1855 PESTILENCE IN VIRGINIA
Photos by Donna Bluemink
CEDAR GROVE CEMETERY MEMORIALS
PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA
Click name for enlarging on Internet.
1855 PESTILENCE IN VIRGINIA
Photos by Donna Bluemink
CEDAR GROVE CEMETERY MEMORIALS
PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA
Click name for enlarging on Internet.
Established in 1832, Cedar Grove Cemetery is the first public cemetery in Portsmouth. Resting here are many notables, including veterans of the Revolutionary War through WWII. Two hundred and forty of these are soldiers and sailors who fought for the Confederate States of America.
The cemetery fell into disrepair through neglect and vandalism during the years since 1960. It was restored in 1995-1998 primarily through the efforts of the Stonewall Camp #380, Sons of the Confederate Veterans, with the help from Portsmouth Sheriff's Work Release Program. Security lights and cameras have been placed around the perimeters to deter loitering and vandalism.
Cedar Grove Cemetery is on the National and Virginia Registers of Historic Places. In addition to its historical significance, it is an exemplary model of the nineteenth century funerary art.
John
Newton Ashton
Lot 127, Avenue 2, Old 219, Cedar Grove Cemetery,
Portsmouth
John Newton Ashton
Born May 7, 1784
Died August 20, 1855
Owner: John N. Ashton
* * * * * *
Miss
Sophia Bingley
Lot 414, Avenue 7, Old 134
Sacred to the memory or
Sophia B. Bingley
Who died Sept. 2, 1855
Aged 19 yrs, 11 mos.
Owner: William B.
* * * * * *
Mahaly
McPherson Bowers
Lot 247, Avenue 5, Old 48, East End
NCRD #143
Mahaly M. Bowers
August 8, 1855
Owner: Stephen Bowers
* * * * * *
Samuel,
Alicia & Alicia T. Brewer
Lot 150, Avenue 3, Old 50, Cedar Grove Portsmouth
My husband
Samuel Brewer
Died Aug. 24th, 1855, aged 39.
In memory of Alicia Brewer
who died August 31st, 1855, aged 39.
Also Alicia W., died August 25, 1855, aged 6,
Child of Samuel and Mary E. Brewer.
Owner: Samuel Brewer
* * * * * *
Charles
Cassell
Lot 292, Avenue 4, Old 88
Charles Cassell
Born at Genoa, Italy
Sept. 26, 1793
Died Sept. 3, 1855
Owner: Charles Cassell
* * * * * *
G.
T. Chambers
Lot 301, Avenue 4, Old 85
(last line of occupants
on left side of vault)
G. T. Chambers
Born Aug. 18, 1811 or 1814
Died Sept. 8, 1855
Owner: G. Chambers & J. C. White
* * * * * *
Rev.
James Chisholm
Lot 398, Avenue 7, Cedar Grove Cemetery, Portsmouth
In memory of Rev'd James Chisholm
The first pastor of St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church in this City.
Born in Salem, Mass., Sept. 30th, 1815
Died of yellow fever Sept. 15th, 1855.
And so he giveth his beloved sleep.
Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord: even so saith the Spirit; for they
rest from their labours, and their works do follow them.
Owner: J. L. Hatton
Plaque
in St. John's Episcopal Church
Portsmouth, VA
Portrait of Rev. James Chisholm
* * * * * *
Charles
Clark
Lot 143, Avenue 2, Old 40
Charles Clark
Died Aug. 1855
Aged 14 years
The memory of the just is blessed. [Proverbs 10:7]
Owner: Robert Tatem
* * * * * *
Ann
R. Cocke
Lot 298, Avenue 5, Old 95
Ann R. Cocke
Died Aug. 5, 1855
Aged 53 years
Owner: Leonard Cocke
* * * * * *
William
Collins
Lot 423, Avenue 7, Old D1, Cedar Grove, Portsmouth
In memory of William Collins, M. D., who died of yellow
fever September 8th, 1855
in the 51st year of his age. His character was adorned by the noblest abilities
which secured love and confidence of his fellow citizens. He zealously and
efficiently
labored fro the prosperity of this his native town. In his death the community
experienced one of its dearest bereavements.
Erected by the Sea Board & Roanoke Railroad Co.
of which he was President, in token of esteem for his personal worth
and official fidelity. To the mourner gives the tribute of a memorial. The
name within our memory lives and ever shall live there. Cold is the
dust the perished form may lie, but that which warmest shall never die.
Owner: Dr. William Collins
Relief
at base of William Collins' memorial
of locomotive with broken driving rod.
Portrait of William Collins from
Portsmouth Under Four Flags 1752-1961
by Marshall W. Butt
Published by the Portsmouth Historical Association
Portsmouth, VA 1961
* * * * * *
Jordan
and Ann Curlin
Lot 279, Avenue 4, Old 202, Cedar Grove, Portsmouth
Jordan Curlin NCRD #398, Ann Curlin NCRD #399
In memory of Jordan Curlin
Died Sep. 30, 1855
Aged 55 years
In memory of Ann A.
Wife of Jordan Curlin
D ied Sep. 21, 1855
Owner: Jordan Curlin
* * * * * *
Mary
A. Cushing
Lot 209, Avenue 3, Old 68
To my mother
Mary A. Cushing
Relict of Windell Cushing
Born May 9th, 1815
Died July 26, 1855
She was among them who fell dying in the epidemic of 1855.
Owner: Cushing & Neville
* * * * * *
Sarah
N. Emmerson
Lot 145, Avenue 2, Old 39, Cedar Grove Cemetery,
Portsmouth
NCRD #495
In memory of Sarah N.
Wife of James E. Emmerson
Who died October 2, 1855
Aged 45
Owner: J. B. & Arthur Emmerson
* * * * * *
Susan
Emmerson
Lot 145, Avenue 2, Old 39, Cedar Grove Cemetery,
Portsmouth
(Monument and stone)
EMMERSON
Mother died September 28, 1855
Aged 39 years and 6 months
In memory of Susan A.
Wife of Thomas R. Emmerson
Died September 28, 1855
Aged 39 years, 6 months
Owner: J. B. & Arthur Emmerson
* * * * * *
Rev.
Vernon Eskridge
Lot 277, Avenue 4, Old O, Cedar Grove Cemetery, Portsmouth
Owner: Rev. Eskridge
CHAPLIN VERNON ESKRIDGE
Methodist Episcopal, Chaplain Navy Yard, Gosport
Reverend Eskridge was one of several clergy and medical personnel who died in the service of the citizens of Portsmouth during the yellow fever epidemic. This dread disease, the cause not understood at the time, decimated the populations of Norfolk, Portsmouth and surrounding cities and counties during the summer and early autumn of 1855. The disease, which we now know was carried by mosquitoes, killed over 1000 of the estimated 10,000 population of Portsmouth.
Born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, in 1803, Eskridge first came to Portsmouth in 1831. He served as the minister at Dinwiddie Street Methodist Church (now Monumental United Methodist Church) in 1831 and 1832. During the summer of that year he assisted the people of Portsmouth with their spiritual and physical needs during the local outbreak of cholera.
After a brief absence he returned to Portsmouth in 1837 and entered private business. He again became active at Dinwiddie Street Church as superintendent and assistant minister from 1839 to 1850. He also became the founding minister of Wright Memorial Methodist Church (now disbanded) in 1843.
Eskridge subsequently served as Navy Chaplain aboard the frigate U. S. S. Cumberland during its Mediterranean service cruise in 1852-1855. Upon his return to the United States, he chose to come back to Portsmouth when he learned of the outbreak of yellow fever.
Worn from serving a grueling routine of comforting families, he too died as a result of the fever on September 11, 1855.
Author: Margaret Windley.
* * * * * *
Mrs. Lydia Folger
Lot 219, Avenue 3, Old 64
In memory of
Mrs. Lydia Folger
Relict of Capt. Julian Folger
A daughter of the late Capt. Ralph & Mary Pigot
Born Oct. 5, 1794
Died Sept. 10th, 1855Owners: Cruise, Folger, Gordon & Dr. T. Sanford Cooke
* * * * * *
James Isaiah Harrison
Lot 358, Avenue 6, Old 118
To the memory of
James Isaiah
the affectionate husband of
Mary E. Harrison
Departed this life
Aug. 21, 1855
Aged 25 years.
Owner: Robert Emmett Crump
* * * * * *Johannah Harrison
Lot 360, Avenue 6, Old 177
Not confirmed yellow fever victim
Sacred to the memory
Johannah
Consort of Wm. Harrison
Who departed this life
July 23, 1855
Aged 72 years.Owner: Robert Emmett Crump
* * * * * *
James Reynolds Henderson
Virginia Isabelle Henderson
Lot 273, Avenue 4, Old 225
Virginia Isabelle
Died Sept. 20th, 1855
Aged 13 years, 9 months
James Reynolds
Died Oct. 4th, 1855
Aged 7 years, 8 months
Children of Gerard & Mary J. HendersonOwner: Joseph P. Reynolds
* * * * * *Mary E. Herbert
Lot 130, Avenue 3, Old 221, Cedar Grove, Portsmouth
Our parents
Francis C. Herbert (1807-1872)
His wife
Mary E. Herbert
1816-1855Owner: Francis G. Herbert
* * * * * *
Mary Ann Higgs
Lot 281, Avenue 4, Old 201
(2nd name on gravestone)
Sacred to the memory of
Mary Ann Higgs
Died of the prevailing epidemic
August 6, 1855, Age 47.
Owner: George Marshall* * * * * *
Mary Edna Johnson
Lot 429, Avenue 6, Old 125
Mary Edna Johnson
Wife of W. B. Johnson
Born Feb. 22, 1819
Died Sept. 12, 1855
Lot Owner: W. B. Johnson* * * * * *
William Jones (1793-1855)
Henry Bascomb Jones (1839-1855)
(Same monument)
Lot 303, Avenue 4, Old 84
In the memory of
My Father
Wm. Jones
Born April 15, 1793
Died September 25, 1855
Aged 62 years, 5 months . . .In the memory of my Brother
Henry Bascomb Jones
Born May 5, 1839
Died September 21, 1855
Aged 16 years, 4 months and 16 days
Owner: Collins & Jones* * * * * *
Table of Contents
General Index
