ALEXANDRIA, VA - CEMETERIES – Saint Mary’s Catholic Cemetery ----¤¤¤---- Source: Library of Virginia Digital Collection LVA Titled Files: Survey Report, Saint Mary’s Catholic Cemetery: 1937 June 28 Research made by Virginia Daingerfield Cemetery Location: .5 mile from the City Post Office, Alexandria, Virginia, three squares east of Route #1 at the extreme end of Franklin Street. Alexandria This cemetery has been modernized through the donation of an old citizen of Alexandria, and yet it retains its old time spiritual atmosphere that does not exist in very new burial grounds. Upon leaving this lovely resting place, the city of the dead, one feels that naught of evil would delight to walk in such a scene with the glimpses of the calm Potomac River through the branches of the old trees and the soft murmur of the river whose waves touch the sloping ground and numerous birds warbling their requiem to the dead, for never being disturbed by man they have made this place a rendezvous. Many of the tombstones hear strange and laughable epitaphs. The one to the memory of Cavin Boa is chiseled in the old English script. It is yellow and weather beaten, the scroll at one side is broken, yet the inscription is perfectly preserved. It reads: “All you that come my grave to see Prepare yourselves to follow me, Repent and turn to God in time For I was taken in my prime”. One would think this cemetery to be far from the traffic of life, but it is not, it extends from the extreme end of Franklin Street to a dirt road besides the Mount Vernon Boulevard, and three squares east of Route #1. Saint Mary’s Catholic Cemetery was founded in 1795, and is considered one of the most historic cemeteries of the many in the city. The stone commemorating the erection of the first Catholic Church in Virginia was taken from the canal of the Potomac Company of which George Washington and John Fitzgerald were directors. The three trees to the north of this stone have been dedicated to General Washington and John Fitzgerald, the collectors for the building fund for this church and cemetery. Robert Hooe Mayor of Alexandria gave one acre of land for the cemetery, and in late years a citizen of Alexandria, though not of the Catholic faith, donated most generously towards its upkeep. The record shows that Cavin Boa was one of the honored barbers who had the privilege of shaving General Washington, and died at the age of twenty nine. ___________________________________________________________________ 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. ___________________________________________________________________