HAMPTON, VA - CEMETERIES – Jennings Grave
			----¤¤¤----

Source: Library of Virginia Digital Collection


LVA Titled Files: Survey Report, Description of tombstone in St. John’s 
                  graveyard:
                  1936 Mar. 16
                  Research made by Arthur R. Thompson

Cemetery Location:  In St. John’s Graveyard of St. John’s church which is 
                    located at the intersection of Queen, Hope and Court 
                    Streets, Hampton, Virginia, Elizabeth City County.
                    Hampton, Virginia


DATE:

1808, date of death.

OWNERS:

St. John’s Church.

DESCRIPTION:

This stone is a rather plain slab with a scroll at the bottom composed of the 
letters C.O. and D..

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:

Students of history will find in the old graveyards many tombstones that mark 
the last resting place of more or less prominent citizens of their day.  The 
inscriptions on these stones tell who they were, and in some instances, of deeds 
done during life, that endeared them to their fellow citizens.

In the old graveyard of St. John’s Church, which is situated at the intersection 
of Queen, Hope and Court Streets, Hampton, Virginia, Elizabeth City County, (the 
oldest continuous English speaking settlement in America) there is found, on 
entering at the main gate, on the right side of the path and the fifth from the 
entrance, a stone, the inscription on which is unique and somewhat mystifying to 
those who read it today, as shown by the accompanying sketch.  The inscription 
reads as follows:

In Memory of
Ann Jennings
Wife of
Wm. Jennings Snr
Born Novr 2nd 1761
Died Novr 31st 1808

Our calendar of today only gives 30 days to the month of November.

A former sexton of the church, who departed this life several years ago, on 
calling attention to this stone, would tell his hearers that the scroll at the 
bottom was composed of the letters C. O. D. meaning to Come On Down; but that of 
course was only his interpretation.




SOURCES OF INFORMATION:

Members of St. John’s Church

Tombstone Inscriptions

Visit by worker.

___________________________________________________________________

	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.
___________________________________________________________________