The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1888-07-20
miscellaneous.
Historical Notes and Queries.


Two Graves, Perhaps Little Known
Though in the Heart of the County
seat.
While recently walking past the Metho.
dist Episcopal Church, on Main street, in
Bel Air, noticed, for perhaps the thous'
andth time, q conspicuous obelisk in the
graveyard to the rear ofthat edifice. Although
| had often wondered to whose memory the
column was erected, had never intruded
into the inclosure in order to solve the mys-
terry. On this occasion, however, the fence
having been entirely removed and the church
itselfp pulled down for the purpose Of build
ing new one, | did not hesitate to step of
the street and make an investigation. To
my surprise found on the stone the follow
ing inscription:
In Memory of
JOHN MONTGOMERY,
who died in Baltimore,
A. ID. 1928, aged 90 years.
Also MARY, his Wife,
and his Two Sons,
JOHN H.. and JAMEsN.
MONTGOMERY.
BE We also ready" SO.
The column is of marble about ten feet in
height, and two and a-half feet square at the
base, tapering to the top TO about eight
inches. 1t is in two pieces, mounted on a
low pedestal, and is in an excellent state OF
lhSIC Is uO ShllOSulC
it, nor any trace that there ever has been
one.
This is no doubt the Capt. John Mont
gemery who, as stated in my recent sketch
of the 40th Maryland Militia, commanded
the artillery company from Hartford at the
battle of North Point, of which the COM
handing General in his report of that battle
says, "The artillery under Capt. Montgomery
highly distinguished itself"
was still more surprised to find within a
few feet Of Capt Montgomery's tomb the final
resting place of an officer of the Revolu-
ton. The plain, much-lichened marble which
marks the spot is about four feet high, on
an humble pedestal, and surmounted by a
wreath of flowers. 1t bears the following in.
"Died in March. 1907,
JACOB NORRIS,
an officer of the 9Th Rcgt,
in the war of the Revolution.
ITO his Memory
this Pillar is raised,
by his daughter Sophia
The number of the regiment stated on the
stone is probably incorrect, as in the rosters
given by both McSherry and Schari, Jacob
Norris" appears as Lieutenant in the Fifth
Regiment of Regulars" 1t is possible, how
ever, that he may have been transferred and
thus have served In both regiments. Scharf
in one place states that he was Lieutenant in
the 9th reg't in 1777 yet be elsewhere in
forms us that he was commissioned Nov.
Goth, ITS" 1t is therefore not unlikely that
lie was performing the duties of that grade
for some time before receiving his commits
sion. His name appears In list which
Scharf gives of maryland Officers of the
Revolutionary army who served to the end
of the war, and thus acquired the right to
npn-hnF communication and lpuptv
land under the act of Congress"
The grave is surrounded by an iron rail-
ing, in extent about ten feet square, within
which are also the remains of John johnson,
who, as his tombstone tells us, "died Nov.
Goth, 1865, at an advanced age" The two
silent occupants of this Enclosure were no
doubt related by blood or marriage.
So far as could judge there have been no
other interments in this graveyard, at least
there are no other tombstones The surface,
however, is marked by several suspicious
looking depressions
The three graves above described, Count
| ing that of the Montgomerys as one) are very
near together, under two large shady naples
about ten PAGES in the rear of the church. SO
fur, the surroundings are appropriate, but no
further, since an occupied dwelling stands
about the same distance to the rear of the
graves, with no Enclosure OF any kind to
separate the dead from the living.
Can any one furnish any additional facts
concerning Jacob Norris and his family?
can find nothing about him in the records of
the County Registers office. But perchance
it is enough to know that he was one of the
immortal Maryland Line which so often
turned the tide of battle in favor of liberty,
and more than once when spirits scarcely
less heroic had signally failed. Bel Air may
be proud to have such dust in her keeping.
G. w. ARCHER.
July list, 1888.