Hopewell Methodist Church Cemetery Port Deposit, Cecil Co., MD Partial Transcription This file is part of the MD Tombstone Transcription Project http://www.usgwtombstones.org/maryland/maryland.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Made available to The USGENWEB Archives by: David H. Jones (david@davidhjones.net) Photographic transcription can be found at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/md/cecil/tsimages/hopewell/touchstone.html To contribute additional information or a tombstone transcription, please contact the MD Tombstone Transcription Project Manager at mdcemmy@yahoo.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NAME BIRTH DEATH INSCRIPTION/NOTES/SHARES STONE ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOUCHSTONE, James 11 Oct 1821 14 Dec 1872 A Blacksmith by trade, served as 1st Lt. & Quartermaster of the 6th Regiment of MD Infantry during the Civil War & later two terms as a member of the Maryland Legislature / Wife Virginia ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOUCHSTONE, Virginia Ann 11 Nov 1828 20 Dec 1905 Nee: OWENS / Husband James ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOUCHSTONE, Claude 17 Nov 1867 30 Apr 1868 Son of James & Virginia / Minnie ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOUCHSTONE, Minnie 02 Dec 1865 11 Sep 1868 Daughter of James & Virginia / Claude ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOUCHSTONE, Hazlett Owens 22 Aug 1850 12 Apr 1878 Died when struck by a log that broke loose from a pile awaiting shipment in Port Deposit / Son of James & Virginia / Amelia & Ella ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOUCHSTONE, Amelia Caroline 13 Jul 1853 05 Mar 1857 Daughter of James & Virginia / Ella & Hazlett ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOUCHSTONE, Ella Virginia 03 Jan 1855 08 Mar 1857 Daughter of James & Virginia / Amelia & Hazlett ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amelia and Ella died as the result of a sad set of circumstances that occurred during the harsh winter of 1857. The Susquehanna River, prior to the construction of the Conowingo Dam, was frequently plagued by ice gorges that jammed piles of ice and caused flood waters to intrude into the streets of Port Deposit. In fact, for this reason the home built by James Touchstone in Port Deposit allowed flood waters to flow through a first floor designed only for storage; the living quarters were situated on the second and third floors. When an ice gorge in early March of 1857 caused the streets to be severely flooded, Amelia Caroline happened to be sick with the measles. Apparently there was anxiety that flood waters might reach the living quarters on the upper floors, so the children were rowed to higher ground. The exposure from this ordeal caused the deaths of little Amelia Caroline on March 5, 1857 and little Ella Virginia on March 8, 1857. The next child born to James and Virginia was named Ella Caroline in memory of the two little sisters who died before her birth. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * USGENWEB NOTICE: All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities, when written permission is obtained from the contributor, so long as all notices and submitter information are included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. Last updated: 8/29/2004