The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-11-01
GRAVE OF POE's
MOTHER FOUND
Unmarked Corner OF St. John S
Church Grounds Shelters
Body of Actress.
WORK OF RAVEN SOCIETY
After Months of Investigation S.
P. Cowardin, IT,, Clears
Up Mystery.

After more than a year or d1leent
investigation on the part OF s. p. CO.
wardin. Jr.. the Raven Society OF the
University Of Virginia has at last sue
ceeded In locating at least approx
mately the grave Of Elizabeth Arnold
Poe. mother Of Edgar Allan Poe. As
definitely as can be ascertained, her
body rests in the graveyard OF old
st. Johns Church in Richmond. some
where in the corner bounded by Broad
and Twenty-fifth Streets.
The search for the unknown and
unmarked grave Of the poets mother
was instituted by the Raven Society
in order that some memorial might
be placed over the spot. should 1t be
finally located. A fund for q monu-
ment has already been raised by this
society. and it is the hope of the Raven
Society to interest Paul w. Bartlett.
signed the Lafayette monument in
Paris. In the scheme and to obtain his
service for the memorial.
1t is understood that Mr.. Bartlett
is very keenly interested in Poe and
the mystery OF his mothers last rest
ing place. and national character
would be given to the monument could
his skill he had to design it. The
funds at the disposal of the committee.
which is headed by S. p. Cowardin. Jr..
are rather limited. and Mr.. Bartlett s
services could not be obtained unless
the artist cares to take up the idea
from sentimental reasons.
Buried by Scotchmen.
Not only had the ravages Of time
destroyed whatever mark that was
placed over the grave Of Elizabeth
Allan Poe On her burial, but even the
simple mound of earth over her body
had washed level with the sod in the
course OF years. She was an actress
and in those days to be an actress was
to incur the eternal wrath of the
church. so when she died, and a plo,
in the cemetery was sought for hei
last resting place. opposition from st
Johns vestry was Immediately en-
countered.
At the time of ter death she was ir
dire poverty, alone in the world ex'
cept for her brilliant but erratic son
and the expenses Of her funeral were
borne by two kind friends. ScotchmeI
BY the names of Allan and Mckenzie
| the former of whom reared Edgar Al
i Ian Poe, her son. These two men, turn
| ed down by ST. Johns vestry. at las
! succeeded in obtaining a CONCESSION
| from the city, which owned lars'
! section Of St. Johns burying ground
and inferred the actresses body there
i When Mr.. Cowardin began his In
I yestigations to discover the location o
her grave. practically the only autLen
tic data at his hands was an old letter
embodied in Mrs. WEISS Life OF 70
/ gar Allan Poe which states that tn'
| noet's mother was buried by the wv
j scotch gentlemen close to the east wal
Of st. Johns burying ground. fur.he
than that there was no reiiaoie ihioi
nation to be had. either in old manu-
scripts or books. This bit OF data wa
only TOO vague. as Mr.. Cowaroih ioua'
when he sought out the SITE ana az.
tempted to find the eaxct spot "n ,;,,,
her body rests. BY a process OF s snm
ination, he gradually narrowed rars o 70
~ nossible location Of her grave - :.
.nd,ps Of approximately thirty feet ~ ~
the corner of the sra " nraas d0'a ant
~, the Intersection OF el'aa nro
Tvsntv-nfth Streets, and 80 i,
s.a that the monument De pi"
~ centre of this circle.