sickness he was entirely submissive and endured his suffering with great patience and perfect resignation to the will of his great Master. That he often spoke of his affectionate wife and children, and prayed the Lord to protect and bless them. When spoken to by Elder Walter on the subject of his future state, he said, "O Brother Walter, I never doubted the goodness of God. The same Jesus that I preached to others is my consolation in sickness and my exceeding great reward in death."

      Elder Tatem "may justly be considered the father of the Christian church in Norfolk and surrounding places. He contended for the doctrine, when there was but one other to be with him in the great work. But he has left a large church to lament his loss." "He was one of the best of husbands, and the most affectionate of parents. His family was his delight."

      Members of this family still reside in Norfolk county to this day. Providence church, founded more than a hundred years ago, is yet marked by a brick building. [79]

[LCM 78-79]