AN EPITAPH SAMPLER
Collected and transcribed by Ronald J. Dupont, Jr., 1992.
We mourn thy sudden quick remove >From each and all engagements here; When Christ commands we must obey Without a struggle or a fear. James Garlinghouse, 23 (1832) Vernon Churchyard* * * * The blest remains of the just Shall flourish when they sleep in dust. Christopher Simonson, 66 (1841) Vernon Churchyard* * * * Farewell Husband and Children Dear, I leave you in Jehovah's care. Whatever trials you may see, Prepare for death and follow me. Elizabeth Farber, 81 (1842) Farber Cemetery* * * * Friends nor physicians Could not save This dying body from the grave Nor can the grave Confine it here When Christ commands it To appear John Sammis, 64, (1845) Sammis Cemetery* * * * Friends nor physicians could not save This mortal body from the grave, Nor can the grave contain it here When Christ in judgement shall appear. Silas Gardner,78 (1846) Moshure Cemetery* * * * A soldier of the Revolution. Zenus Riggs, 87 (1847) Moshure Cemetery* * * * 'Tis God that lifts our comforts high, Or sinks them in the grave. He gives and blessed be his name- He takes but what he gave. Catharine Smith,54 (1848) Canistear Cemetery* * * * Go home dear friends and shed no tears I must lie here till Christ appears And at his coming I hope to have A joyful rising from the grave Be faithful then, my friends and companions dear, [rest of inscription buried] John Van Winkle, 22 (1849) Glenwood Cemetery* * * * Brother, thou art gone to rest, Thine is an early tomb. But Jesus summond thee away Thy Saviour called thee home. John Toland, 13 (1850) Glenwood Cemetery* * * * Dearest Brother thou hast left us. And thy loss we deeply feel; Yet again we hope to meet thee When the day of life is o'er And claim & know thee as our Brother Where pain & parting is no more. Peter P.Francisco, (age?) (1852) Vernon Churchyard* * * * She lives in Heaven. Sarah Edsall, 24 (1853) Vernon Churchyard* * * * Dearest Father thou hast left us Here thy loss we deeply feel But 'tis God that hath bereft us He can all our sorrows heal. William Rhodes, 60 (1853) Glenwood Cemetery* * * * We loved her, yes, no tongue can tell How much we loved her, and how well. God loved her, too, and he thought best To take her home to be at rest. Emily J. Edsall, 24 (1856) Warwick Cemetery* * * * What soever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might, for there is no work nor device nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave, whither thou goes. Isaac Tompkins, 66 (1857) Vernon Churchyard* * * * Weep not for me, my husband dear. I am not dead, but sleeping here. May you and our dear children there Be prepared to follow me. Hila C. Parker, 31 (1861) Moshure Cemetery* * * * Dearest Mother thou has left us And thy loss we deeply feel, But 'tis God that hath bereft us, He can all our sorrows heal. Deborah Green, 62 (1862) Moshure Cemetery* * * * I have fought a good fight, I have fin- ished my counsel, I have kept the faith. Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous judge, shall give me at that day, and not to me only but to all them also that love his appearing. 2 Tim IV 7-8 Abigail Giveans, 59 (1863) Vernon Churchyard* * * * Behold & see as you pass by-- As you or yours, so once was I As I am now, so you must be Prepare for death and follow me. Abraham Rutan, 75 (1864) Vernon Churchyard* * * * Dearest Wife thou hast left us And the loss we deeply feel, But 'tis God that hath bereft us, He can all our sorrows heal. Margaret Mann, 51 (1864) Cherry Ridge Cemetery* * * * He is not dead, the child of our affection, But gone unto that school Where he no longer needs our poor protection And Christ himself doth rule. Edward B. Allen, 19 (1865) Vernon Churchyard* * * * Jesus, the vision of thy fate Hath overpowering charms. Scarce shall I feel death's cold embrace If Christ be in my arms. The remnant [....................] Is the people of God [.........] (Break in tombstone here) [..................] beyond the sky Is everlasting day. Through flood and flame the passage be But Jesus guards the way The swelling flood and raging flame Hear and obey his word. Then let us triumph in His name, The saviour is the Lord. Daniel Green Jr, 16 (1865) Moshure Cemetery* * * * I know that my Redeemer Liveth and That He shall stand at the latter Day upon the earth. And though after death worms destroy this Body, yet in my flesh shall I see God. Ezekiel Webb, 54 (1865) Moshure Cemetery* * * * "I heard a low whisper and a sweet voice saying, how sweetly we sleep here below." Abagail A. Perry, 55 (1866) Vernon Churchyard* * * * DEAREST HERBERT THOU DIDST BUT TOUCH THIS EARTH ON THY WAY TO GLORY Herbert Drew, 3 months (1870) Glenwood Cemetery* * * * The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Susan Martin, 66 (1872) Glenwood Cemetery* * * * I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. Psalms 17-15. Rhoda Van Winkle, 75 (1872) Glenwood Cemetery* * * * While in this tomb our father lies, His spirit rests above; In realms of bliss it never dies, But knows a Saviour's love. Thomas A. Mann, 62 (1873) Cherry Ridge Cemetery* * * * OUR FATHER AND MOTHER: GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN Daniel Bailey, 47 (1839), and Jane Bailey, 85 (1874) Glenwood Cemetery* * * * The angels called him home. George E. Strait, 7 (1876) Canistear Cemetery* * * * "How sadly we miss thee." John Van Winkle, 26 (1877) Glenwood Cemetery.* * * * Dear is the memory of the departed. Mary Quick Baxter, 55 (1878) Glenwood Cemetery* * * * I take these little lambs' souls And lay them in my breast. Protection they shall find in me And be forever blest. Maggie May Crane, 4 (1878) Canistear Cemetery* * * * For I am now ready to be altered And the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have marked My course, I have kept the faith. Hereforth there is laid up for me, A crown of righteousness, which the Lord The righteous Judge, shall give me at that day. Robert M. Maybee, 49 (1879) Canistear Cemetery* * * * For the living know that they shall die. -- Eccl. 9:4-5. John Mabee, 62 (1880) Moshure Cemetery* * * * We miss thee at the fireside and at the hour of prayer For God hath said, well done, come and my glory share. We are parted but a little while, thou art but gone before Thou are waiting for thy loved ones on ed'ns gold paved shore. Sharp Baxter, 65 (1881) Glenwood Cemetery* * * * I know that my Redeemer liveth. Ramah Martin, 19 (1883) Glenwood Cemetery* * * * Mother we miss thee A light from our Home is gone, A voice we loved is stilled, A place is vacant in our Home, That never can be filled. Catharine E. Card, 78 (1890) Cherry Ridge Cemetery* * * * For me to live is Christ, To die is gain. Susan Edsall, 65 (1894) Vernon Churchyard* * * * I know that my Redeemer Liveth Elias Crane, 45 (1895) Canistear Cemetery* * * * Brother, thou art gone to rest. John R. Simpson, 58 (1895) Vernon Churchyard* * * * The Lord loveth, so he taketh. Josephine Crabtree, 52 (1898) Vernon Churchyard* * * * For we know that if our Earthly tabernacle were disolved, We have a building of God, An house not made with Hands, eternal in the heavens Belle Cooper, 28 (1899) Canistear Cemetery* * * * Dear is the spot where our loved one sleeps, And sweet the strains her spirit pours. Oh, why should we in anguish weep? She is not lost, but gone before. Carrie A. Crane, 20 (1900) Canistear Cemetery* * * * For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. Carlos Allen, 88 (1903) Vernon Churchyard* * * * "Asleep in Jesus, blessed sleep." Rebecca Toland, 78 (1905) Glenwood Cemetery* * * * I look for the Resurrection of the Dead And the Life of the World To Come Ely Family Inscription, c.1914 Warwick Cemetery* * * * Oh who but must wish in this dark vale of tears >From its clouds and it's shadows to go To walk in the light of the glory above And to share in the peace and the joy and the love Of the land that no mortal may know. Anne Elizabeth Bailey, 77 (1918) Glenwood Cemetery* * * * I DESIRE TO DEPART (from the Wantage Recorder, 27 February 1903.) By the Late Carlos Allen, M.D., Whose Obituary Appears in Another Place -- Lines Written Just Before The Writer of Them Was Last Week Called Away From His Home in Vernon by Death. PHILIPPIANS 1:23 ["I am caught in this dilemma: I want to be gone and be with Christ, which would be very much the better."] I desire to depart, altho' life still is sweet, And blessings attend on the steps of my feet, And all the more precious the longer possessed, Yet I would not live always, O no, I would rest. My early companions have gone on before; Though some are still left me, o'er yonder are more. They're constantly passing, but few yet remain. I fain would depart and be with them again. My vision is clouded, but one thing is clear, I'm a stranger and pilgrim, my home is not here. I grope among mysteries, but not in despair, I desire to depart, there is light for me there. O God, in thy works thou hast hidden thy face, But in Jesus we learn of they mercy and grace, And O blessed Jesus, my Saviour and guide, I desire to depart and with thee abide. The years have rolled onward, their footprints we trace, I accept without fear the great doom of my race; The earth's fond attractions grow less to my heart, I am waiting my summons O Lord,to depart.