The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1866-10-19
ROGER WILLIAMS.
Search for Has Remains-IIls Body Al
torbed by the Roots Of Tree--A Gu
riouS Incident.

L
Rev, J. II. McCARrr 10 writing series Of
very entertaining articles fer the Ladies
Repository on RosER WILLIAMS, the found.
or Of the State of Rhode Island. In the last
number, we find the following curious anu
interesting statement concerning the re.
mains OF the distinguished man:
Ninety years after his death. in III,
steps were takon to erect to him somc suit.
uble monument. but tho storms of the Rev
olutiou came on and the work WAS forgot
ten, But recently the question has been
agitOted auew. and Williams may yet at
least have some outward sisu to mark his
greatness aud perpetuate his name. Du.
ring period of lS3 years, not even rough
stune has beon set up to mark the grave Of
the founder Of Rhode Island, till the precise
locality of his grave had been almost for
gotten, and could only be ascertained by
the most careful Investigation. Suffice 1t
to say, however, the spot was found, aud
the oxhumation made a short time ago,
though there was little to exhume. On
scrapiug of tho turf from the surface Of the
ground, the dim outlines of seven graves,
contained within less than ono square rod,
revealed the burial ground of Roger vii.
liams. In colonial times each family had
its own burial ground, which was usually
near the family residence. Three Of these
seven graves were those of children. The
remaining four we're adults. The easterly
grave was identified as that Of Mr.. viii.
lsms. On digging down into the charnel
house." it was found that everything had
passed into oblivion. The shapes OF the
cofins could only be traced by black line
of carbonaceous matter the thickness of the
edges of the sides of the cofiu, with their
ends distinctly defined. The rusted remains
of the hinges aud nails, with q few frSg.
ments of wood and siugls round knot, was
all that could be gathered from his grave
In the grave of his wife there was not q
trace of anything save q single lock oI
braided hair, which had survived the lspse
of more than lS0 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 it's way through the
earth till it reached the precise spot ocou
pied by the skull Of Roger Williams. There
making q turn as If going round the skull
it followed the direction of the backbone tC
the hips. Here it divided into two branch
ss, sending Que along each leg to the heel
| Wn6r6 t0oy OOlu IuIu6u upward 10 tue tOeB
Que Of these roots formed . slight crook q
tl o kneo which makes the whole bear
very close resemblance to a human form
This singular root is preserved with grea
care, not only as an illustration of grea
principle in vegetation, but for its grea
historic association. There were the graves
emptied of every particle Of human dust
Not "a trace of any thing was left 1t il
known to chemistry that all flesh, and til,
gelatinous matter giving consistency to tn,
bones, are resolved into carbonic acid gas
water and air, while the solid lime dus
usually remains. But in this case even til,
phospate of lime o! the bones of boil
graves was all gone There stood thu
guilty apple tree" as was said at thu
time, caught in the very act of "robbinl
the grave"
To explain the phenomenon is not tn,
design of this article. Such All explanation
coull be given, aud many other simila
cases adduced. But this fact must be ad
mitted; the organic matter of Roger viii
liams had been transmitted into the appl,
tree it had passed into the woody fiber ant
was capable of propelliug a steam engine
it had bloomed into the apple blossoms, su,
had become pleasant to the eye and more
it had gone into the fruit from year to year
so that the question might he asked, VIII
ate Roger Williams?