Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-11-29
ANCIENT EPITAPHS.
QUAINT INSCRIPTIONS IN THE HALi-
FAX cHuRcss-yAac.
nhs Memories Of ociensal ana Revelation
sU Hsrees and Statesmen Revived By
visit--other ramoas Peopie.


tVf1tten tor sha Difpatchf
wr1poS, N. O., November H." Tread
lightly, stranger. for The ground upon
which thou standest Is sacred" These
thoughts dashed across my mind this
morning ~ stood by the graves Of some
Of North Cardinals most illustTious sons
and DAUGHTERS quietly sleeping in the old
church-yard IN the historic town of Hall
far. where the first blow for liberty was
struck when sho Provincial Congress OF
i77s declared for absolute independence of
British authority AID usurpation. As a
matter OF interest 20 the readers OF the
DnsrArcf, 10 the numerous descendants OK
these great men. and n antiquarlans Oil
over the country, give here. few epi.
taphs Is they appear upon the ancient
stones cefbdism e iittsa.sm:
sANks DAVE.
The hrst slab which attracted my atten-
ton was broken, but yet quite legible are
these lines:
Sacred 70 tho memory Of sarah Davic,
daughter OF General Allen Jones, born the I'D
e september l7e2 she vas married 70 g Mg-
Departed this he on Che i4th day of April, 1869,
leaving three a0ns--Anon l., Byior A., ana
FREDERICK Mhliaui--and three daoghsers-Aary
Sarah, and Rebeoca-"
Elm the midst Of ne We are In dcath.r
TEE BRoTHEns.
As I stood by tho grave Of the daughter
OF the illustrious General Allen Jones, /
could but recall tho fact that away back in
che colonial days, when the British lion
Gercely trampled the rights Of the colo
pisis under It's ruthless heel. the Fourth
Provincial Congress OF Halifax did on the
18th day Of April. 1776. day ever to be re-
nembersd in the annals OF America, Dc
clare for absolute Independence OF the
mother country and for foreign alliances.
was averse TO q final separation from Great
Britain. He doubted the ability OF the
people 70 govern themselves. On the
other hand, Willie Jones. Of this county,
brother Of General Allen Jones, was q lead
ar OF majority of tho people. He was
yefersonian Democrat and advocated re,
sleious freedom, separation OF Church and
btste. liberty Of the press. choice OF rulers
by the people. and that the American PEG;
pie were capable of self-govenment. and
that all political power belonged and pro-
ceeded from them.
JOIN spITT0RELvYs.
Within few feet Of thisgrave is another
slab bearing the following inscription:
"Benoath this stone rests the remains OF the
Hon- John Slttgreayes, Judge, &c. AFTER spend
ing life Of Hoaour and Integrity 10 me service
81 his country, he ended bis days on tho 4, OF
March A. ID. 1902 sged As yosrs. In the same
grave are the romans Of Robert Sit-greayes'
hs son, aged years. He was flower lett be-
hind y his fond parent o nov rests On aus
aTO thee o God DO praise honour, q glory
Anon
THOMAS ANTS.
Passing on l came 10 another weather
beaten slab which marked the grave OF
another son Of an illustrious family, and
on this tablet read;
"Here lies the body OF Thomas Amls, who de-
parted this life on the 25th November, 1897, in
the thirty nfth year OF his age. This marble 10
erected 70 bis memory by his friend and relation,
Richard Bennehan, OF Orange"
The ashes OF Thomas Amis have slum-
bered for nearly century, but great and
noble posterity, wealthy and influential,
have sprung up TO keep his mOmery for
ever fresh in the hearts OF his country
men. Colonel Bennehan Cameron, who
recently married the lovely Miss MAYO, OF
your oity, 10 descendant and member
bf one OF the most influential and wealth
lest families In North Carolina.
oTHER EPITAPHs.
On another stone almost worn away by
che SHOWS OF winter and storms of sum-
mer, found simply this;
an Justin Nash, on 9th December A Dom.
i7Tt. In the 25 year OF bis age.'
greeted las years ago, bears this quaint
epitaph:
Bic facet corpus
Francis Anne Brimmage,
uxor 0ulielmi Brimage,
Homo Caloniae Arm obt1t,
II Dec Ammo. Dom. 1905.
Astatls sual 20,
A sincere Friend, o tender, afectionate,
and good vile.
WORN OUT.
Another stone stands near by erected to
che memory Of William Alexander La Mar
deal chiselIed on this stone, but the
storms Of time and moss Of ages have render
ed it entirely nlegible. and no one seemed
70 remember Just what was placed upon
This weather.beaten old stone IN the long
ago.
lBRkM HODGE.
Ithen turned to O monument of another
sleeping hero, and the stranger may read
upon u these words:
usacred 20 the memory Of Abraham Hodge,
ss esPs ssa sa " HE asS Tn S pS
erected By his afiectionate nephew, William
BoylAn-"
In another square two broad marble
slabe cover two graves, and beneath them
are the remains OF prominent people. On
one may DO read:
"Etariing harahal. died h6rch To- lbOo;
aged Shirty-three years. Rebecca, wife Of Star
ling Marshall Died September 81, 1903. Aged
thirty years; leaving an infant ERECTED by
Frederick 8. Marshall"
On the other, which is sacred TO the
memory Of the infant above referred to,
appears this:
ssacred TO the memory Of Frederick Starting
Marshall. Born January 20, 1903; died Deem
Der Q, 1857"
ovNvpIr I1y,rrtya DAxrFI
In this old graveyard, which Is perhaps
che oldest in the State, also rests theremains
Of General junius Daniel. q gallant soldier
OF the late war between the States, who
was killed at the battle of Spotsylvania
Court-house May the 18th, 1864.
Tbs mother Of Judge W. A. Daniel, OF
this place, also sleeps IN this silent city of
the dead, and many other prominent fami-
lies OF this State and othel States have
relatives beneath the shade Of the giant
oaks which stand like sentinels 70 guard
the ashes OF the heroes of the past. No
true son Of the "0ld North State" can look
upon these ancient monuments of men
whose valiant deeds have forever made
their names great in the history Of North
Carolina without feeling o sentiment bor-
daring on idolatry yelling mp IN their
hearts.