PORTSMOUTH COUNTY, VA - CEMETERIES – Portlock Tombstones

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Source: Library of Virginia Digital Collection


LVA Titled Files: Survey Report, Portlock tombstones:
                  1938 Mar. 24
                  Research made by Sarah F. Moore

Cemetery Location:  Oak Grove Cemetery, Glasgow Street, between Armstrong Street 
                    and First Avenue
                    Portsmouth Co., Virginia


DATE:

1851.

OWNERS:

William Portlock estate.

DESCRIPTION:

This is a tall shaft with a square base on which are several inscriptions, as 
follows:

William Portlock
Born Nov. 15th, 1814
Died March 2nd, 1851
Aged 36 years, three months and 14 days
And hast thou left us, hast thou gone
And may we never see thee more, never see thee again
That mild eye beaming with affection
Purest, brightest, holiest light
Not hear that voice whose every tone to us
Was more than music – Yes, so it is.
But shall we murmur, shall we thus repine
Thus, thus it was with him we mourn
He felt not pain nor anguish save that which cam
From parting with the dear ones whom he loved
So much, so tenderly, but fell asleep in Jesus
As gently as a child sinks to its evening rest.


Infant son 
of Wm. and Mary Ann Portlock
Born Sept. 27th, 1838
Died Oct. 5th, 1838
Aged 8 days


Mary Ann
daughter of Wm. and Mary Ann Portlock
Born Jan. 27th, 1844
Died July 2nd, 1845
Aged 1 year, 5 months and 5 days


Thomas Goodwin
son of Wm. and Mary Ann Portlock
Born Dec. 5th 1850
Died July 18, 1852
Aged 1 year, 7 months and 13 days
The dear delights we here enjoy, and fondly call our own are but short favours 
borrowed now, to be repaid anon.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:

The site on which this cemetery is located was once the property of William 
Portlock and was purchased from him for a cemetery site by the Trustees of the 
city of Portsmouth.

An amusing story is told of an old colored man who was a grave digger.  In 1855 
when the yellow fever epidemic was at its worst in Portsmouth, old Bob Butts was 
as faithful to his duties of grave digger as any gentleman in Portsmouth.  He 
did not spare himself and when the epidemic was raging he spent the night as 
well as the day in the cemetery, snatching a nap there as he had opportunity.  
He had just prepared a grave and while waiting for the corpse to arrive, he fell 
into a doze by the side of the grave.  When the two young men arrived with the 
corpse, Old Bob was awakened by the rattle of the hearse, and just as they 
lifted the corpse from the hearse they heard a muffled sound from the grave and 
saw a figure slowly arise.  They thought the dead were beginning to return, and 
almost dropped the corpse before they recognized Old Bob, the grave digger.


SOURCES OF INFORMATION:

Informant:  Miss Mildred Holladay, 41 Dinwiddie Street, Portsmouth, Virginia

Norfolk County Court Records, Deed Book 78, page 191.

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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