Once upon a time, in Charleston

 

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From the St.Michael's website: St. Michael’s Church is the oldest church edifice in the City of Charleston, standing on the site of the first Anglican Church built south of Virginia. In the 1680’s a small wooden church, the first in the new town of Charles Town, was built on this spot for the families of the Church of England, and named St. Philip’s. By 1727, the town had grown too large for the small church and a more spacious one was built of brick on Church Street, later destroyed by fire in 1835.

 

By 1751, St. Philip’s had again proved too small for the increasing population, and another church as authorized by the General Assembly of the Province, to be built on the old site and to be known as St. Michael’s. The cornerstone was laid in 1752 and in 1761 the church was opened for services. Except for the addition of the sacristy in 1883 on the southeast corner, the structure of the building has been little changed.

IN MEMORY of

ROBERT STEDMAN

who died on y 9th of

Sept AD 1766 in y

45d Year of his Age.

He was much refpected

and therefore is

regretted by all who

knew him

Here Rest The Remains Of

JAMES REID PRINGLE

Ninth Son of

William Bull and Mary M. Pringle

Born in this City 8th October 1842

In the recent war

He served as a Captain

In the First Regiment of

South Carolina Artillery

IN MEMORY

OF

JAMES RICHARDSON

a native of Westmoreland

ENGLAND

for many years a resident

Merchant in Havana.

Whilst on a visit to this City

for the benefit of his health.

he departed this life

on the 13th of March 1831

aged 41 years

Pringle family head stones

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All photos by TheRaven

Charleston, SC

December, 2005

Sure reward of piety and virtue

SACRED
To the never(?) ___ Memory
of
SARAH W. READ.
The Youngest Daughter
of
DR. WILLIAM
and
SARAH READ
Who died on the 31st of May 1833.
In the Meridian of her life,
Constant and steadfast in all
Religious and moral duties.
She was the support and comfort
of her aged Parent.
The delight of her relatives
connexions and friends
Her death leaves a melancholy
void in the domestic and
social circle and grief is
assuaged by the well founded
hope of her Eternal bliss
the sure reward of piety
and virtue.

J. White

 

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Photo by TheRaven

Charleston, SC

Dec, 2005

But for many years a respectable Citizen of the United States

In
Memory of
Capt. James Maud Elford
A native of Bristol England,
But for many years a respectable
Citizen of the United States.
Who died in Charleston 25th Jan Y1826
Aged Fifty-Four Years.
When this experienced and successful
Sea Captain Retired From Navigation
It was only to Study and reveal its theory
And lend the lights of his genius to
His brethren of the Ocean.
He was the author of several scientific
Nautical inventions.
Particularly of an admirable system
Of Marine Telegraphic Signals.
Which afford the Sea the same
Facilities of language
As the Land.
He was prosperous and happy
In domestic life.
And his Widow and twelve Children
Mourn his decease.

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Photo by TheRaven

Charleston, SC

Dec, 2005

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UPDATE: How long does it take the web's most enlightened community to solve riddles of history? A visit to this post on Ta-Nehisi Coates blog on theAtlantic.com says not long at all. The grave stone mentions "Marine Telegraphic Signals", which turns out to be a reference to Elford's Universal Signals, originally published in this book. Further history on Elford is provided by this page in a history of Charleston newspapers, found on GoogleBooks.