An easily identified work of the Master of the Robinson Run Reliefs, whose trademarks are all present:
thistle decoration flanked by flowers
fan patterns in the corners
curled tail on the top of the lower-case g in age
“IN” in all capitals, “memory of” in all lower case, name in all upper case.
Interestingly, there is a Henry Huls buried in the Peters Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, whose tombstone is also by the Master of the Robinson Run Reliefs. We therefore know of at least three cemeteries in which this fine craftsman worked.
The inscription: IN memory of AMELIA HULS who departed this life April 16th 1836 in the 49 year of her age
The old Bethel Cemetery is full of Gillfillans (or Gilfillans), whose memorials are in all styles from the early settlers’ handmade tombstones to elaborate marble monuments from the middle 1800s.
IN
memory of
SARAH GILLFILLAN
Who departed this Life
March the 2nd 1818 aged
20 years.
IN Memory of ALEXANDER GILLFILLAN Who departed this Life Agust the 11th 1821 in the 27th year of his age.
SACRED to the memory of ALEX’R GILLFILLAN who departed this life Sep. 6th, 1836 in the 91st year of his AGE.
PVT 4 CO 2 PA BN WASHINGTON COUNTY MILITIA REVOLUTIONARY WAR 1745–1836
SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF MARTHA, Wife of ALEXANDER GILFILLAN who departed this life February 19th, 1840 In the 81st year of her age.
JOHN GILLFILLAN BORN JUNE 21, 1784 DIED JUNE 20, 1859. — “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.”
ALEXANDER SON OF JOHN & MARGARET GILLFILLAN Who died in Philada. Dec. 7, 1845 Reinterred in this place Jan 1, 1846 in the 26 year of his age. Resident[?] of Jefferson Medical College Philadelphia
IN MEMORY OF JOHN SON OF ANDREW B. AND ANN GILFILLAN WHO VOLUNTEERED IN THE SERVICE OF HIS COUNTRY SEPT. 1861. IN CO. E. 101ST REGT. PA. VOL. WAS WOUNDED AT THE BATTLE OF FAIR OAKS AND DIED JULY 1ST 1862, AGED 23 YEARS AND 11 DAYS.
If Father Pitt reads this eroded inscription correctly, this is a tombstone for a two-year-old child named William Davis, son of James and Eliza Davis, who died in 1848. The epitaph is almost certainly a poem, but illegible in this light. The tombstone itself is a restrained example of the middle-nineteenth-century style that old Pa Pitt calls the “poster style,” because it resembles the style of printed posters of the same era.
Two ledgers marking the grave of a minister of the old Bethel Church and his wife. The inscriptions long ago eroded away, but fortunately the Rev. John’s was duplicated on a bronze tablet.
HERE LIES THE BODY OF THE REV. JOHN CLARK WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE JULY THE 16TH, A. D. 1797 IN THE 79TH YEAR OF HIS AGE.
“IN YONDER CHURCH I SPENT MY BREATH AND NOW LIE SLUMBERING HERE IN DEATH: THESE LIPS SHALL RISE AND THEN DECLARE AMEN TO TRUTHS THEY PUBLISHED THERE.”
DURING THE WHISKEY INSURRECTION, REV. JOHN CLARK MET WITH THE ANGRY FARMERS AT FORT COUCH ON JULY 17, 1794, IN AN EFFORT TO PREVENT AN ATTACK AT BOWER HILL, ON THE HOME OF GEN. JOHN NEVILLE, FEDERAL TAX COLLECTOR.
Addendum: Here is an account of that same incident from Hugh Henry Brackenridge, who was an eyewitness to many of the most important events of the Whiskey Rebellion:
“Great pains were taken, at Couche’s fort, by an aged and venerable clergymen, the reverend John Clark, to dissuade the people from the object they had in view. It was to no purpose. They considered him as in his dotage; or as having skill in spiritual affairs; but not in the temporal interests of the country. It may be thought from hence, that dissuasion from no one, could have had effect. That does not follow. Regard might have been paid to the representations of those who were supposed to know the law, and to be able to calculate the probable consequences of the act.”
——Incidents of the Insurrection, Chapter III.
Unfortunately the inscription for Mrs. Clark was not duplicated before it vanished, partly eroded and partly obscured by the bronze plaque that replaced it.
These pictures were taken in 2015, but have never been published here before.
EDWARD H. KELLEY,
DIED
May 27, 1849,
In the 41 year
of his age.
In the 1840s and 1850s the style of tombstone old Pa Pitt likes to call “poster style” became popular—a style that resembles printed posters of the time. The stone is usually limestone, which is soft and easily eroded; so that many of these stones are almost illegible now.
Bethel Cemetery has a good collection of poster-style tombstones, and this article will serve as a good introduction to the style.
ELIZABETH MISSKELLY
DIED
Aug. 7, 1847
in the 90th (?) year…
[the rest is buried]
HANNAH SAWYER
DIED
Nov. 2, 1849,
In the 19 year
of her age.
MARY ? SAWYER
DIED
March 22, 1849
In the 15 year
of her age.
ABAGAIL
Wife of
JOSEPH WOODS
died March 20, 1850,
in the 35 year of her age.
—
Also an Infant son…
MARY —?
daughter of
J. & A. WOODS
died Jan — 18—?
Aged 1 year…
Died May 23, 1848
Mrs SARAH WOODS
WIFE OF
Mr. JOHN WOODS
in the 34 Year
of her age.
SARAH HICKMAN
DIED
Jan 18, 1848…
ANN,
wife of
THOMAS MORROW,
died July 26, 1849,
in the 37 year
of her age.
ELIZABETH, PA.
MARY,
WIFE OF
THOMAS MORROW
BORN
MAY 18, 1810,
DIED
MAY 26, 1858.
JAMES KIDDOO
DIED
Sep. 20, 1823
in the 61 Year
of his age.
We can see James’ wife Mary’s stone leaning against his; she died in 1847, and James’ stone was probably ordered at the same time as hers, since it is definitely in the style of the 1840s rather than the 1820s.
