10 Most Interesting Things At First Scots Presbyterian Church/Graveyard

Our team visited our church, First Scots Presbyterian twice. Once before we went off for break and then on yesterday, right after church service. We walked around the church and graveyard to find the top 10 most appealing sights to us collectively. 

1. This gravestone was found interesting to us because it is so old it is caved in. Jaxon said he recognized this grave stone in the yard because on Find A Grave he saw the picture had a stain just like this one in the graveyard. 

2. Bryce found this tombstone interesting because he said that it was very small and mostly in the ground. Even though there isn't any words on it to see, he also thought the shape of it was nice. It wasn't another tombstone in the graveyard like this. 

3. Jaxon found this interesting because it lists the name of the commanders, lieutenants, and colonels buried here in the graveyard. It does not give much information, but it does look incomplete because it has lots of dots.

4. This box tomb is located in the middle of the graveyard and is very unique. There are many other box tombs in the graveyard but this is the only one that the cemetery workers seem to let plants grow around the side. For example, one other box tomb is featured in the back right of this picture and is kept groomed nicely.

5. This is a picture from the back of the church to the front. We went in right after service on Sunday and were amazed by how beautiful it was. There was also an upstairs area to sit down during service. There were also many beautiful stain glass windows.

6. This was inside the church along the wall side to the left. This plaque pays respect towards Gece Murray, a deputy Secretary of South Carolina. He was a “gentleman of rigid honesty and inflexible integrity.” (This quote was found on the plaque). He died on the 24th of September, 1772.

7. This one was also an interesting plaque that was found towards the back of the church. It is in memory of George Maculay. Maculay was a 55 year resident of Charleston and a resident of the church for 35 years. The monument was dedicated by his sons George and Daniel only a week after his passing in May 1826, at 82 years old.

8. This is a picture towards the back of the graveyard where many big gravestones and lined up very closely together down a long brick wall. Most of these gravestones were probably damaged and some point and had to be moved against the wall to help support them and keep them standing tall.

9. The two photos above, is located near the church. Not directly in the graveyard with the rest of the tombstones. Our group found these interesting because it is one of few stones that is well kept and looks fairly new. However, it is old so it could have been replaced over the years. The tomb reads "Here Lyeith, the body of Mifs Keturah Liston who was born in this town 29th day of October 1732 and departed this Life after a lingering Illnefs on the 5th day of November 1757. Aged 25 years. 

10. This amazing stone stood out to our group because it is very unnoticeable. It is often walked over er because we didn't even notice it. This is right at the entrance of the graveyard. It is mainly only seen if you are looking down while you are walking. This reads "John William and Ann Bailey, August 23, 1970. Beloved children of Brenda and Thomas H. Dukes III. Of such is the kingdom of God."

This post was produced by Bryce, Gee, and Jaxon.

Old Charlestonian Project

Dr. Alexander Baron was a very important man in Charleston. He was born in Kincardine, Scotland in 1745. Baron died on January 9, 1819 and was buried at First Scots Presbyterian Church. He graduated from medical school at Edinburgh in 1768 and came to Charleston in 1769. A painting of Baron is located in the Gibbs Museum of Art.

Painting of Dr. Alexander Baron found on Gibbs Museum of Art

When Baron moved to Charleston he purchased the Governors House Inn for 4500 pounds (equivalent to approximately 6,000 US Dollars). The house was owned by two signers of the Declaration of Independence before Baron purchased it.

Governors House Inn

After many years of practice, Baron became known as a specialists in obstetrics which is the branch of medicine and surgery with childbirth and the care of women giving birth. He was on of the founders of the Medical Society of South Carolina and served for 28 years as the president of the St. Andrews Society. The St. Andrews Society is the oldest charitable society in South Carolina.

Baron's Gravestone

Baron's gravestone was located directly in the middle of the graveyard. I specifically chose him because I thought it was interesting how the sextons of the graveyard allowed the plants to grow around the side. I also used this picture because I wanted to show how the other box tomb in the box has nothing growing on the sides so I thought this was significant.

Magnolia Cemetery: Older than The Virgin Mary?

Magnolia Cemetery is by far the most amazing graveyard I have visited in my life. The variety of different gravestones was amazing and the setting on the water just topped it off. The cemetery opened in 1850 and now contains more than 35,000 buried bodies, including seven confederate generals. I was stunned by the art and amount of time that was probably put in on a lot of these gravestones.

The layout of the cemetery was beautiful. Two decent sized ponds along with the marsh towards the back of the cemetery. There were many amazing trees including the giant oak towards the end of our tour. The walk ability was great, we were able to walk up to almost every grave and there was a defined walkway that went around the entire cemetery.

My favorite gravestone was Rosalie Raymond's. Raymond was only an infant when she passed away but the gravestone is very unique. The gravestone is the shape of stroller or crib and contains flowers as well as a painted picture of the infant. She was born January 27th 1887 and died September 5th 1889.

My second favorite gravestone was the mausoleum of the Lipinski family. The amazing little building was built by Tara Lipinski's parents, famous figure skater, and her parents plan to rest inside of it after life. Interestingly enough, I actually had the opportunity to visit her beautiful mansion on Kiawah Island this past summer.

The final gravestone that I was interested in was a pyramid tomb. The grave looked interesting but the inside is what was very intriguing to me. The inside had a giant hole it in where you could see at least 5 layers of concrete underground.

The Headstone on Campus

Imagine strolling to class on a Monday morning and passing a gravestone on campus. At College of Charleston this is a norm for me every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. If I am being honest, I had never noticed this gravestone until it was pointed out to me today. Former President, Andrew Jackson's, mother's tombstone is the one located here.

Elizabeth Hutchinson Jackson's Grave; Located in Cougar Mall

Elizabeth Hutchinson Jackson is the name of the mother of our 7th president. Elizabeth died in Charleston in the Fall of 1781, when Andrew was only 14 years old. She became ill with ship's fever (cholera) after leaving her children and tending to soldiers in the Charleston area.  But, the more interesting part of this story is how the gravestone got to where it is today. 

After Elizabeth's death, she was buried in on a hill in a simple unmarked grave. Andrew Jackson attempted for years to find the location of her bones to bury next to his father but was unable to do so. It is believed her body is located somewhere in Lancaster, South Carolina. 

In 1942, Elizabeth Jackson's gravestone was moved to Charleston on the corner of King Street and Heriot Street. After controversy about the gravestone having weeds obscure it and being in an unsanitary area, the president of the College of Charleston agreed to have the gravestone moved to the Cougar Mall where it has been placed since 1967.

The Greatest Great Grandfather

Have you ever heard of Malcolm Dewitt Jr? Probably not but he was a popular man in Charleston! My Great Grandfather's name is Malcolm Sanders DeWitt Jr., he is a native of Charleston and was born on November 25, 1912. He was the son of Malcolm Sanders Dewitt, one of seven siblings, and attended schools in the Charleston County School District. Like many people during this time, my great grandfather did not graduate high school.

My great grandfather was a local professional boxer in Charleston and his son (my maternal grandfather) followed in his foot steps and is now in the boxing Hall of Fame at the University of South Carolina. After his boxing career ended, my great grandfather became a fireman and later in his career became the Battalion Chief at the Charleston Fire Department.  He married Leona Edwards, another Charleston native, and had four sons with her.

My great grandfather in uniform at the fire station.

My great grandfather was also popular for selling fish. He caught the fish with his bare hands and he coined the nickname "Fish." Many of his colleagues would call him this as well as his friends and family.

I was unable to find the gravestone of my great grandfather but I know he died on June 19,1995 and is buried at Plantation Memorial Cemetery in Summerville, South Carolina. I used Ancestory.com as a source for this project but my grandmother was also a huge help as well.

Bethel UMC Scavenger Hunt

Last Monday September 30, we visited Bethel UMC (United Methodists Church). We photographed a variety of different cemetery icons or symbols. Bethel UMC is a historic landmark that has been around since 1797. The church welcomed and continues to welcome all races.

This tomb stone includes a wreath along with a bird. The wreath represents a symbol of victory or redemption. The wreath can also be associated with someone who works with arts, literature, athletics or military. This bird is most likely a dove. The dove represents the Holy Spirit in christianity. The dove is also in flight which represents a "winged soul" which means eternal life.

This tomb stone has a cloth draped over it which some believe is a symbol to guard the grave. Others believe it signifies the last partition between life and death.

I though this tombstone was very interesting. There appears to be a smiley face in the end of some sort of instrument over the top of a plant. I believe the instrument most likely represents one that is played on judgement day.

The cross is the most common symbol found on gravestones. It shows religious ties as well as the symbol of the crucifix.

This grave stone has an angel on it. It is very common for angels to appear on graves. Like on this gravestone, it is common for the angel to be faced or looking upwards. It is hard to tell what the angel is carrying int this picture but is most likely a sword for defense or a horn to represent the day of judgement.

The animal looks like a lamb, which is the most common animal found on a gravestone. The lamb was first used on gravestones by Egyptians but is still commonly used all throughout the world. It signifies purity and innocence.

A book can mean two different thing. One being that the person buried here was a scholar and the other just representing the "Book of Life." The wreath can also be associated with someone who works with arts, literature, athletics or military. Having both of these on the gravestone probably mean this person's life had something to do with literature.

I am unaware of what kind of plant this is on the grave stone but I believe it is the morning glory. This plant can represent resurrection or mourning.

It is common for a cross to go through a crown. The crown and cross together represent sovereignty of the Lord.

Jewish Cemetery

This week on Saturday (YES SATURDAY) our class went to visit the K.K. Beth Elohim cemetery where we were attended by Anita Moise Rosenberg and Randi Serrins. The KKBE cemetery is the oldest surviving Jewish cemetery in the south from Spain and Portugal because it was the first place in the world where Jews could own land and vote. 

The Jews came to the south in the late 1600s. The cemetery has "over 800 people buried here and contains over 500 graves" (Rosenberg).  10 revolutionary war soldiers and and 21 confederate soldiers are buried here.

A sign next to the entrance of the cemetery

Interesting facts about the jewish cemeteries: The jews are very precise about where people are buried. Anita told us that all the bodies are "exactly 6 feet underground and buried close together but never on top of one another." When someone in the jewish community dies, it was normal to quickly have them buried. Another interesting fact is that it is very unusual for a synagogue (place for Jewish people to worship) to be close to a cemetery, unlike the graveyards at the Protestant and Catholic churches. 

Theodore Beltzer

This is Theodore Belitzer, he lived near the graveyard and grew up in the KKBE synagogue. About two years ago, a man was taking photos of the cemetery and noticed a ghost in his camera so he called Randi and Anita over to the cemetery. After arriving and seeing the photos, Randi told us "we concluded that it was Theodore Belitzer, he was the only person we found in our studies that did not have their proper burial cite." Interestingly, the ghost did have the shape of him in this picture.

Grave being restored because it collapsed.

Grave with rocks placed on it.

                                             

In the Jewish community it is common to place rocks on top of graves. This began because years and years ago when people would be buried in the desert, animals would come dig up the body and eat it. Placing piles of rocks on top of where the body was buried kept the animals away and allowed the dead body to rest in peace.