Old Tombstones in Gloucester County ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net Lyon G. Tyler William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, Vol. 3, No. 4. (Apr., 1895), pp. 253-255. Page 253 OLD TOMBSTONES IN GLOUCESTER COUNTY. 253 5 large Books of Concertos manu . . . . 1 0 Harlequin Rangers . . . . . . 0 2 Loose Music . . . . . . . . 0 0 6 ------ 69 3 4 Peter Pelham, Charles Jones, John Low. __________________ OLD TOMBSTONES IN GLOUCESTER COUNTY. COLLECTED BY THE EDITOR (Concluded.--See Vol. II., p. 219; Vol. III., pp.28, 115, 182.) XXII. SARAH'S CREEK.1 Here Lyeth ye Body of Mrs Mary Perrin Daughter of Mr John and Mrs Mary Perrin died Sepr ye 18th 1738 Aged three years One month & five Days. _________ Here lies the Body of John Perrin son of Thomas and Elizabeth Perrin Who departed this life Novbr 2d 1752 Aged 63 years 1 month and 2 Days. _________ XXIII. GOSHEN. Here lies the body of Hannah widow of Morgan Tomkies2 of Gloucester Cy daughter of Benjn & Hannah Robinson of King & Queen Cy who departed this life the 20th Jany 1825, aged 43 years, 8 months & 20 days. _______________________ Page 254 254 WILLIAM AND MARY COLLEGE QUARTERLY. XXIV. SHACKELFORD'S FARM.3 Here lyeth interred the body of Annie Byfield daughter of William Byfield who departed this life -- July 1700, in the 11th month of her age. * * * * Richard Byfield * * * * ____________ NOTES. 1 Sarah's Creek flows into York River on the east side of Gloucester Point. At its mouth was the favorite harborage of the British men-of-war. On the east side of the mouth stood the Perrin mansion, still in good condition, and of the style of architecture so usual in Virginia during the reigns of the Georges-- a large brick building, two stories high and four rooms to a floor, wainscoated and panelled. The house is in full view of Yorktown. The Perrin family have intermarried with many of the leading families of Virginia. In the York records I found the following quaint letter from the anxious mother to the immigrant youth, John Perrin: Son John: My love to you, and I was very glad to heare of yor health, but very sorry to heare of ye accident wch befell you by fire. I have sent you a boy bch I desire that you would have as much care of as if he was yor owne alsoe. I have sent you some things, so much as I am able at this tyme, and if God shall enable me to live another yeare I shall send you more. Yor father hath departed this life, and hath left you a little house in ye South-gate streete in burg worth the matter of 40lb, there is a noate in ye barrell it lieth at ye topp in ye new blankett, and I have sent you by Tho: a small peece of gould for yor wife alsoe I have pd for ye boy his passage, his name is Backer yor uncle Christopher lives at Ascamack at Cheryston creeke, & as you desire my bless- ing have a care of ye boy, and learn him his trade, and not to pt from him * * * my love to you & yor wife desiring of God to keepe * * * Your loveing mother, Susan Perrin. [This letter which is without date is entered in the proceedings of the court for 1648.] 2 In the Virginia Gazette of May 20, 1737 is the notice of the death of Charles Tomkies, at his house in Gloucester county, practitioner in physic, skilful in his profession, for many years justice of the peace. 3 These Byfield tombstones lie about three miles from York River, and seven miles from the Court-house. Tradition has it that these little children wandered off from home and were lost in the woods and died, and were buried on the spot where found.