ALEXANDRIA, VA - CEMETERIES – Old Presbyterian Church Graveyard ----¤¤¤---- Source: Library of Virginia Digital Collection LVA Titled Files: Survey Report, The churchyard of the old Presbyterian Church: 1938 Feb. 18 Research made by Virginia Daingerfield Cemetery Location: South Fairfax Street, west side, between Duke and Wolfe Streets, Alexandria, Virginia. Alexandria The burying-ground is in the rear of the historical Presbyterian Church or “Meeting House” consists of about one acre of land forming a triangle on each side of the church like a pew aisle. The entrance of iron is on the west side on Royal street, around the church is a seven foot brick wall erected by the Sons of the Revolution throughout the nation under the direction of a Committee of the District of Columbia in 1932. The walls separate the grounds from the oldest Catholic Church in Alexandria on the north and St. Mary’s Hall on the south, established A.D. 1858. Though the graveyard has a quaintly old-time atmosphere it is devoid of trees which are so strikingly beautiful in the Ivy Hill historical grounds. The years growth of vines that adorned the walls of the church which protects the burying grounds from the public view are being torn down and spring repairments seem on the way. Epitaphs and head stones show the elements and time have done their devastation. In the churchyard are buried thirty fellow masons of General Washington’s and many of these famous masons were members of the funeral lodge that conducted the funeral of Washington. Notable among these famous masons were Colonel Dennis Ramsey intimate friend of Washington who married his cousin Ann McCarthy and he was one of Washington’s pall bearers and Mayor of Alexandria in 1789, it was Dennis Ramsey who first addressed the general when he was first made president of the United States. Here lies Mrs. Phillip Marsteller wife of the only pallbearer of General Washington who was not a mason. One sees the stone of William Hunter, Deacon of Alexandria Washington Lodge in 1789, also one time mayor. Of especial interest is the physician and close friend of the Father of our Country Dr. James Craik, one of the most vividly outstanding figures in the Colonial and Revolutionary days. Dr. Craik was born in Scotland in 1730 and came to America in 1750. He was a surgeon in Washington’s first command and with him in the battle of Great Meadows in 1754, and in every other battle participated in by Washington. It was he who ministered to the dying British General Braddock after the fight at the field of Monongahala, and he was also at the death bed of John Custis, Mrs. Washington’s son. He dressed LaFayette’s wound at Brandywine. He ministered to George Washington when he passed into the great unknown, and he closed the eyes of Martha, his wife in her last illness. General Washington always referred to him as “My old friend Dr. Craik”. And here we see the stone of John Carlyle builder of the historical Carlyle House and of Christ Church. He was quarter-master of the ill-fated Braddock. His home was the Carlyle built in 1752, which served as Braddock’s headquarters. Buried in the old Presbyterian Meeting House grounds are many Revolutionary soldiers of distinction yet standing alone and honored by a permanent monument which was erected by members of the children of the American Revolution is the beautiful inscription written by Wm. Tyler Page, Author of America’s Creed reading as follows: “Here lies a soldier Hero of the Revolution whose identity is known only to God”. Captain Charles McKnight, commander of the last body of troops reviewed by General Washington was a noted soldier and veteran of the War of 1812, the Alexandria Independent Blues the last body of troops that were followed by General Washington before his death, two of the men were killed under Captain McKnight’s command in the War of 1812, Robert Allison and Samuel Bowen. In an unmarked grave, one of the Revolutionary soldiers who are buried here is said to be an ancestor of President McKinley, on the maternal side. John G. Powell, an Alexandria man of prominence who was chairman of the Reception Committee to LaFayette when he paid his last visit to America in 1825, and in 1824 was the honored guest of Alexandria, Mr. Powell who managed so well the memorable occasion is buried in the churchyard. And so we quote Omar’s well known lines so expressive a tribute, “Me thinks that never grew the rose so red as where some dying hero lies” (bled) ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Joan Renfrow NOTICE: I have no relationship or further information in regards to this family. ___________________________________________________________________