In a message dated 7/8/2004 12:23:27 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:


> Speaking of Quaker cemeteries, was there a trend not to mark graves with
> headstones during the 1790s?  Dr. Elisha Dick, who attended George
> Washington's
> last illness, was buried in the Quaker cemetery in Alexandria when he died.
> There seem to be no stones there.  Would anyone know of any records that
> could be
> used to locate the grave?
> John Shroeder
>

John, Joyce and Deboray,

Regarding Quakers and use of headstones, to quote from a post by Thomas Hamm
of Earlham College (Quaker) to the Quaker-Roots list many years ago (and
message oft-repeated):  "...To answer your question on tombstones, until around
1850, the Discipline of the various American yearly meetings of Friends, whether
Hicksite or Orthodox, was clear--Friends were not supposed to have tombstones.
 In practice, the enforcement varied drastically.....Pre-1850 markers in
Quaker burying grounds around Philadelphia are rare, whether Hicksite or
Orthodox...On the other hand, some meetings were apparently more liberal.  I have found
markers in North Carolina Quaker graveyards that obviously date to the
eighteenth century...."
(http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/QUAKER-ROOTS/1998-06/0899129822)

In other words, it was very likely that there never was a headstone for Dr.
Elijah Dick.  However, and Joyce correct me if I am wrong, but there is a
brick/stone monument to Elijah Dick on the front grounds just to the east of the
entrance to the Queen Street Library, and one can always hike a mile or so to
the Masonic Temple and take a look at George Washington's wooden teeth and other
artifcats.

Finally, the list to which I believe Deborah Byrd was referring is the
rootsweb Quaker-Roots list.   One can view the archives by date by entering the name
"Quaker-Roots" at archiver.rootsweb.com.   Or can search the archives by
entering the list name at searches2.rootsweb.com.    To subscribe send an email to
[log in to unmask]   Subject:  Mailing List.   Message
(only one word):  subscribe.

Best Regards,
Janet Hunter (in California)






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