The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-01-29


IT, our prosperity we are apt TO forget
the debts we owe to those who carved
our State ont of the wilderness. These
stones which have perpetuated mere
ly the names of a man and a woman
who contr, buted to their country the
greatest gift within mans power were
fallen on the ground; the graves over
run with weeds and vines, and no
man reverenced the memory of the
departed enough TO save from destruc-
ton their last earthly abode. The
sight Of such q relic impeaches us
with gross ingratitude
Not many months ago ii was my
good fortune to make short trip to
Edenton, and my misfortune to be
able to spend one day only there.
Edenton is of course rich in historical
memories and relics. There is no rea-
son TO hold the imagination in check
here where was made so much of the
history of the State. Everywhere you
turn you see some memento of some
historic event or Of some historic per-
sonage. OF those who made the
Colonial period of the States history
interesting one thinks OF Charles Eden,
whose memory is perpetuated in the
name of the pretty town; Of Edward
Teach the famous BLACK Beard"
with whom Eden was accused of too
much intimacy; OF Henderson Walker,
President of the Council during
whose Administration, as one may
read on his tombstone, "the Province
enjoyed that tranquility which it is to
ward MOseley, about whom Mr.
George DAVIS said: "Of all men who
watched and guarded the lettering
footsteps OF cur infant state there
was not one who, in intellectual abili-
ty, in solid and polite learning. in
scholarly cultivation and refinement.
In courage and endurance, in high
Christian morality, in generous con-
| sideration for thc welfare of others
| in all the true merit, in fine, which
makes q man among men, would equal
Edward Moseley"; one thinks, too of
Gary and Hyde, Of Porter and Bur-
rlngton, of Ashe and Gale, and of
score of others whose deeds made that
period of our history read like rO-
nance. OF the Revolutionary period
one thinks Of old John IIawey the
bulwark of North Cardinals liberty
! against which royal governors dashed
| II vain of Samuel Johnston aristo-
! Cr2t of ariStocrats IN tates and Gull
| ture, but the tirmcst of patriots in
! the cause of freedom: of Joseph
| IIewes. signer of the Declaration of
| Independence; of James Iredell, whose
| essays or the theories and principles
| vi government WRuIu nave DG1ti dtl
honor to Madison or Hamilton, and,
whose brilliant debates in the cQnsji
tutional convention of 1888 won for
him the commentator of Washington
! and an appointment to the Supreme
Court of the United States.
But if 1 do not call a halt or these
memories / shall not get to the grave
! yard, which, it will be remembered.
! is our destination, in more ways than
tfl tit1an IN
quite different from the unkept rest
ing place of Squire Boone and h
| faithful consort. We come to st.
| Paul's church-yard. The first object
TO strike the attention is the church.
This building begun in 1886 is still in
use and as Bishop Cheshire writes
! remains the most ad nlirsEble example
We have OF our Colon. al architecture.
| and . stately ana becoming temple Of
Christian Worship" (Historic Gowns
of the Southern States. ID. 226),. | re-
| gret that | can not give an accurate
description of this connecing-iilie
/ which brings the spast in such close
communion with the. present and OF
its interesting Surroundings. My visit
| was made under the searching rays of
midday sun in August after L long
morning ride, aud, for lack of time,
1 Was compelled to take but a fleeting
glance at the place.
soon after passing through the
church-ylrd gate one comes to an IN
t. resting group of tombs. The stones
are large, slabs. laid fiat. and, on the
day OF my visit. were hot enough from
! thp suns RAYS to remind one of some
| less sacred place. On the first of these
with some difficulty 1 made out TO read
the following inscription:
Here Iyes Tho BODY of Nadm
ANNE MOSELEY
Wife OF EDWARD MOSELEY Esq
She Was the daughter OF Major
ALEXANDER LILLINGTON Esq,
and the Widow Of the HONBLE
ENDERSON WALKER Esq. Late
President of His MaiestycS Council Of
North Carolina.
She Departed This Life
November 10 Ammo D0my 1892
Age 50 Years * months.'
She was AN accomplished woman.
well worthy TO be the daughter of
her distinguished father, and 10 share
the names and homes of two such
pioneer-heroes as Henderson Walker
and Edward MoScley.
The body of her first husband Hen
derson Walker, lies next to her. On
his tomb stone one may Pead;-
Here Lycs inferred the (body 0f)
HENDERSON WALKER ESQ.
Pr(esidcuO (of Dhc Council and
commandments (Chief OF
(N) orth Carolina During W (hOSc)
90 administration the Providence En-
jOScd o. hat Tranquility which il is TO
nc wished ii may (ncvcr want
lie departed tOiS) 0ifc)
April 18th 1904
Age Al Years
"On the North Side Of this tomb
iycs th(e) (body) Of George Ellington
son OF Major
NcXandcr Ellington Who Died in
Inc Is yca(r) (of)
His Age Ammo 1906
The part Of the inscription enclosed
in parenthcseS l could not make out
on the stone, and fill in the missing
words and letters from WhCelec's
History Of North Carolina. The tombS.
with their contents, as q, sentence in
modern lettering on the stones tell
us. were removed from M. Moselcy
or Hamiblow's Point to Edenton July
II 1883.
Next to them lies the body of Charles
Eden, whose name was given To the
beautiful town. The Inscription reads
as follows:
Here Lyes Y Body of CHARLES
IgDEFN ITGu IVbn (.n,aVu..I 'IV,;., Is,.<,