Inscriptions in Churchyard of the Church of the Epiphany, Philadelphia

INSCRIPTIONS IN CHURCHYARD OF THE CHURCH OF THE EPIPHANY, PHILADELPHIA. — CHURCH OF THE EPIPHANY Organized 1833 Incorporated Feb* 12‘* 1834. Corner Stone laid March 24th 1834 by Rt. Rev* William White. Bishop of Pa. First Service held in basement of the Church. lrt Sunday in August 1834 Church Consecrated Oct0 12lh 1834 by Rt. Rev. William White. Bishop of Pa. RECTORS. 1. REV. STEPHEN H. TYNG I) D. Oct° 1. 1833-May 24. 1845 2. REV JAMES HENRY FOWLES. Sept 2. 1845-March 5. 1854 3. REV DUDLEY A. TYNG April 25. 1854-Nov. 4. 1856. 4. REV WILLIAM O. PRENTISS. July 27. 1857-July 8. 1858 5. REV JOHN W. CRACRAFT. Dec 23. 1858-March 2. 1862 6. REV. RICHARD NEWTON. D. D. April 7. 1862-June 29. 1881 (Rec¬ tor Emeritus, until May 22. 1882. ) 7. REV GEO* HERBERT KINSOLVING Sept 24. 1881.8. REV THOMAS TIDBALL [Tablet on the wall of S. S. Building.] Erected / as a monument of / gratitude by the efforts / of the teachers & scholars / of the Sunday Schools of / this church in the tenth / year of their history / A. D. 1844. / Rebuilt A. D. 1853. [Tablets in the Church.] [On the east wall.] In Memory of / the Rev. James Henry Fowles / Second Rector of this Church. / A faithful Servant of Jesus Christ. / A gentle and experienced guide of / Souls. A shining example of the power / of the grace of God. / Born at Nassau N. P. / November 27th A. D. 1812: / Died at Richland S. C. / March 5th A. D. 1854. / “ He being dead, yet speaketh.” (340) Church of the Epiphany, Philadelphia. 341 [On the west wall,] M Memory of / the / Rev. Erasmus J. P. Messlnger / A missionary to Western Africa / where he departed this life / in full assurance of hope / March 28th A. D. 1846, / aged 34 years / erected by the Sunday Schools / of this in which he was / long a faithful teacher. 23 24 2! 22 3 25 26 /8 20 27 28 29 ♦ 4 30 J J/ 0 * 1* 32 33 34 35 36 37 5 o 3# 35 45 4/ 42 "s. V a BUR/ AC GROUND Church of the EP/PHANY 43 44 45 46 47 48 >0 ** 'X k 342 Inscriptions in Churchyard of the [On a tablet on the north wall.] In the Vault beneath / are deposited the / Remains of / Hannah Ella Grasby. / My Mother / Who fell asleep in / Jesus / October 16- 1855 / Aged 70 years / “ The hour is coming in / which all that are in the / Graves shall hear his voice / and shall come forth: They / that have done good unto / the resurrection of life” 21. Hannah E. Grasby's / Family Vault / Beside her Friend and Sister / Here rest the remains of j Mary Ella / who died August 9th 1857 / in her 82nd year / Thou hast been faithful over a few things / 1 will make thee ruler of many things Here lieth the body of / Elizabeth Ella Grasby / who died September 5. 1862 / Aged 48 years / Herself a sufferer she learned to / succour those who suffer. By her last will / she bequeathed her entire estate to the / Hospital of the Protestant Episcopal Church / in Philadelphia / to be applied to the support of a ward / to be called the Hannah Ward / As a memorial of my loved and honored / Mother Hannah Grasby at whose suggestion I / thus de¬ vote to the service of Jesus the property / which with true parental affection she left to / descend to me for my comfort during life. / 1 was sick and ye visited me / Math. xxv. c. 36. v. 22. [No inscription. ] 23. [No inscription.] 24. Joseph E. Erwin 25. Isaac S. Hone. / Bom Feb. 14. 1794 Died June 5. 1856. / Catharine Ashhurst / Bom l?ÿ October 1841. Died 12th January 1859 j Eliza widow of Isaac S. Hone / Bom February 16. 1796. Died April 29. 1877 / William Henry Ashhurst / Bom Aug 16. 1815 Died June 27. 1885. 26. [No inscription. ] 27. [No inscription.] 28. [No inscription.] 29. Wells / Richard Wells / Bora Dec1 8. 1818. Died Feb* 2. 1846. / Richard W. Wells / Bom Sep* 23. 1792. Died Dec1 25- 1852 Church of the Epiphany , Philadelphia. 343 30. [No inscription.] 31. [No inscription. ] 3. William Thaw / Here are entombed the remains of / Mary Ann Thaw / wife of William Thaw / Bom Octr 25th 1800. Died Dec1 23d 1842 / Mary Ann Louisa / daughter of William & Mary Ann Thaw / Born August 13. 1835. Died Feb. 4. 1848 / William Thaw / Bom January 31“ 1786. / Died June 25th 1856 18. Allin Robinett 20. J. Cowpland 4. John D. Donaghy / Bom March 12th 1842 / Died March 12th 1843 / Mrs. Mary Bollings / Died August 3rd 1852 / aged 73 years 5. Bryant / Here are entombed the remains of / Rev. William Bryant / Bom June 19th 1780 / Died December 12th 1841 / Jaquette Bryant / Son of the Rev. William Bryant / Bom March 24th 1826 / Died October 21“ 1837 32. John Drake Senr / Bora Sept. 1. 1771 Died Sept. 19. 1846 / Sarah / Wife of John Drake Senr / Bom March 28. 1778 Died Aug. 26 1854 / John Drake Junr / Son of John &- Sarah Drake / Bora Jan 4. 1826 Died June 29. 1844 / Also the following Children of / Thomas & Matilda Drake / Emma M / Bora May 31. 1833 Died Aug 4. 1834 / Sophia / Bom April 22 1836. Died Jan. 11. 1844 / George W. / Bom Feb 27 1848: Died Aug 10. 1854 / Joriah L / Bom Nov. 12 1843: Died March 9. 1857 / Thomas W. / Bom Feb. 27. 1841: Died May 1. 1857 / Clara M / Bom March 23. 1851: Died March 22. 1873 33. No inscription 34. No inscription 35. W. Musgrave / Departed this life / on the 17th of April 1856 / William Musgrave / Son of / James and Mary Musgrave / in the 56th year of his age Blessed are the pure in heart For they 6hall see God 344 Inscriptions in Churchyard of the 36. S. H. Tyng. / Here are deposited the remains of /Ann D'Wolf Tyng/ Wife of the Rev. Stephen H. Tyng / who died May 16th 1832. aged 27 years & 7 months / Mary Matilda Tyng daughter of the / Rev. Stephen H. Tyng. bom Jan 31“ 1837 died Oct 10. 1838 37. No inscription 38. H. Filley / Here are deposited the remains of / Laura M Filley wife of Harvey Filley / who died March 22. 1830. aged 27 years / 3 months and 16 days / Also William H- Filley son of Harvey / & Laura M. Filley. who died August 13. 1828 / aged 18 months & 15 days / Harvey M Filley / Son of Harvey and Laura M. Filley / Died Sept 5th 1853 / aged 23 years 5 months and 24 days / Caroline A. Filley / daughter of Harvey & Chloe Filley / Died June 2nd 1856 / aged 23 years 10 months and 9 days / Harvey Filley / Died August 21“ 1877 / aged 83 years 1 month and 21 days 39. No inscription 40. Robbins / Enoch Robbins / Bom July 1“ 1797 Died August 14th 1842 / Ann Robbins / Wife of Enoch Robbins / Bom May 14th 1792. Died August 19th 1856 / Aged 64 Years 3 Months & 5 Days / Randal Rodgers / Son of Enoch & Ann Robbins / Born July 27th 1828 Died November 16th 1835 / Edmund Evans / Born December 14th 1812 Died September 11th 1844 / Aged 31 Years 8 Months & 27 Days / Edmund E. Robbins / Died December 30“ 1870 Aged 30 years 41. Byrd / Entered into Rest / July 1 1845 / in the 21“ year of her age / Lucie Virginia / daughter of the late / Charles Carter Byrd M. D. / and of Jane F. Turner his wife / of Virginia. / Her dying testimony was 42. Robert T Bicknell / Robert Thaxter Bicknell a native / of Quincy Mass. Born January 1“ 1807 Departed / this life at Philadelphia May 9th 1839. / Clara Eliza daughter of Robert T & / Marinda A. Bicknell Bom March 9th 1835 died / April 26. 1840 aged 5 years 1 month & 17 days / Robert Morris Bicknell Born February 16 1831 / Died May 3. 1849 aged 18 years 2 months and 18 days / Dr. Joseph Hawley Dorr a native of Boston Mass / Bom De¬ cember 7th 1807 Departed this life at / Philadelphia April 13th 1855 / Edith daughter of Charles P. & Frances W / Bicknell. Born August 25. 1858 Died September / 17. 1858. aged 3 weeks and 4 days / Clara Frances second daughter of Charles P. / & Frances W. Bicknell. Born March 16th 1861 / Died March 27lh 1862 aged 1 year and 11 days / Marinda A. widow of Dr Joseph Hawley Dorr /and relict of ’Robert Thaxter Bicknell / Bora August 20th 1810 Died January 30th 1889. Church of the Epiphany, Philadelphia. 345 43. Caspar Morris 44. Edward Olmstead 45. L. R. Ashhurst 46. A. W. Johnston / Family Vault 47. Charles Smith / Family Vault 48. No inscription. 49. [West side.] Rev / James H. Fowles / Bom Novr 27 / A* D. 1812 / Died March 5 / A. D. 1854 [East side.] Rector / of / this church / A. D. 1845 / to / A. D. 1854. [South side.] Erected / by a / grateful / and sorrowing / congregation [North side.] The / Lord God / Omnipotent / reigneth. EMPTYING EPIPHANY’S VAULTS. REMOVING BODIES THAT WERE BURIED THERE MANY YEARS AGO. PHILADELPHIA, November 24f 1894* In consequence of the sale of the Protestant Episcopal Church property at the comer of Fifteenth and Chestnut streets to John Wanamaker, the author¬ ities have begun the removal of the bodies from the vaults. It has been requested that they be removed by the end of the year, and the first to comply was the venerable James Donaghy, who yesterday superin¬ tended in person the transfer of the remains of his ancestors and relatives to Woodland Cemeteiy. Mr. Donaghy, who is ninety-eight years old, had eight relatives buried in the vault. No burials have been permitted in the yard for several years past, and the members of the committee despair somewhat of reaching the families or repre¬ sentatives of all the dead. Many years have elapsed since several of the vaults have been used, and their owners or descendants have long since left the congregation and, possibly, the city. 346 Inscriptions in Churchyard of the WILL REMOVE THE DEAD. The Board of Health yesterday granted permission to Undertaker R. R. Bringhurst to remove the bodies now in the vaults of the yard of the Church of the Epiphany. It is said there are now about 100 bodies interred there, none of which have been placed there within the last ten or fifteen years. As some of the vaults will be found to contain old and decayed lumber, the Board also granted permission to the Philadelphia Incinerating Company to burn it. January 9 1895. — , FROM THEIR “LAST HOMES.” OLD EPIPHANY’S DEAD RAISED AND INTERRED IN OTHER CEMETERIES MONUMENT TO REV. JAMES H. FOWLES’ MEMORY TO BE PLACED IN WEST LAUREL HILL OLD MACHPELAH’S DEAD. — — TUESDAY, January 22, 1895. The remains of the persons whose bodies were interred in vaults in the Church of the Epiphany’s yard, at Fifteenth and Chestnut streets, are being raised by Undertaker R. R. Bringhurst. Some of the bodies interred in Machpelah Cemetery, at Tenth street and Washington avenue, have been raised and removed to other cemeteries. The monument erected on the corner of Fifteenth and Chestnut streets in memory of Rev. James H. Fowles, the second rector of the Church of the Epiphany, is to be taken from its pres¬ ent resting-place and erected in West Laurel Hill Cemetery. At the Epiphany churchyard this morning a number of vaults were opened, among them being that of Robert T. Bicknell, known as vault No. 42, in which were the remains of eight bodies. Some of the coffins taken up this morning were intact, while of others nothing remained but fragments. There were six bodies taken out of Harvey Filley’s vault, known as No. 38. As soon as the remains are raised they are boxed and carted away to West Laurel Hill, Woodlands, Monument, South Laurel Hill, and other cemeteries. The Epiphany yard contains thirty-three vaults. Some are wider than others, and from twelve to twenty bodies can be placed in them. The vaults are sixteen feet in depth, and in some of them the bodies can be placed two abreast, and in others three abreast. Riggers were at work this morning placing in position a derrick for the purpose of raising the monument on the corner from its foundation. This work was brought to a standstill by the reserve officer stationed at Fifteenth and Chestnut streets, who would not permit the boss rigger to drive a spike into Fifteenth street, in order to support the derrick, without a permit. However, the remains of Mu Fowles are supposed to be under the monument. On the north side of the monument is the inscription, “The Lord God Om¬ nipotent Reigneth;” on the south, “Erected by a Grateful and Sorrowing Congregation;” on the east, “Rector A. D. 1845 to A- D. 1854;” while on the west, “Rev. James H. Fowles. Bom Nov. 27, A. D. 1812. Died March 5, 1854.” At the time of his death Mr. Fowles was forty-one years old- Church of the Epiphany, Philadelphia. 347 The vaults which have not yet been opened are No. 20, Joshua Cowpland’s; No. 18, Alan Robinett’s; No. 44, Edward Olmsted’s; No. 23, De Vine’s, and No. 39, Tenbrook’s. OLD MACHtTSLAH CEMETERY. A visit was paid to the Machpelah Cemetery this morning, and Secretary E. M. Allen, of the Society, stated that no bodies had been raised to-day. He was at his desk exchanging old for new deeds for lots in the North Mount Moriah Cemetery. When the bodies, or mostly bones, are raised they are placed in boxes and interred in cemeteries in different parts of the city and country where lot-holders have procured lots. While speaking of the raising of the bodies, Mr. Allen said it would probably be begun by the latter part of this week or the beginning of next. Questioned about the exchange of old deeds for new ones, he said: “There has been no serious obstruction to the plan of the removal of the bodies. The lot-holders are all in line and in favor of the movement, and the whole opera¬ tion will finally be a complete success. No serious trouble has been made, only by those who merely had the privilege of burying in their relatives’ lots, and by a few other outside intruders who attempted to interfere with the affaira Qf the Society.”