Although Andrew was not a perfect father or husband, he was loved by them all and their world turned exceedingly grim with his passing. Worse than anything was that the three adolescent children were left with their mother and they quaked at the thought of her assuming complete control over the household and their lives.
To the trio’s surprise, however, a strange miracle took place. Having hated her home with great passion, and feeling little affection for her children, Sarah Noble announced just a month and a day after her husband’s burial that she was returning to Philadelphia where her mother lived. She made no effort to encourage her children to go with her. Announcing her plans to her shocked progeny, she said directly, “Some will probably think I’m skirting my duties with the thre
