Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-02-05
THE PICKETT DEAD.
REMAINS REMOVED FROM
THE OLD GRAVEYARD.
Oblitcrating an Old East-End
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS and
Civil Power Necessary.

The work OF removing tho bodies
from The old Pickett burying-ground. on
Marshall street between Twenty-third
and Twenty-fourth streets, to Hollywood
was completed Wednesday. The Pickett
burying- ground adioins the old Adams
better known as the Darlington burying-
ground, and from the latter the remains
were removed TO Hollywood over year
ago. The disinterment OF the bodies IN
the Pickett addition was the last step
towards obliterating one OF the most
prominent landmarks in the East End.
for in the spring the area embraced in
the two Gem eteries will be sold for build
ing-lots.
The Adams and Pickett hurying-
grounds we're in what is known as the
Adams addition to Richmond. Colonel
Richard Adams, the elder, was very
wealthy man and large importer. Tho
family-seat was house which il now
part of the Academy OF Visitation, on
Grace street between Twenty second
and Twenty-third streets. The FIRST
Colonel Adams died in 1900. and
by his will Colonel Richard Adams, Jr.,
became possessed OF all his city property.
Colonel Richard Adams, Jr.. who died
in 1917, directed in his will that one
half acre Of ground, including the then
family cemetery be set apart for family
burial purposes. and that it be enclosed
with brick wall and this ground he de-
vised 10 his nephews and nieces. The
first interment in the original burying-
ground seems to have been made about
1857.
THE PICKETT PURCHASE.
In 1924 the Pickett heirs purchased
from the estate OF Richard Adams. Jr.,
q piece OF ground adjoining the Adams
bnryipo-Croun to be used as place OF
interment for the Pickett family, and
here were buried, among others, Gen
eral William Lambert, at one time Mayor
OF Richmond, and the father and mother
of General George f. Pickett. In course
OF time the march of improvement
brought these two cemeteries into the
beart of the East End and they became
very much neglected. The heirs of each
family decided that it would be advisa-
bic to remove the remains, but this was
not a thing that could be done out OF
hand.
LEGISLATURE AND COURTS.
Nowhere else in this country, per-
haps, are burying-grounds so sacredly
held by law as in Virginia. In order to
accomplish their object the heirs had to
proceed both through the General AS
semblv and the courts. The Darlington
or Adams heirs took the initiative and
secured the passage by the Legislature
of an act providing for the removal OF
remains inferred in grave-yards and sale
OF lands vacated by such removal
This act, after directing that in order to
secure the removal of remains and sale
of the graveyard the owners or trustees
shall file bill in equity in the Circuit
Court OF the county or the Circuit or
Corporation Court of the corporation IN
which the graveyard may lie and obtain
an order Of court, makes the following
stringent provisions
CARE AND DECESCY.
"The court shall have power to have
the removal made and the remanI
properly deposited in another place, and
to make sale OF the grounds vacated by
the removal, and TO have tho costs OF
removal and reiAterment, including the
costs OF the new place OF interment and
of putting it in all respects in suitable
condition and erecting upon 1t suitable
memorials and cost Of such, paid
out of tho proceeds OF the sale.
Such removal shall be done with
due care and decency. But the court
shall not order such removal and rein
torment until due and sufficient guaran-
tee be given it that the proceeds OF sale
OF the grounds proposed TO be sold will
be sufficient to meet all the costs that
may be incurred, unless some party OF
the cause or other person shall give Sc
curity to make good any deficit"
FRIENDLY SUIT.
In accordance with the requirements
of the act the heirs then instituted n
friendly suit in the Chancery Court OF
the city OF Richmond and got the neces-
sary permission for the removal In the
Adams or Darlington burying-ground
their we're fifty-eight bodies, and upon
their removal to Hollywood they were
reinterred with religious ceremo-
MES. The act OF the Legislature
was a general one, opening the way
for all such cases, and therefore the
Pickett heirs made up a similar case in
court to thai of the Darlington heirs,
and also obtained permission for re-
moval. There were in the Pickett bury
ing-ground eighteen bodies, which have
been paced in the receiving-yault at
Hollywood for the present.
VAULT TO BE BUILT.
II is proposed to build in Hollywood
Pickett vault, and then RENTER the re-
mains with simple burial services The
tombstones removed from the old grave
yard will be used to cap the vault
General Lambert, as above stated.
was Mayor of the city. He was also
militia general and quite character
during his day. He was buried in an
iron casket, and although the interment
took place over forty years ago, it is
said that those who knew him in life
would now recognize him. The body
is in what is known as On adipocerous
condition. The eyes have sunk. but the
skin and hair are very natural. The
other cofiins had to be handled with
great care.
Crimes and Casualties,