Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-24
CEMETERY YIELDS.
FORGOTTEN GRAVES.
AT GEORGETOWN U.
TombS of Stephen Decatur'S
Wife and First Mayors
Daughter Found.
BUILDING OPERATIONS
REVEAL BURIAL PLOTS
Fatal Duel of Commodore Is Re-
called by Inscription on Old
Stone Gross.

Building operations at Georgetown
University have brought to light an ole
abandoned cemetery nearby in which
rest the bSpies of many Of the Capitals
early residents, including those of the
widow OF Commodore Stephen Decatur
and of the daughter Of WashtnRton'l
first mayor, Robert Brent.
The long forgotten and vine-over-
grown resting place of these notables Is
on wooded knoll about 100 yard:
northwest of the new dormitory building
of Georgetown University-far from
dwellings and almost inaccessible.
Vaults Now Leaf-FiIIed.
Crumbling headstones are scattered
over the ground haphaZardly; great
slabs that once covered the graves OF
pioneer residents of old Georgetown
have been shifted aside, exposing leaf
filled vaults, and sections of twisted
ornamental fencing lie rusting on the
ground.
The grave Of Susan Decatur Is In bet.
ter condition than any Of the others
and close examination has disclosed thai
the stone monument was restored II
1904 by Decatur Parsons Of New Yorl
City, a grandnephew of Commodore
Decatur. In the restoration the ole
stone cross, with its inscription still In.
tact, was laid horizontally on q new
marble slab.
On the cross are carved the followins
words:
Sacred to the memory Of Susan De.
catur, widow Of the late Com. Stepher
Decatur, U. S. N, who departed this
life June 81, 1850"
Mrs. Decatur outlived by 40 years he,
famous husband, whose life was cut
short by bullet in a duel with fellow
naval officer, Commodore James Barron
The affair of honor" fought on the
notorious dueling ground near Bladens-
purg, attracted Nationwide attention
IL was the elimination of a controversy
which began when Decatur served on :
court-martial which convicted Barron
of ineff1ciency In connection with can.
ture OF his ship. the Chesapeake, By
H. M. S. Leopard of Norfolk in 1907.
Decatur Buried in Philadelphia,
Decatur died March %, 1920. a few
hours after bullet had entered his
abdomen. Mrs. Decatur suffered a near.
collapse from shock and was bitter tr
her denunciation of Commodore Barron
and Of another naval officer, whom she
accused Of precipitating the duel.
Decatur was buried in the cemetery
OF st. Peters Church, Philadelphia
but Mrs Decatur, for some unknown
reason, was inferred In the loca
cemetery.
The grave of Jane Brent, daughter Of
Mayor Brent, is in a sorry state OF
disarray. A venerable slab, about 4 bN
feet, Is tilted against the brick lined
tomb 1t formerly covered. The re-
mains, presumably, lie beneath a Gov
ering Of twigs, branches, weeds anc
dirt.
On the slab is inscribed: Sacred &c
the memory of Jane daughter of Rob-
ert Brent and Ann Maria Parnham
his wife, Of Charles Co., Md, Whc
departed this life the 9th of February
1888, aged So years"
Robert Brent was appointed the first
mayor OF Washington in 1902, serv.
ing until 1912.
Many of the fallen stones are moi
decipherable, but among the names
noted on some Of them are the fol
lowing:
Michael Grimmins, who died in 1857:
Mary w. Heron, died in 1872: Samuel
T. NAPLES, died 1928; Dennis O'Kava.
naugh, died 1859; William A. DeVine
died 1858; Samuel Burnham, died
1858; Patrick German, died 1876: Mrs
Margaretha Trautmann, died 1859;
Elizabeth Remington, died 1864; DR.
Henry King died 1866, and Hamilton
Loughborough, died 1865.