The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-10-20
Roger wiIliams-His Body Absorbed
BY the Roots of a Tree-A curious
unnidQnf ...t.1.,..t. ....-.. D..


Incident. sgUilLaiinnn,b '-H 60 .i.l
The following curious and interesting state
ment is from the pen of the Rev. j. II. Nc
Carly who is writing series Of articles
for the Ladies' Repository, Ion Roger Will
liams the founder Of the State of Rhode Is
land: .4.s.,,r,. .4I.5.
Ninety years after his death, III, steps
were taken to erect to him some suitable
monument, but the storms of the Revolution
came on and the work was forgotten. But
recently the question has been agitated anew,
and Williams may yet at least have some out
ward sign TO mark his greatness end perpetu-
ate his name. During period Of 1873 years
not even rough stone has been set up to
mark the grave of the founder of Rhode Is
land, and the precise locality OF his grave had
been almost forgotten, and could only be as
certained by the most careful investigation.
Suffice it to say, however, the spot was found
and the exhumaton mede short time ago,
though there was little to exhume. On
scraping off the turf from. the surface of the
ground the dim outlines of seven graves, con-
tanned within less than one square rod, re-
vealed the burial ground of Roger Williams.
In colonial times each family had its own bu-
rial ground, which was usually near the fami-
~ roSlQSuCe. 1uIe0 VI tHcoC. oONOH graves
were those Of children, the remaining four
were adults The easterly grave was iden til
fed as that of Mr.. Williams. On digging
down into the ~ charnel house." it was found
that every thing had passed into oblivion
The shapes of the collins could only be traced
Nv black line of earbonaceous matter the
thickness of the edges of the sides of the cof-
fins, with their ends distinctly defined The
~
a few fragments of wood and single round
knot, was all that could be gathered from his
grave In the grave of his wife there was
not trace of anything save single lcck of
braided hair which had survived the lapse of
more than 1870 years.
Near the grave stood venerable apple tree
when and by whom planted is not known.
This tree had sent two of its main roots into
the graves of Mr. and Mrs Williams The
larger root had pushed its way through the
earth till it reached the precise spot occupied
by the skulfof Roger Williams There making
turn, as if going roundthe skull, it follow
ed the direction of the backbone to the hips
Here it divided into two branches, sending
one alone eachleg to the heel, where they both
turned upward to the toes. One of these roots
formed a slight crook at the knee, which made
the whole bear a very close resemblance TO a
human form. slt L
This singular root is preserved with great
care, not only as an illustration Of the great
principle in vegetation, but for its great histo-
rlc association There were the graves emptied
of every particle of human dust Not trace
of anything was left tits known to chemis-
try that all flesh, and gelatinous matter giving
consistency to the bones, are resolved into
carbonic acid gas, water and air, while the
solid lime dust usually remains. But in this
case even the phosphate of lime of the bones
of both graves was all gone There stood the
guilty apple tree" as was said at the time,
caught in the very act of "robbing the grave"
TO explain the phenomenon is not the design
of this article. Such an explanation could be
given and many other similar cases addueed.
But this fact must be admitted; the organic
matter Of Roger Williams had been transmitted
into the apple tree; it had been passed into
the woody fibre and was capable Of propelling
"a steam engine; it had bloomed in the apple
blossoms, and become pleasant to the eye; and
more, it had gone into the fruit from year to
year, so that the question might be asked, who
ate Roger Williams lf no ~ FEIa8