FREDERICK COUNTY, VA - CEMETERIES – Old Opequon Cemetery
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Source: Library of Virginia Digital Collection


LVA Titled Files: Survey Report, Old Opecquon grave yard:
                  1936 Sept. 12
                  Research made by Robert G. VanMeter

Cemetery Location:  In the northeast corner of the Opecquon Church yard at 
                    Kernstown, Virginia.
                    Frederick County


DATE:

1742, date of oldest grave.

OWNERS:

The land was deeded in 1745 by William Hoge to David Vance, Joseph Colvill, 
Robert Willson, Robert Allen, William Reid, John Wilson, William Chambers, 
Thomas Marquis, David Vance, Gent. James Vance, Robert Smith, James Hoge Junr., 
Robert White, Wm. McMacheh, Gent. Samuel Glass, David Glass, of the Parish and 
County of Frederick to be used as a burying ground, together with timber 
sufficient from any part of the said Hoges land to repair the meeting house and 
to impale the two acres of land for a burying place.

DESCRIPTION:

The above grantees are not mentioned as trustees and the grave yard has been 
used by the people in the community but almost all the graves are of the 
Opecquon Presbyterian congregation.

It is not used at this time and is not in good condition.  The undergrowth is 
bad and some markers are down and many are sunk into the ground some distance.  
There are many rough stones marking graves with no inscriptions.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:

(Note: transcriptions exactly as written)

John Wilson
intered Here
The Bodys of
His 2 Childer &
Wife yd Mother


Mary Marcus
Who dyed Agst
The 4th 1742
AL ged 22 years
(on other side)
From
J R L AND
JU L y vith 1737
COy Argma
g. H.

The above inscription is taken from a rough time worn stone in the centre of the 
graveyard and was the first monument erected in the Valley of Virginia to mark 
the resting place of an emigrant.  The stone crumbled under the unskilled hands 
of the husband, who brought it from the hill side on the west and inscribed the 
letters himself as a memorial to his young wife.  Tradition says he was the 
school master.

On the side on which Ireland is chiseled, the pebbles in the stone, or his 
unsteady hand made large indentures and rendered the inscription almost 
illegible.  Here the stone has stood a monument of love and marked the grave of 
the early dead while the years have passed away. (Taken from Foote’s Sketches of 
Virginia.)


To the memory of
Samuel Glass
and his wife
Mary Gamble
Emigrants from Banbridge
County Down, Ireland
A.D. 1735
and
Their Children
John
Eliza
Sarah
David
Robert
Joseph
Were all born in Ireland
And came with them.


This Monument was erected by
The descendants of
Robert
and
Joseph
A.D. 1845
The righteous shall be held in
everlasting Remembrance.

Their Descendants
Are to found in
Virginia
Kentucky
Tennessee
Ohio &
Indiana
(The above inscriptions are on one monument)


Revd. Joseph Glass
Son of Joseph
and Grandson of Samuel the Emigrant
Died October 27th 1821
Aged 47 years
A man of Virgorous mind
and versatile talents


Here by the side of her parents
Rev. Joseph and Ann Glass
rests the body of
Eliza Wilson  Foote,
wife of Rev. William Henry Foote
born in Berkley Co. Jan. 2d, 1800
Died in Romney April 20th 1835
Her last Message to her friends
was Tell them I am not afraid to die
it is easy to die, for a christian to die.


Ann
Wife of Joseph Glass
daughter of John McAllister
born October 7th 1780
Died December 27th 1831
Lovely in life
Peaceful in death


Sarah  Ann
daughter of Revd. Joseph & Ann Glass
Born July 9th 1805
Died October 2nd 1837
Gifted in intellect beautiful in person,
a believer in Jesus.


James V. Glass
Departed this life
July 6th 1845
in his 70th year.


Here Interred the body of
Elizabeth Glass
the wife of James Glass
who departed this life
the 12th of October 1825
in the 40th year of her age


In Memory of
Elizabeth Glass
the wife of Robert D. Glass
who departed this life
the 30th of Sept. 1839
in the 51st year of her age


Isabella S. Glass
departed this life
November 11th 1837
in the 21st year of her age


James R. Glass
departed Sept. 4th 1825
aged 10 months and 14 days


Sacred to the memory of
Robert D. Glass
who was born December 12th 1771
and died December 12th 1844
Aged 73 years


In memory of
William Middleton
who was born in the year 1767
& died in 1832
aged 65 years


Here interred the body of
James D. Vance
who departed this life
Dec. 21 1816
in the 64th year of his age


In Memory of
Robert Vance
who departed this life
June the 29th 1834
in the 59th year of his Age


In Memory of
Mrs. Parmelia 
Consort of Wm. Middleton
who was born in the year 1773
& died in 1855
She was a member of
the Presbyterian Church
and died in full assurance
of a blissful immortality
beyond the grave.


Here intombed the body of
Elizabeth  Vance
Who died July 20th 1811
in the prime of life
Therefore be ye also ready
for in such an hour as ye think
not the Son of man cometh.


Here interred the body of
Gilkeson D. Vance
who departed this life
July 21st 1816
in the 18th year of his age


Sacred to the memory of
William Marquis
who departed this life
January 15th 1815
aged 66 years


Here interred the Body of
Sally Vance
who departed this life
March 28th 1816
in the 33rd year of her age


Sacred to the memory of
Elizabeth Marquis
who departed this life
April 14th 1844
aged 90 years
By request her remains is
entered with those of her first husband
Edward Hoge.
Who died 1782.


In Memory of
Frances Meem
who departed this life
April 28th 1805
Aged 35 years


Sacred to the Memory of
Joseph McCauley
who departed this
Life sept. 1th 1800 in the
(rest of the word are chipped off, no possible way to read)


In Memory of
Elizabeth McCauley
who departed this life
July 29th 1829
aged 75 years


Here lies the body of
Alexander Simrall
who departed this life July 19-1802
Aged 38 years and 10 months


In Memory of
Daniel McCauley
who departed this life
July 4th 1829
aged 86 years
A native of Ireland


Here Lies The Body of
James Simrall
Who Departed This Life
July 1st 1798
Aged 58 years And 4 Months


Sacred to the memory of
Judith Ashby
who was born March 11th 1781
and departed this life March 17th 1849
Aged 68 years and 6 days


Sacred to the memory of
Sidney Massie
Wife of Thomas Massie
Who was born August 9th 1801
and departed this life January 17th 1855
Age 53 years 5 months and 7 days
There remaineth therefore a rest
to the people of God


In Memory of
Col. John Gilkeson
Who departed this life
Feb. 27th 1856
In his 73rd year
Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord


In Memory of
Susan L. Gilkeson
Who died 30th of May 1847
In the 66th year of her age
Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord,
yea, saith the Spirit that they may rest
from their labors, and their works do
follow them.


In Memory of
Majr. John Gilkeson
who departed this life
19th of June 1793
in the 45th Year of his age


In Memory of
Nancy Davis
Wife of Stephen Davis
Who departed this life
the 23rd of November 1848
in the 61st year of her age


In Memory of
Mrs. Sarah Gilkeson
Wife of Maj. John Gilkeson
Who departed this life
14th of March 1810
in the 61st year of her age


In Memory of
Stephen Davis
Who was born December 20th 1779
and died January 29th 1854
Aged 74 years 1 month & 9 days


James Hamilton
Born in Glen Garland,
Tyrone County Ireland,
He Removed to the United
States In 1776 and Died
At His Home In Kernstown,
Near the Close Of That 
Century Aged 85 Years
and six months


James Hamilton
This Monument Is Erected
To His Memory By His
Great Grand Daughter
Henrietta M. Hamilton McCormick
of Chicago, Ill 1897
(This last part is on one side of marker)





SOURCES OF INFORMATION:

Tombstone Inscriptions

Visit by worker.

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	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.
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