The Oldest Tombstone ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Alice Warner EmbryProject@gmail.com July 30, 2008 William and Mary Quarterly Vol. 4, No. 3, Jan. 1896 p. 195-197 The image referred to as a facsimile of the Herris stone is located in the archives here: http://usgwarchives.net/va/princewilliam/photos/tombstones/oldgrave/herris.jpg THE OLDEST TOMBSTONE "Error wounded writhes in pain, and dies among its worshippers," But error sometimes takes a long time to die. One Thomas Hurd "correctly copied," in October, 1837, an inscription (purporting to be two hundred and twenty-nine years old), on a tombstone of usual size standing on the banks of the Neabsco Creek, in Prince William county, Va. Mr. Charles Campbell gave currency to his statement by publishing it in the Southern Literary Messenger for October, 1843, p. 591. In 1890, Mr. Alexander Brown repeated Mr. Campbell's language in his great work, the Genesis of the United States. He numbered it Document XLV., but said, "I give this without comment, as I find it." (See Brown, Vol. I., page 150.) It is true that the authenticity of the date claimed, 1608, had been denied in the newspapers. Determined to get at the truth of the matter, the Editor, in company with Mr. R. L. Traylor, of Richmond, went up to Freestone depot, on the Baltimore & Potomac Railroad, and walked over to the tombstone, near Neabsco Mills, some three miles distant. We found it without difficulty, and took a full-size tracing. The stone was doubtless covered with moss when Thomas Hurd visited it, and the letters were probably obscured. But the proprietor of the land had considerately in late years provided the tomb with a shelter from the weather, and the inscription was deciphered without difficulty. There is no doubt that what was taken for 1608 was 1698! The accompanying illustration is nearly a fac simile. An examination of the Patent Books in Richmond shows a grant to William Harris, 30th May, 1679, of 1600 acres in Stafford county, "beginning at a white oak standing by an Indian Path which divides this land & ye Land of Mr Nathaniel Barton at ye head of Niapsco Breek and ye Maine Runn thereof, from thence along ye Ridge Path S. E. by E. 278 perches, thenc N. NE. ye Maine Runn of the Niapsco Creek 140 perches, thence parallel to ye said Ridge & Maine Runn to Mr Robert King's corner oak," etc. On Feb 26, 1690-'91, William Harris and Lewis Markham got a confirmation of this grant from Philip Ludwell, agent for the proprietors of the Northern Neck. On the 29th of August, 1691, William Harris received a grant for 383 acres on Chappawansic Creek. The tombstone of William Herris lies at a place "at the head of Niapsco Creek and the Maine Run," and he is undoubtedly the William Harris of the Land Patents, who was probably an officer in the regiment of Col. Herbert Jeffryes, sent over to subdue Bacon's Rebellion. In those days the vowel "e" was pronounced "a." The oldest tombstone known to be in existence is that at Westover, lying between the tombstones of Theodorick Bland and Lt. Col. Walter Aston. Mr. Campbell made out the inscription to be that of Capt. William Perry, one of the council of Virginia, who died August 6, 1637. The stone is now worn smooth. The oldest tombstone in Virginia that bears an intelligible inscription is that of Mrs. Alice Jordan, in the old burial place at "Four Mile Tree," in Surry County. It runs as follows: Here Lyeth Buried The Body of Alice Myles daughter of John Myles of Branton neare Herreford Gent and late wife of Mr. George Jordan in Virginia who Departed this Life the 7th of January 1650. Reader, her dust is here Inclosed who was of witt and grace composed Her life was Vertuous during breath But highly Glorious in her death. The next oldest tombstone is that of Major William Gooch at "Temple Farm," where Lord Cornwallis surrendered, 1781: [Arms.] Major William Gooch of T(his) [Parish] Dyed Oct. 29 1655 Within this tomb there doth enterred Lie No shape but substance true [nobility] Itself though young in years just t[wenty] [nine] Yet graced with vertues morall and [divine] The church from him did good partici[pate] In counsell rare fitt to adorn a S[tate]