Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-10-26
OLD BURYING GROUNDS.
RESTING PLACES OF SOME OF
SAVANNAH7S EARLY DEAD.

SAVANNAH7s EARLY DEAD.
The Old Jewish Cemetery at Factory
Street and Wilson street Lane-The
Burial Place Ofthe SheftsIls, DeLyons
aud Aoostas TombstOnes shattered
During the Bombardment OF the City
in Revolutionary Days-A Scene of
Ruin and Decay.
Among the old landmarks and places
made interesting by the lapse OF
time that exist in and about Savannah,
there are few over which as many years
have passed as the old Jewish cemeteries
in tae western part of the city. On the
corner OF Factory street and Wilson street
lane Is piece Of ground about % by 40
yards, inclosed by high brick wall, over
which it is almost impossible TO see, and
which ia fast crumbling to pieces. To the
passer-by. who takes the trouble to lock In
through the gate, there is nothing visible
but mass OF grass and weeds, the tops
of which can be seen above the wall. This
is what is known as the "Old Jewish
Cemetery"
OVER A CENTURY AGO.
Itwas laid out for a burylng ground
considerably over a century ago, when
that part of the city which IS now built
up was a mile out in the country.
Among the early settlers who came to
Georgia during Gen. Oglethorpe's time
was Benjamin Sbeitall with his wife
Perla and two sons, Lew and NOrdecai.
MIR. Sheltall was Prussian from Frank
fort. He landed here July II, 1888, and
was one of the original pioneers in laying
out the city. a few years after he settled
here his wife died aud was buried at a
point which is now somewhere betWee n
the corner of South Broad and Whitaker
streets and the Independent Presbyterian
church, but which was then outside OF
the city limits. Benjamin SAeitall died
on Oct. 3, 1865, and was buried the next
day III the old cemetery, which was laid
out by his son Levi as burial place for
the Sheftalls' the DeLyOns and the
AcOstas, and there are none inferred in
it but those bearing one Of these names.
GIVEN UP TO WEEDS.
BY pushing aside the weeds which have
grown so thick aud rank as to be almost
uncomfortable there could be seen the old
and tIme-wOrn tombstone which was put
! w TO mark the last resting place Of Ben
jamin Sheftan. Close study reveals
the letters forming his name and
the dates of his birth and death. But
having been broken of by shell in the
bombardment OF the city during the revo-
lutionary war.
The cemetery is entirely filled with
graves, and on the tombstOnes may be
Traced the names of Levi Sheftall, AbTam
DeLyon, n man who figured prominently
IN the politics of the state three-quarters
OF a century ago, MOrdecai ana Abram
j. DeLyOn and others who were all well
in, ~,
buried in the cemetery was Col. Isaac
DeLyOn, who died abouGt five years
ago.
THE NEW JEWISH CEMETERY.
On June Is, 1773, 1 acre, roods and IA
perches of land situated IN Garden lot -,
west, was donated by Mordecai Shettall,
to he used as burying ground for all per-
sons protesting the jewish religion, and
for erecting a synagogue. The congrega-
'tions OF Charleston, London, New York
and Newport were made trustees Of this
property. A part OF this piece OF land, ~
by 80 feet IN size, which is inclosed by a
wall 10 feet high, and can now be de-
scribed as being On Wilson street lane,
about 100 yards from the old cemetery
and adjoining the Arkwright cotton fac
tory. forms what is known as the new
Jewish cemetery.
The first person buried in this cemetery
was blOrdecai Shettall, on July 6, 1897.
Mr.. Shettall was a remarkable man In his
dav and was n strong upholder Of the
rights OF the colonies during the revolu-
tionary war. The Charleston paper of
July II, 1897, has the following to say of
him:
A REMARKABLE MAN.
"Died, in Savannah, on the evening OF
the 9th, MOrdecai sheitall, Esq, aged 81.
He was an active Magistrate, exercising
the duties OF his office without the fear of
Offending any; steady oppOser of any in
,nOVGtiOn where religious or civil freedom
was likely TO be affected. OF the various
stations which in the course OF Providence
he was called upon to MI, he discharged
the functions with ability and reputation.
In his domestic relations be possessed all
those qualities which aGorn humanity
and render soc al lite 3 blessing. He was
polite without ailectatiOn, charitable
without OstentatOn, condescending in
manners, candid out independent in sen.
ument. BY the death of this worthy
character, his bereaved family have lost
faithful and aheCtlonate counselor
guardian and protector"
The new cemetery is we'll filled with
tombstOnes and covered with Ii ebraic in
scriptions bearing the names OF some o.
SaVannah's old-time citizens.
COOKED HAT'' sHEFTALL.
Among the names is that o
Sheftall Sheltall, son OF Nor
decai Shettall, aud a noted char
acter half century ago. He wa
commonly known as Cooked Hat' Shelf
tall, from the fact that he always wore Tia,
Old continental uniform.
This is also the burying place Of Jacol
Nunez CardOza, who for many years wa
editor Of the Southern Patriot, of Charles
ton. Here also is buried Isaac Cohen
who for many years was one of Savan
nah's most prominent merchants. Tn
last person buried here was Mr.. Coma,
i. Byck, in 1915.
Tue old cemetery will certainly nevei
be used again, and 1t is doubtful if tn,
new one 10, Altogether they are place
of considerable interest, though their eX
istence even is doubtless unknown 4
many. The facts concerning them were
obtained from an inspection OF the famil
papers OF Mrs. Perla SOlomons, vile q
Mr.. Liar Solomons and great-gran