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Home : Quarterly Archives : Volume 5 |
Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society |
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Source: 1942 Volume 5 Number 1, Pages 13–24 The Great Valley Baptist Cemetery It is recorded that on April 22nd, 1711 (Old Style), the Welsh Baptists of Tredyffrin and adjoining townships formed a church organization which was admitted to the Association in September of the same year, and, since the increase in numbers chiefly by emigrants from Wales made it inconvenient to hold their meetings in private houses, they determined to secure land for a meetinghouse and graveyard. They selected a site on the northern slope of the South Valley Hills overlooking the beautiful Duffryn Mawr (Great Valley) at the head of the rock-ribbed, forest-clad ravine through which ran a little stream which they called Nant yr Ewig (Doe Run). Here they purchased a small parcel of land, one-half acre, from David John. Later an additional tract of two acres was donated by William George. These two tracts comprise the old burying ground and apparently, from the number of unmarked graves and the more ancient of the marked graves, the interments were in long rows parallel with the Old Welsh Line or Baptist Road. Here, the last resting place of so many of the earliest settlers and their families were probably marked at a much later date than indicated upon the tombstones, since the inscriptions are all in English and the earliest date of death recorded appears to be in 1732. Many received epitaphs in good, bad, or indifferent verse, some of which were copied verbatim from earlier Old World tombstones or variants of same. Others are scraps from hymns, quotations from the Scripture, or occasionally original compositions. There may have been a nascent poet in the Davis clan. It is not pertinent to the matter at hand to explain the methods employed to bring out the almost obliterated inscriptions, but it is deemed worthwhile to preserve as many of the quaint verses as it is possible to decipher, also the occasional valuable notes of a biographical nature. In the original part of this dear old graveyard there are a number of the now obsolete type of altar-tombs, and a few monumental shafts of the monolithic type, but the common form is of the perishable limestone or marble slab, head and foot stones. Emphatically, ostentation in sculpture was not a foible of our forebears. On the older stones the conventional "In Memory of" or "Sacred to the Memory of" precedes the name of the deceased, and "Departed this life" follow it. Doubtless every one of our local cemeteries possesses peculiarities all its own, yet all the most ancient have in common an intangible reminder of the unceasing daily toil at a time when the study of the Bible was at once the chief comfort and recreation of the settlers. The people of Cymric origin were never considered natural pioneers. The labor of subduing a virgin soil was almost, though not quite, too much for their strength and fortitude, and if it was hard upon the men it was doubly hard upon the women, of whom it may be said that the evidence reveals too often that a second wife was required to bring up a family. Clanish, voluble, bustling and lovable though they were, the Welsh did not take kindly to strenuous manual labor. The early period was that of a spiritual awakening. A close observer may well be impressed by the frequency of the words tooled upon the tombs expressive of repose or synonymous for "rest", rest from pain, sorrow, and labor, the keynote or controlling thought of many a weary traveler in his longing for a happier sphere where there is eternal freedom from earthly toil and care.
Altar-tomb As time advances, there appear less and less of the militant, admonitory, or triumphant verse, until the inscriptions on family monuments of lasting granite record only the names of the departed with the dates of birth and death. There was, of course, a preponderance of Welsh names in the early days and the Davis clan easily loads with over a hundred names, followed by the Jones family. Then, as the years roll by, there is an admixture of English, French- Huguenot, Scotch, Scotch-Irish, and German names, also a marked grave, to which the Meeting contributed, of an ancient, almost centenarian, Negro woman. In the interments, beside those already mentioned, the Bartholomew, Cleaver, Beaver, Pugh, Moore, Abraham, Bittle, Evans, Rees, Cornog, Kauffman, Hughes, Dewees, Laurence (and Lawrence), Warner, Philips (and Phillips), Griffith, Latch, George, Fenimore, Leamy, Campbell, Brown, and Potter families occur in about the order named. Mary and John easily lead in given names, with Sarah and Ann (including Anna and Annie), William and Thomas, next in popularity. Then follow Elizabeth, Caroline, Eliza, Margaret, Hannah, Jane, Rachel, and Samuel, George, David, Charles, James, and Joseph. To those who imagine that the appended records are dry reading, we bespeak an awakening to their educational value. Historically they proclaim the deeply religious and emotional nature of a sect developing this section; genealogically their close kinship to one another through intermarriage; while interspersed there are valuable biographical matter and much folklore in the epitaphs. (Some of the Bible quotations we have reduced to book, chapter, and verse). Indeed a survey of the graveyards supply the background for local history and is absolutely essential for identification and authentication of individuals. ALPHABETICAL LIST OF MARKED INTERMENTS
ABRAHAM, Deacon Daniel. 1/11/1781 - 11/30/1861; aged 80/10/19. (Altar-tomb). ACHUFF, Marvine. (s. Plummer) d. 12/19/1911; aged 26/4/4. "Our Son"
ANDES, David, Jr. Co. G, 21st Pa. Cav. (G. A. R. flag). ARMSTRONG, Irvine. 1849 - 1930. BAILY, Mary M. M.D. ; 10/3/1810 - 6/24/1865. (Joint stone with Joshua & Eliza Evans).
BAKER, Calvin E. d. 2/16/1921; 21st year. BALDWIN, Helen. 1897 - 1934. "Daughter" BANES, Sarah, wife John M., 5/1/1829 - 8/21/1858. "Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord for they rest from their labors."
BARBER, Benj. son Wm. & Eliza, d. 6/30/1840; 1 y. 17 d. BASER, Betsey, d. 6/21/1771; aged 51 years.
BARGEE, Effie L. Mayer. 1892 - 1938. BARNES, Louise Prank. 9/12/1862 - 10/26/1894. BABNET, Lydia S. d. 3/2/1887; aged 55 years. (Cf. Rev. 14:13).
BARRY, Sarah, wife James, d. 9/7/1820; aged 70th year. BARSBY, Phoebe Godber. wife Samuel, 1829 - 1915. BARTHOLOMEW, Ann. d. 4/20/1766; aged 36 years. "Here I'm doom'd with my shade Till in the silent grave In hope with them shall rise And endless mercy have."
Benjamin, d. 11/18/1784; 60 year. "At the earliest period of the Revolutionary War, he left his plough and with a heart glowing with patriotism he served a seven years' war in defence of his country headed by the gallant Wayne and after receiving many wounds gaining much honor and seeing his country free returned to his plough again. He died on his own fertile and well cultivated farm. Lamented by his relatives & friends And sincerely regretted By his neighbors. His remains Are here deposited."
(Monument, D. A. R. "the kind and Beloved partner of his life who died some days before him in the 19th year of her Age and whose remains are also here interred. Heaven gives Friends to bless the present scene Presume to prepare for the next."
Hannah. dau. Joseph & Elizabeth, d. 1/1/1824; aged 9/8/10. "He was the kind husband, the affectionate parent, the invariable friend, the firm Patriot, and honorable in all his dealings. His Masonic brethren of whose institution he was an ornamental member lamenting his removal from earth anticipating with others a re-union thro the mercy of the great Master Builder. In this Lodge which is durable and Celestial." (Altar-tomb, flags D. A. R. & Sons Am. Rev.)
John. 12/12/1789 - 5/11/1871. "Remember man as thou pass by As thou art now so once was I As I am now so must thou be Therefore think on eternity"
Joseph. d. 2/11/1818; 68th year.
"0 say thou much loved Dear departed Shade
Lydia Cleaver. wife John, 9/24/1798 - 8/27/1882. BATT, Daniel. d. 12/3/1870; aged 67 years. "All within this home are lonely Everyone is sad today For the one we loved so dearly Has forever passed away."
BAUMGARD, John C. 1856 - 1917.
BEATTY, Andrew H. 5/31/1834 - 7/20/1925. (G. A. R. flag) "Father"
BEAVER, Catherine, wife Charles, 9/24/1820 - 4/13/1872. "Asleep in Jesus' blessed sleep From which none ever wake to weep."
Jerome A. 11/15/1838 - 3/19/1897.
"My parents dear weep not for me
Sarah Ann. wife Charles, 1831 - 1904.
BEAUMONT, Anna M. dau. Rush & Martha, d. 5/15/--; aged 1/6/3. BENNETT, Jennie. 3/17/1843 - 5/16/1916. BESSONETT, Emma. 1/14/1850 - 2/18/1906. BEWLEY, Abigail. relict John. d. 4/25/1803; aged 78 years.
"Epitaph: The prayer is seel'd the soul is fled George, d. 12/24/1798; 59th year. "With heavenly weapons he hath fought The battle of the Lord Finish'd his course, and kept the faith And gain'd the great reward, God hath laid up in Heaven for him A crown which cannot fade, The Righteous Judge at that great day Shall place it on his head." Hannah. wife Isaac, d. 3/6/1798. "This languishing head is at rest, Its thinking & aching are o'er This quiet immovable breath Is heard by affliction no more This heart is no longer the Seat Of trouble & torturing pain It ceases to Flutter & beat It never Shall Flutter again The Lids she so Seldom could close By pain forbidden to Sleep Sealed up in Eternal repose Have strangely forgotten to weep The Fountains can yield no Suplies These bellows from water are free The tears are all wip'd from her eyes And sorrow they never shall see." John. d. 1/2/1799; aged 57th year. "Why do you mourn departed friends Or shake at Death's alarm Tis but the voice that Jesus Sends to call us to his arms Why should you tremble to convey my body to the tomb There the dear flesh of Jesus lay And left a long perfume The graves of all the saints he blest And soft'ned every bed Where should the living members rest But with the dying head My dear Redeemer is above Him I have gone to see And all my friends in Christ below shall soon come after me." BIERGENTS, Bloomfield. son Bloomfield & Mary, d. 9/14/1913; aged 11 days.
BISHOP, Samuel G. d. 6/13/1900; aged 65 years. Acting Masters' Mate, U. S. M.
BITTLE, A. McKinny. 1848 - 1854.
BLACK, Mary J. wife John R., 4/3/1834 - 5/6/1905. BLOOM, Lizzie W. 7/30/1839 ~ 9/4/1907. BONHAM, H. Emma. 11th year. "A Mother's Tribute - Asleep in Jesus" BOOTH, Anna E. d. 11/6/1871; aged 16/2/1,
"Home is sad without thee darling Thy sweet voice is heard no more
BOWEN, Abijah H. d. 8/7/1858.
BOWMAN, Eliza Kauffman. wife Jonas & dau. Henry Kauffman, 12/6/1829 - 11/10/1865. BOYD, John G. d, 2/17/1842; 33rd year. BROOKS, Sarah. d. 3/13/1839; 69th year.
BROWER, Catherine. wife Frank, 1822 - 1894.
BROWN, Anna T. wife James F., 3/25/1325 - 12/23/1880. "Pastor 1845 - 1854 Great Valley Baptist Church. Pastor also in Gainsville, Ala., Scotch Plains, Bridgeton, Stelton, N. J., and Tunkhannock, Pa. A good minister of Jesus Christ."
(Granite shaft) "Behold the bed of death The pale and mortal clay Heard the sob of parting breath Marked ye the eyes last ray No life so sweetly ceased to be It lapsed in immortality." Rev. Thomas. b. Newark, N. J., 11/1/1779, d. 1/17/1831. "He was ordained to the Gospel Ministry Anno Domini 1806. Was pastor of the Church at Salem, three years, and entered on the pastoral charge of this Church in Nov. A.D. 1808. He left a wife and nine children to mourn their irreparable loss and also a deeply afflicted Church who in testimony of their high esteem, have placed this stone to his memory. The righteous shall be in everlasting rememberance. Stay: Stranger, stay and shed a tear Where many a load has flowed A man of worth lies here A holyman of God."
(Altar-tomb, flag) "who was born in Africa, brought to America in the slaveship Ganges, and sold into slavery to pay her passage, and died April 18th, 1872, aged nearly 100 years. Erected by the Great Valley Baptist Church. Faithful onto death."
BURROUGH, Edward B. 9/30/1833 - 11/15/1932. (Compass & Square, G. A. R. flag)
BUSTIGE, Kate. b. Edinboro, Scotland; d. Devon, Pa., 5/25/1899; aged 54 years. CAGENE, Isaac, d. 9/22/1805; aged 32 years.
CAMPBELL, Archibold. A native of Ireland, d. 4/27/1829; aged 26/3/27.
"A loving wife, a mother dear John. d. 4/15/1856; 72nd year. "He shall not be afraid of evil tidings his heart fixed trusting in the Lord."
Maria. wife John, d. 2/23/1827; 44th year.
"She died in Jesus and is blest
Thomas. d, 6/28/1896; aged 86 years. CARR, Rush B. d. 7/11/1867; aged 22 years. "A dutiful son and affectionate brother another of our nation's defenders added to our list of patriotic dead who enlisted in the dark days of 1862 in the 119th Regt, Pa. Vols. was banded with the gallant 6th corps the noble army of the Potomic (sic) served three years was permitted to return and enjoy for a brief period the pleasure of home and friends when he was stricken down reminding us that are left behind that in the midst of life we are in death." (G. A. R. flag). CASSON, Sarah E. 1929 - 1931.
CLEAVER, Eliza A. dau. Hiram & Jane A., 1835 - 1836.
CHATTIN, Annie F. wife John M., 1861 - 1916. CHILDS, Anna Warner. wife Jos. H., Jr., 1870 - 1933. CLARK, Lenora M. 1873 - 1922.
CLEMSON, Elizabeth J. 3/29/1800 - 12/10/1892.
CLINGER, Jacob. d. 12/l/l840; aged 27/3/0. (John 5:29) "The deceased was a member of Co. F, 82nd Regt. P. V. was wounded on picket duty in front of Richmond, Va., June 26th, and died at Brooklyn City Hospital of Typhoid Fever." (Flag Mont. Co. '6l)
COLEHOWER, Eliza Jones, wife Henry G., 4/16/1824 - 2/4/1885. COMPTON, Our Emma. dau. A. G. & Rebecca. COOKE, Harry M. 1845 - 1919. CORFIELD, Adam. A native of England, d. 9/17/1826; aged 58 years. CORNOG, Abner, Sr. d. 8/23/1856; aged 73rd year. Abraham, d. 10/15/1902; 65 years,
"See How He treads the courts Above
Our Little Anna B. d. 10/9/1861. "When Christ his Judgment seat ascends and Bids The World Appear Thrones are prepared for All His friends Who Humbly Loved Him here."
David, d. 4/24/1780; aged 87 years.
"Her mind was tranquil and serene
Margaret, wife Thomas. d. 7/5/1811; aged 76 years.
"Midst rising winds and beating storms Reclinging (sic) on thy breast Sarah, wife Daniel, d. 9/27/1827; 84th year.
"Holy Jesus, God of love Thomas, d. 8/20/1790; 64th year. CORY, Prt. Richard J. 1887 - 1935. U. S. M. C. World War. (Flag)
COX, Frances R. Campbell, wife William, d. 2/8/1804; 80th year.
CREWE, Frances Ellen. dau. Samuel & Emma, d. 5/1864; aged 17 years. "With Jesus"
CROSLEY, Dorothy. dau. Wm. R. & Katie B., d. 7/23/1909; 12 years. CROZIER, Margaret. d. 4/9/1866; 79th year.
"Dear mother rest Thy work is done
CURLL, James. d. 8/29/1797; aged 19 years. CUTLER, Levi. 1842 - 1902. Co. G, 138 Regt. P. V. (G. A. R. flag). DANIEL, Mary Caroline. 2/25/1335 - 4/8/1863, "He giveth his "beloved sleep" DANNAKER, Mary B. wife Levi, 1847 - 1881.
DAVID, John. d. 7/17/1756; aged 58 years.
DAVIS, Abigail. dau. Elijah & Elizabeth, d. 5/31/1815; aged 52nd year.
"Dear lovely babe safe landed on that shore
Benjamin. son Wm. & Sarah, d. 12/3/1845; aged 32 years. (Matt. 24:44)
"So fades the lovely blooming flower
Charles M. 1882 - 1939.
"Dear friends for me pray do not weep
Eliza. wife Job, d. 4/20/1810; aged 52/6/4.
"This was a lovely flower upon a slender spray
George. d. 11/5/1865; aged. 44/4/22.
"My body now from pain Released within the peaceful Grave
James. d. 10/22/1852; aged 68/8/13. "Father peace be thine"
"Time hasten on the hour The Just shall wake and sing
John, son Benj. & Ra., d. 8/26/1755; aged 2/7.
"Forty-six Tears with pleasure to serve John. son John & Margaret, d. 4/30/1833; aged 1/3/22.
"Grieve not my friend thy lovely babe is past the sense of pain
John. son Deacon Davis, d. 7/17/1812; aged 24 years. (To Be Continued) |
