Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1900-08-30
The Catarina BeierIin Tombstone and
Dates.
CHARLESTON, w. VA,

Mr.. w. S. Laidley, of this city, in which
he claims that / was not warranted in
having the death date of 1907 put on the
new tombstone of Catarina Beierlin,
which |, acting for the West Virginia
Historical Society, recently had erected
near Duffields, in your county, replacing
the original, now in the possession and
keeping of the West Virginia Historical
Society.
Mr.. Laidley claims that the Historical
Society has never decided that 1907 is
the correct date. 1t is true that no for
NAL vote Of the society has ever been
polled to ascertain their opinions as to
the date, from the evidences presented.
1t has seemed so plain as not to be
deemed necessary but multitude of
competent and reliable witnesses, who
have known the stone and date from a
quarter to half century past, have
stated unequivocally that the date was
then, and to much later date, plain
and distinct, and was 1907.
Mr.. Laidley says he has examined the
matter and has satisfied himself that
1907 was not the true date, but does not
suggest the correct date. This conclu-
sion of Mr.. Laidley is not greatly sur
prising, when we remember that moth
ing is more common than for different
minds to arrive at different conclusions
from the same evidence; but if Mr.
Laidley has succeeded in convincing
any member of the Historical Society
beside himself, or anyone else who has
examined the evidence, that 1907 was
not the correct date on the stone, AS |
have assumed, have yet to hear of it,
was in your county some eighteen
months or more ago, and feeling a deep
interest in the reports Of the early dates
on this old tombstone, as giving evidence
of settlement of white people in that
region antedating any of which we have
any historical account, | made numer-
Gus inquiries of intelligent citizens as to
what was known about the stone and
the dates, and what was the general
concensus of recollection, belief and ira
dition about the age of the tombstone ;
and they, one and all, agreed that while
they knew nothing about the history Of
those who erected the stone, the death
date on it was 1907
The old gentleman who owns and re-
sides upon the farm where the stone
stood, writes me that he has known the
stone and the date FOR over SO years, and
has always understood the date TO be
1907. A tombstone cutter of Charles
town, few miles distant, says he has
known this stone for many years, and
has always understood the date to be
1907 Mr. Charles G. Scott, son of the
late Rev. Dr. John A. Scott, who was for
hat Of
Presbyterian church at Duflields, writes
me that he went with his father and
two elder brothers to the tombstone
about twenty-five years ago, when his
father made a careful transcript of the
inscription on the stone, and sent it to
expert linguists to have the German
stanza translated. He (Mr. Charles
Scott says he is positive that the death
date was 1907, but, wishing to establish
the fact by evidence of that date, he
wrote to his brother, now the Rev. DR..
John Scott, of Alabama, asking him TO
look over the old papers of his father
and see if he could not find some record
or memorandum relating to the copying
of the inscription on the tombstone.
Continuing, his letter says:
"And this mornings mail brings me
the original paper, with a copy, which
| send at once. There is not a particle
of doubt about the value of the stone ;
that first translation was made twenty
or twenty-five years ago, and my broth
er wrote that the death date was dis
tinct at that time. Even as late as sew
en- or eight years ago, it could be made
out, | understand.
REV. J. E. Triplett, Presbyterian
minister here (Duffields), Mr. J. B. o.
bourne, who lives on the djoining farm,
and my father, who was here for few
days visit, went together to see the
stone seven or eight years ago, and these
two gentlemen tell me that they could
make out the death date at that time.
1707 is the date that all around here
give. | have never heard anyone speak
of another date.
81 am told, here, that translation by
De Vane was published at the time
(25 years ago, perhaps) in the Baltimore
Sun and the Shepherdstown REGISTER. s"
Here follows the letter of the Rev.
John A. Scott to his brother Charles, at
Duffields
GAINESVILLE, ALA.
February, 3, 1900.
DEAR CHARLES After careful search
among fathers papers, have found
carefully prepared memorandum, in his
own handwriting, covering the question
that you ask me about-the dates on the
Beierlin stone. quote the words:
1.-THE monumental stone on Elk
Branch Creek, l40 yards from Mr.. James
B. OsbourneS, is red sandstone, the
same as the red sandstone found on San
dy ridge, two miles distant, easily cut
when first quarried, but grows very
scription in German words, English let
tiers:
Here lies Katrina Beierlin. Born
1856
Then follows a stanza of an old Ger
man hymn, which, translated by Prof.
f. S. McClelland, of Episcopal High
School, Va, and by Prof. Shele De We're
of the University of Virginia, is rem
dered: Jesus shall ravish my heart
with his love. For he is the light of my
eyes and my joy forever
"'Died CO 1907
This stone has been examined in the
past twenty-five years, to my knowledge,
by three intelligent parties, with agree
ment as to the foregoing inscription.
81 had the stone dug up and careful
ly cleaned in 1887, in the presence of
John A. Link S. E. Scott and Miss
Fout and we all made it out satisfac-
torily. There may be doubt as to wheth-
er she was born in 1856 or in 1854; the
figure is not perfect but there is no
doubt of the three figures |, 6, s. they
are perfectly preserved.
II enclose the original that you may
verify the correctness of my copying.
You will, however, return it to me at
once, for wish to keep it, You see
that Lyt can tell you what else is need
ed. With love, JOHN.
The doubt which DR.. Scott expressed
about the birth date Q6S6 or 1850 | sus-
pect arose from imperfect cleansing Of
the face of the stone, or want of proper
light or carefulness of observation.
L Al. - ~