| On the margin of Cod's
creek, near the seat of "Northumberland House," where the Presly
and Thortons long resided, the handsome tomb of Hon.
Presly Thornton2 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 this 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
patriot2 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.
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 BATES3
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 GILL4 who
departed this life the 12th
day of November, 1739,
in the 60th year of his
Age.
In the rear of the spot on
which the Upper St. Stephens church stood in Colonial days, and not
far from the Glebe mansion, where 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:
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