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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