SURVIVING GRAVESTONES AT
TRINITY CHURCH,
PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIAFrom the Inventory of Marshall Wingfield Butt
With Added Material By Dean Burgess: Trinity Church Historian
Portsmouth, Virginia 2000.Continuation.
"Angelina M. Dickson, born March 9th, 1786, died July 21st, 1835, aged 49 years."
Angelina on left foreground
William on right foreground"William Dickson, born June 19, 1771, Died Nov. 2, 1822, aged 51 years."
In 1811 he was executor of his father Henry's will (see grave 69) and he joined in a petition to open a bank in the town. In 1817 there is an advertisement for the sale of ships at "Dickson's Wharf" in Gosport. In 1821 he was on the committee to raise money for relief of those whose houses were lose in the disastrous fire in Portsmouth which burned 60 houses. He died at his residence in Gosport after "a long pulmonary illness." In the year of his death, he paid $30 for the rent of pew number 5 in the church.
STONE 73
"In memory of Eliza, the daughter of Major Duval. She died on the 23d day of December 1794, aged 7 years & 3 days.
There is a Lucy Duval among the Tithables in 1798 who may be her mother, or aunt. I have mentioned this tithable list before, but not explained it. In Colonial times everyone with an income, man or woman, was required to contribute a part of that income to the support of the state church, whether they attended or not. This tithe, or tax, supported Trinity Church (Portsmouth Parish) as the only representative of the state church in Portsmouth. Of course, that income due Trinity was unfortunately lost as a result of the disillusion of the state church after the American Revolution. This surviving Tithable List is then a list of everyone in or near the town with an income and subject to the tax which supported the church and its work.
"In memory of
Mrs. Lettice Margaret Treat
wife of Samuel Treat,
late of Boston and eldest daughter of
John L. Naylor of the District of Columbia
who departed this life
Aug. 22d, 1802,
aged 25 years.But though here lain beneath the dust
Her soul immortal, soars above,
To the blest mansion of the just:
There to enjoy her God in love."STONE 74B foot stone for above.
In memory of
Ann Rowland
Consort of
George Rowland
Died 26th Oct 1821
Aged 31 years 11 months and 4 days
And their infant daughter[46] STONE 76
In memory of
George W. Roland
son of George & Ann Rowland
died 10th Jan'y 1815
aged 4 years and 3 months
In memory of
Thomas Rowland
son of George & Ann Rowland
died 11th Nov. 1821
aged 1 year, 11 months & 6 days
Stone 78
"Here lies the remains of
Mary Kid
wife of John Kid,
who departed this life
June the 29th, 1780,
aged 52 years.
Foot stone:
"1780
Mary Kid.
She was a true and faithful friend
and so continued to the end."In 1762 John Ked (probably Kid) owned a house on
Argyle Square and in a sale of land in 1722 a plat is
described as "abutting the land of John Kidd to Crab
Creek and thence to Dinwiddie Street. . ." Crab Creek
was a navigable waterway separating Gosport from
Portsmouth about where WAVY-TV is now.
STONE 79
I have used this number to represent a missing stone (see stone 81.)
"Sacred to the memory of Mrs. Ann Berry,
consort of N. Berry of Norfolk,
who departed this life Sept. 22d, 1823,
in the 28th year of her age.
Those who seek me shall find Me.
The deceased, at the early age of 11 years,
sought and found Him, of who Moses in
the Law and the Prophets did write.
And [I] died in the triumph of faith
in the merits of her blessed Redeemer's
all sufficient atonement.
Blessed are they who die in the Lord."Foot stone in foreground: "J. B."
Nathaniel Berry advertises in the Herald: "Begs leave to inform the citizens [48] of Portsmouth and the public generally, that he has removed from Norfolk, and taken that convenient shop next to Captain T. Webb's Grocery, and opposite to Dr. Maupin's new brick house, in Portsmouth, where he intends carrying on the Boot and Shoe Making business in all its various branches."Stone 80 B: This buried stone is blank on the side facing up, but may have an inscription on the other side. Stone 80 C: This is obviously a foot stone, and probably to a member of the Berry family, as it is with them and the last initial is "B," but it cannot be for either An, or Nathan. It may be for a child.
"Sacred to the memory of John Bingham. (This stone was noted as broken in 1962.) Born July 24th, 1802. Died March 26, 1830.
Behold me here, you that pass by.
As you are now, so once was I
As I am now, soon you shall be.
Prepare for death immediately."There is a reference to John Bingham from a court case in which Emma A. Cogdell swears that he is her grandfather and that his father was Hugh Bingham. John Bingham's daughter married Captain Jethro Howland and lived within a block of the church on Court Street.
All the sources, including a clipping of curious epitaphs in the Trinity churchyard mention this burial, but I could find no such grave and so I have tentatively marked it "79?" on the map.
I put its description her under 81 because this one is clearly connected to it and Marshall Butt gave it this number. Strangely this stone 81 does not appear in any of the sources.
It is the first of several stones crudely restored with a bright terra cotta coating; although other stones of the same design and age are gray, as these ones were originally. These stones have parts of their original inscriptions scraped in them with some sharp instrument and can be read. The epitaph on this one, as far as I can read it says: ". . . GHA . . . 18 . . . age 19 . . . The dearest . . . in life silent grown, How soon they vanish all the joys of life. Here lies a kind and ever loving wife, And her sad husband left alone Erects this stone to testify his woe."
The three surviving letters from her name can only make her a Bingham, and [49] I think, the wife of the missing John Bingham.
Stone 82 on right: "In memory of Mary, wife of Joseph Gardiner, who departed this life Dec. 12, 1799, aged 33 years." (Stone is now badly broken. A John Gardiner owned 50 acres in Norfolk County, near Portsmouth as early as 1757.
Stone 83 on left: "Here lies the body of Joseph Gardiner who departed this life March 1st, 1818, aged 50 years." Stone now badly broken). Both of these stones have also had the bright terra cotta treatment. Stone 82 is now totally blank. Both are mounted on large gray granite bases, which may reflect their original color. I think their shape also once matched, but when stone 82 was restored its top was simplified.
[Enlarge in browser to see faint inscription]"Sacred to the memory of Mrs. Abigail Moulson who departed this life, April 19, 1827, in the 55th year of her age."
[50] In 1818 she advertises that she has "fitted up her Pumps . . . for supplying the shipping with WATER . . . for merchants and masters of vessels." She dies at the house of her son-in-law, Mr. Francis Grice, after a protracted illness. The Grice family would become prominent in the town later in the century and own two handsome houses on North Street.
See also grave 69 where one of the Dicksons buys property on Paradise Creek from Edward Moulson who is surely related to Abigail. There are other Grices on stone 88.
STONE 85
"Sacred to the memory of John Kearnes, who departed this life, April 17, 1799, aged 46 years."
The year before his death he is listed in the Portsmouth Tithables. In 1802 his wife marries E. Gray, called a Member of Congress. In 1830 Mrs. Margaret Cook, the "consort" of Mordacai Cook, is referred to as the only daughter of John Kearnes. Mr. Cook was one of the wealthiest men in Portsmouth at this time and donated one of his houses on Dinwiddie Street to the Reverend Mr. Wingfield, the elder, to be his residence. He was also one of the first pew renters in 1822 when the church revived under Mr. Wingfield.
His stone is probably intact, but it is so completely covered by a holly tree you would come out from reading it with the loss of blood.
"This monument is erected in sacred remembrance of
Thomas Swift, who died May 28, 1804, aged 39 years, by
his affectionate widow. Also John C. Swift, [51] who died
Oct. 1, 1823, aged 1 year."A Captain Thomas Swift is listed as a member of the Marine
Corps at the shipyard. The Marine barracks there was the
second oldest in the county when it was closed in the 1980s.On the other side of the monument: "Sacred to the memory
of Mrs. H. Cox, who died Octr 6th, 1814, aged 56. Also James
Cox, who died Augt 2d, 1808, aged 22, Harriett W. Cox, who
died Octr 25, 1821, aged 38."The obituary of James Cox survives in The Emmerson
Papers in which he is called: "A young man of great worth
and much esteem."
STONES 86 B and 87
A modern white marker to Ensign John Key,
8th VA Infantry
in the American Revolution.
Stone 87 is a small blank stone,
probably a foot stone.
"Sacred to the memory of Joseph Grice,
who died Aug. 20, 1820,
in the 61st year of his age.
Also of Mary Grice,
who died Dec. 2, 1838,
in the 81st year of her age.
Also of their sons, George W. Grice,
who died June 14th, 1823,
in the 32nd year of his age.
Anthony B. Grice, who died at Key West,
Aug. 17, 1823, in the 29th year of his age.
Isaac Grice, who died at New York,
January 26th, 1834, in the 34th year of his age."Charles Grice would be among those who broke away from Trinity in 1846 to eventually form St. Johns
Church.
"Sacred to the memory of Mrs. Lois Boushell, who
departed this life November 10, 1842, aged 37 years.
Farewell, conflicting hopes and fears,
Where brightest shades alternate dwell,
The bright unchanging morn appears
Farewell, vain world, farewell."In 1773 John Boushell, Jr., was on a commission to
build a road from Poplar Neck Bridge (later called
Great Bridge) to "Green Sea," and William Boushell
on another commission to build a road from
Princess Anne County through Blackwater
to the Norfolk Country line.
[53] Stone 90
A broken stone leaning against the ramp on the walkway to the tower door.
"1786, Mary Kid, she died July . . . ""In memory of Gerrard Benjamin, son of John and Mary Ridley.
Born Sept. 11, 1829.
Died July 28, 1833.
Ridley on left. Benjamin on right."Sacred to the memory of John J. Ridley, son of John and Mary Ridley,
died November 17, 1829, aged 1 year, 10 months and 9 days.Now, if you cross the path which leads to the tower door, you will see five white slabs, a modern marker, and, set in the wall, hidden behind a bush by the tower gate a gravestone which is not mentioned in any of the sources. The only way to reach this hidden stone is to close the tower gate and climb down behind the bush. This is stone 127, which I will put off until the end of our tour.
This is another stone which, for some reason, was not recorded in any of the earlier sources. It reads: "Sacred to the memory of Ann Taylor (Roberts), wife of William Hamilton McFarland, who was born on the 17th day of October 1803 and died December 26, 1832. Possessed to an uncommon [54] degree of the grace of mind, temper and person she was greatly admired and loved, and not a few had cause to bless her. Among many worldly advantages, she sought the pardoning love of a crucified redeemer, and by the grace of God lived a christian life and died a christian death in the sure hope of life eternal through the atonement and mediation of the Lord Jesus Christ. 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.'"
This ia particular fine example of the stone cutter's art. The long epitaph is so beautifully rendered I will not try to reproduce the stone. It is perfectly legible 170 years after it was cut. It is the first I have ever seen a semicolon and quotation marks on a gravestone. It is in striking contrast to some of the more primitively lettered stone in this yard.
The variety of stone used at Trinity illustrates both the wealth of the new town and the fact there was no local stone to work. The variety of sculptural styles illustrate how varied the origins of the settlers of this seaport were. There are few graveyards where you can see so many styles in one small area.
"On this perishable monument, a family of sorrow, transcribes from the indelible Record of their hearts, this sacred tribute of filial affection, to the memory of a beloved mother, Mrs. Ann Roberts, who having devoted to society the treasures of her exemplary life - to her offspring zeal of maternal love and to the Father of all, the offering of a pure heart. Rested from her labors on the 12th of March 1802, aged 63 years.
Humphry Roberts is one of the nine appointed by the act creating the town of Portsmouth as its first Trustees. The others were Andrew Sproule, the founder of the shipyard; George and Thomas Veale, whose land was combined with Crawford's and who were later his heirs; Charles Steward; Francis Miller; James Race; David Purcess and Amos Etheridge, gentleman. In 1772 Hamphry is listed as a merchant on Middlesex Square, the Court Street side, with his wife Ann. Their land abutted that of William Aitcheson. An Aitcheson is also Ann's next door neighbor in graves as well here at Trinity.
STONE 94
"Sacred to the memory of May Aitcheson, who departed this life 12th Sept. 1814, aged 39 years. Also Edward Roberts, who departed this life 24th January 1815, aged 15 years." Unfortunately this stone is no longer legible.
There is a William Aicheson with his wife Rebecca listed as a merchant and a partner of James Porter on Middlesex Square on the Court Street side. He also sells 600 acres 2 miles from Portsmouth and property next to Edward Roberts on Paradise Creek.
Stone 95
"Sacred to the memory of Mrs. Ann Taylor, daughter of Humphrey Roberts, and wife of the late John Taylor. She died in the City of Norfolk on the 10th of June 1851, at the advanced age of 91 years. She fell asleep, having endured the anguish of surviving the dear relatives on whom were set her strong affections, yet she fulfilled a life's mission by her exemplary charities and christian energy and purity."
Humphrey, as I mentioned above, was one of the town's original purchasers and John Taylor sells the ship Manhattan from "Taylor's Wharf" in 1815.
STONE 96
"To the memory of Mrs. Mary A. H. LeConte, wife of Capt. John LeConte of the United States Army and daughter of J. H. Lawrence, Esq., of New York. She died on the 29th November 1825, aged 28 years, in full hope of that happiness which is the reward of a life of piety and virtue."
This part of the churchyard has many fragmentary stones. Butt gave them the following numbers: 97, 98, 102, 103, 114, 115 and 116. Since he did not locate these fragments, I have indicated the stones on this map but not numbered them. Again, the modern markers have the prefix"M."
One of the stones described by him is now missing: 110. I will tell you the epitaph it once displayed when we get to it in the numerical order. Butt's stone 99 is a duplication of stone 125.
STONE 99
This number was used by Marshall Butt for a duplicate listing of grave 123.
"Here lie interred the mortal remains of two infant sons of James
Reed and Esther his wife. James died 17th February 1811, aged 5
months. William died 22d January 1821, aged 8 years, 6 months.In 1812 there is a fire in James Reed's bakery shop in Norfolk. By
1820 he has a bakery in Portsmouth with "a bake house, a good
garden and an excellent pump of Water in the yard." He served
several terms on the Vestry of Trinity Church starting in 1828. In
1827 James and Robert Reed are at a meeting in Portsmouth where
Zachary Tayler speaks and they sign a petition in opposition to the
election of Andrew Jackson. In 1834 his dwelling house on a
"beautiful farm on the Southern Branch, about a mile above the
Navy Yard, called Charlottes-Villa" burns to the ground. He is
absent "to the North" and there were only the women and a small
boy at home. "A considerable part of the furniture was saved by the exertions of the ladies, but the house fell an entire sacrifice." He publicly thanked the Commandant of the Navy Yard at Gosport and the officers and seamen for their help in saving his possessions. The commandant would be our own James Barron.STONE 101
"Sacred to the memory of Robert Benson, who departed this life on the 15th day of July 1799, in the 45th year of his age." I could not find this stone.
STONE 102, STONE 103, STONE 104 (fragmented stones)
[59] STONE 105Sacred to the memory of
Mary Wilson
who departed this life
February 14th, 1819
aged 66 years
Samuel B. Jones
son of Samuel and Elizabeth Jones
departed this life
the 40th of Sep 1801
Aged 9 yearsThe earliest Jones noted in the town was John Jones
on Bristol Square in 1755.
STONE 107
"Sacred to the memory of Elizabeth Anderson, spinster, formerly of Margate in Kent, but lately of the Island of Dominica, who died at Norfolk on the 14th November 1816, aged 32 years." This stone is very hard to read but in the right light you can see the name "Elizabeth".
Sacred to the memory of
Lieut. J. R. Mason
of Loudoun County
who departed this life
28th October 1814
aged 27 years.
In memory of
Rees Bartle
who was born in Roxborough, Penna.
Died in Norfolk Aug 1822
in the 21st year of his age.[60] In July of the year of his death, a Mr. Bartle, I think this one, was commended for serving as architect on the construction of a replacement
for the drawbridge over the Eastern Branch of the Elizabeth River to replace one blown down by a "memorable gale in September last.
STONE 109 B was probably a foot stone for Rees Bartle's grave.
"Sacred to the memory of Alexander Leckie, Esq., who died 30th August 1800, aged 46 years." This is another grave I could not find.
I suspect Leckie Street in Park View took its name from one of his descendents. Park View was laid our eighty years after his death.
Robert Leckie, probably his son, lived on Water Row in the 1820s.
"Sacred to the memory of Edward Onley, Esq., Lieutenant in His Britannic Majesty's Royal Navy, who was killed in a Duel, 28th Octbr 1806, aged 38 years."
"In memory of Aaron, son of Peter and Mary Winant, of Staten Island,
who deceased Sept. 28th, 1810, in the 20th year of his age.In bloom of life, I bid farewell,
To parents, youth and all.
Therefore, my friends, weep not for me,
For Jesus did me call."(Page 61 shows drawing of tombstone)
STONE 113
"In memory of Miriam Marie,
daughter of Joseph and Catherine Decker of New York,
who departed this life
July 27, 1812
aged 10 years, 5 months and 10 days."
Stone
85 
STONE
112