Early Tombstones in Northumberland County; Wm. and Mary Qrtly., Vol. 8, No. 1 Transcribed by Paul Schrank for the USGenWeb Archives Special Collections Project ************************************************************************ 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 *********************************************************************** William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, Vol. 8, No. 1. (Jul., 1899), pp. 42-47 42 WILLIAM AND MARY COLLEGE QUARTERLY. Numerous laws were passed on the subject of roads during and since the colonial days. There was never, in fact, any lack of roads in Virginia at any time. They interlaced all parts of the country. The temptation then as now was to have too many roads, and the expense of maintaining them proved too much for the scattered population of the country. Travelling in Virginia before the Revolution was very good nine months of the year, as it is now, but in the winter months the roads, owing to the rains and ice, were generally very bad. Of course, there were some roads that kept good all the year round, as for instance the roads from Yorktown to Williamsburg and Hampton, which a traveler in 1746 pronounced better than anything in England. Thus, to quote a passage from this writer: “The most considerable houses [in Yorktown] are of brick, some handsome ones of wood, all built in the modern taste, and the lesser sort of plaister. There are some very pretty garden spots in the town, and the avenues leading to Williamsburg, Norfolk, etc., are prodigiously agreeable. The roads are, as I said before, some of the best I ever saw, and infinitely superior to most in England. The country surrounding is thickly overspread with plantations, and the planters live an a manner equal to the men of the best fortune, some of them being possessed of 500 or 1000 a year sterling.”(1) EARLY TOMBSTONES IN NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.(2) In an abandoned grave-yard on the eastern edge of the village of Heathsville lies a heavy slab inscribed as follows: HERE LYETH THE BODY OF ELIZABETH HAYNIE DAUGHTER OF RICHARD & JANE BRIDGAR WAS BORN JULY 16TH 1665 MARRIED TO RICHARD HAYNIE(3) OCTOBER 10TH 1681 BY WHOM SHE HAD 8 CHILDREN & DIED HIS WIFE APRIL 2, 1697 _________________________________ (1) “An Itinerant’s Observations in America.” (London Magazine, 1746) (2) In these inscriptions the lettering on the tombstones is literally followed. (3) Richard Haynie married a second time, and died about 1724. In his will of Oct. 31, 1734, he names six sons---- Bridgar, Richard, McMillon, Ormsby, Charles, and Samuel; also four daughters----Katharine, Elinor, Winifred and Anna. His wife “Elinor” survived him. WILLIAM AND MARY COLLEGE QUARTERLY. 43 On the margin of Cod’s creek, near the seat of “Northumberland house,” where the Preslys and Thorntons long resided, the handsome tomb of Hon. Presly Thornton(1) lies in broken pieces, and only a fragment of the inscription is to be found. The following words are all that appear on the pieces of stone remaining: With Sea in the County of his merit ntil he was in One of the Council of State for this Colony These important stations he filled to the Publick emolu(ment) And his own reputa(tion) Having thus enjoyed the Chief Honors of his Country He departed this Life The 8th Day of December (1769) in the 48th Year of his (Age). Near to the above mutilated tomb are two headpieces marking the graves of a Revolutionary patriot(2) and his faithful wife, who came to Northumberland from Philadelphia. The inscriptions are as follows: In Memory of Col. James Moore, an officer of the revolutionary army, Who departed this life May 20th 1813 Aged 56 years. ____________________________________ (1) The will of the Hon. Presly Thornton (prob. May 14, 1770) names his sons Peter Presly and Presly; also three daughters----Elizabeth, Winifred and Charlotte. A full inventory of his personal estate is preserved among the Northumberland records. (2) Col. Moore was survived by a large family of children, but his daughters only left descendants. They intermarried with the Towelses, Bateses, Hudnalls, Shepherds, Tapscotts and Hulls. 44 WILLIAM AND MARY COLLEGE QUARTERLY. In Memory of Sarah Moore relict of Col. James Moore, Who departed this life Dec, 1st, 1814 Aged 47 years. On the margin of Hull’s creek, near the old Chicacohan residence, the aforetime clerk of Northumberland, who married the daughter of the above Col. Moore, lies buried in a grave marked by a vertical slab, on which is this inscription: SACRED to the memory of FLEMING BATES(1) Who departed this life Dec. 26, 1830, in the 52nd year of his age. He needs no epitaph whose life was a constant blessing to all within his sphere of action. Near Burgess’ Store, on the margin of a field opposite the residence of Dr. Sydnor, a massive slab appears partly imbedded in the earth. The inscription reads: Here lies the body of THOMAS GILL(2) who departed this life the 12th day of November, 1739, in the 60th year of his Age. _________________________________ (1) Fleming Bates was son to Thomas Fleming Bates and Caroline Matilda Woodson, of Fluvanna, and brother of the Hon. Edward Bates, of Missouri, Attorney-General under President Lincoln. (2) A Thomas Gill’s will is on record in Northumberland, probated Feb. 10, 1707/8. In it he names his sons William and Thomas, and daughters Dinah, Susanna Robinson and Frances Waddington. WILLIAM AND MARY COLLEGE QUARTERLY. 45 In the rear of the spot on which the Upper St. Stephens church stood in Colonial days, and not far from the Glebe mansion, which is still standing, an upright slab commemorates one of the last century clergymen, as follows: IN Memory of the late Rev’d Duncan McNaughton, a native of Perthshire, Scotland, Who departed this life May 16th, 1809, in the year of his age. The stranger’s friend lies here at rest in this cold silent grave, We trust that with the rising just He’ll resurrection have. On “Cypress Farm” at the head of Garner’s creek, near the site of the early Keene residence, two heavy slabs are to be seen, one of them partly overgrown by a large persimmon tree. One of them has this inscription: Here lyeth the body of William Keene, the eldest Son of Thomas and Mary Keene Born in Kent in Maryland the 10th day of march anno Dom. 1642, Who marryed Eliza, the Daughter of John Rogers Gent. and Ellin his Wife of Northumberland Co. in Virginia by Whome he had two Sons and four daughters And dyed ye 8 day of Feb. 1684 in ye two and Fortieth year of his Age. The other tomb, lying near by the above, shows lettering remarkably clear and distinct, as follows: HERE LYETH THE BODY OF THOMAS BANKS GENT. THE ONLY SON OF THOMAS BANKS GENT AND DORATHY (sic!) HIS WIFE WAS BORN AT WOODSTOCK WILTSHIRE ON ST. GILEIS DAY. ANNO DOM, 1642 AND SERVED Seven Yeares an Apprentice to Mr. Wallistone Mercht in Southampton. And after came into Verginia, where he married three Wives, the last of which he tooke to Wife Eliza (1) the Relict of William Keene, dec’d, daughter of John Rogers Gent, and Ellin his Wife of Northumberland County in Verginia, Was marryed the 8 day of december 1687 and dyed the 20 of September. Anno Dom. 1697 In the 56 Year of his age as also these two Versers. As I in Sorrow for thee have been distrest. If god Permit me Lye by the to rest. (1) Mrs. Elizabeth Banks, after enduring two widowhoods, died in 1722 (will probated March 15, 1722). Her sons by Wm. Keene were William and John. Her daughter Hannah married Col. John Bushrod, of Bushfield, in Westmoreland, Elizabeth married ----- Lee. Another daughter married Samuel Samford, and the fourth daughter married John Woodbridge. Her father, Major John Rogers, was an early settler in Northumberland, and long served as one of the justices. A small creek tributary to hull’s creek is still known by the name of Rogers, the plantation and home of the early justice having been on its banks. It seems very probably that Elizabeth Keene was the wife of Charles Lee, youngest son of the immigrant Richard Lee. WILLIAM AND MARY COLLEGE QUARTERLY 47 On the margin of an arm of the Yeocomico in Cherry Point, near the old Cox homestead, a broken horizontal slab bears the following words: Her Lieth the Body of PETER COX (Son of PETER COX) who was Born July 10th in the Year of our Lord 1744 And departed this Life May 6th 1792 in the 48th year of His Age. He was in Principle Moderate Calvinist, By Profession a Baptist, And In Life and Conversation a Real Christian. In solemn silence let him lie Nor dare disturb his Dust Till the Archangel rend the sky And wakes the sleeping Dust. This monument in memory of the Dec’d was Reared by his Widow JANE COX, Daughter of WILLIAM HARDING, who was Born September 22nd, 1746 _____________________ CHURCHILL FAMILY (Continued from Vol. VII., page 186) “Bushy Park,” the home of Col. Churchill, is situated on the Rappahannock, in Middlesex county. On the map of Jefferson and Fry, published in 1751, it appears as “Churchill.” It doubtless got its name from “Bushy Park” on the Thames, the elegant country seat (in 1798) of his Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence. Elizabeth (Armistead) Churchill, widow of Col. William Churchill, died Nov. 11, 1716. Her will was dated Nov. 9 1716, and was proved Jan. 1, 1716/17. It names son-in-law Mann Page; grandson Ralph Page, son to Mann Page; son John Wormely, son Armistead Churchill, dau. Priscilla Churchill,