Friends Burial Ground News Article, Chester, Delaware Co., Pennsylvania Contributed to the USGenWeb Archives by Cyndie Enfinger Copyright. All Rights Reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ********************************************************* Chester Times Monday, November 13, 1882, Page 3 A VENERABLE BURIAL GROUND. The Resting Place of many Long Since Gone to their Reward. Hundreds of people daily pass the old grave yard on Edgmont avenue just above the Beale House, and very few probably ever give a thought to the fact that the forms of many distinguished men lie buried there. The grounds are hidden from sight by the high stone wall surround them save the glimpse the passer by gets through the bars of iron gates at the entrance. Though separated from the "maddening mob's ignoble strife," yet at one time the men who lie in the sunken graves of this venerable republic of the dead took a very active part in the daily scenes of life. It is the most ancient memorial of early times in the city, yet there is a large number of people of this city who have never trod its patriarchal sods. No costly pile marks the spot where the bones of these distinguished men and godly women repose, but true to the principles and traditions of the Friends, simple tablets mark the graves and place all on the equality which death's dictum decrees. The grounds receive but little attention, and the tangled grass and unchecked vines give to the place a charm not possessed by the presence of expensive mausoleums or carefully kept swards. Among the men who are buried there are Henry Hale Graham, who was appointed President Judge of this district, but who died in 1790, while a delegate to the convention that framed the first constitution of the States. He died however before taking his seat on the bench. David Bevan, who fought gallantly in the Revolution; John Salkeld, a noted Friends' preacher; David Lloyd, Chief Justice of Province of Pennsylvania from 1717 to 1731; Caleb Copeland, an Associate Judge of the Supreme Court; Dr. Preston, the founder of Preston's retreat in Philadelphia. Many of the graves are unmarked, but a number of the oldest have tombstones colored by age and worn by storms of over a century. To the left of the centre under a cedar tree keeping silent vigil of the resting place of John Mather, who died November 12, 1768, over 114 years ago. On the opposite side of the grounds a tombstone blue with age contains the inscription, "in memory of Thomas B. Dick, Esq., who departed this life the 21st day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and eleven." Among the others buried in the last century are Ann Bevan, February 18, 1758; Aubray Bevan, February 12, 1761; David Lloyd, 1731; William Graham, 1658, Caleb Copeland, 1757; Mary Parker, 1731; Joseph Parker, 1766. Some of the inscriptions are barely distinguishable, while others can readily be deciphered. On one tablet the following engraved; "Here lieth the body of Grace Lloyd, who departed this life the 19th day of the fifth mo., Anno Domini 1760, aged about 80 years." Quite a number of graves of a recent date are in the grounds, but the major portion of the population of this city of the dead have lain in their last earthly resting place for years. This file is located at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/delaware/cemeteries/friendsedgmont.txt