In a message dated 10/4/02 11:56:23 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: > Recently I was reading Maxwell and Swisher and discovered that they have a > section on old Town of Romney graveyards, including names of people who > were buried in the various graveyards that are now gone. Sorry, I don't > have a copy of the book so I can't help with a direct quote. Wayne, I'm > fairly certain that the library in Capon Bridge has a copy of Maxwell and > Swisher. > I have a copy of the book but am uncertain due to copyright laws how much I can write. Maybe I can just go in and find the names and list them? But here is a little bit that may explain something. REMEMBER when reading this, we are in the present day of the year 1897. History of Hampshire County, by Maxwell and Swisher Chapter XXXVII Cemeteries of Romney: Pg. 419: "So far as can be ascertained from extant traditions, the first burying place for the dead of Romney was situated on the public square on which the court house was afterwards built, but the graves were between the present court house and the Kellar hotel, on the site and in the rear of the present bank of Romney. It is probable that the first dead of the town were laid to their last rest in that old cemetery. But there were many; for there is evidence that it was still used as a burying ground after the beginning of the present century. Old people a few years ago could remember when the graves could be distinguished, one from another. But the land was occupied by houses and gardens; and the plow finally obliterated each." "It is related, that after the ground ceased to be used as a burying place, and was appropriated as a garden, a person in walking through the high grass and rank weeds would sometimes stumble into the deeply sunken graves. No stone now marks the sight of a single tomb, and the name of a single person who was buried there cannot now be ascertained. In their day they no doubt believed they were filling a place in the world of the living which would be entitle them to, and secure for them, at least a gravestone to mark their narrow house in the realm of the dead. But such has not been the case. No doubt, in that old cemetery lie the men who saved from the tomahawk of the savage many a frontier home in Hampshire; and who, in their lives, were looked upon as the protectors, defenders, and saviors of the people and their homes, when the cruel Indian and his no less cruel white ally made wide desolation among the frontiers." In regard to the Presbyterian church cemetery it states on page 423: "The land occupied by the cemetery was given by Andrew Wodrow and was deed to James Beach, William Inskeep, Adam Hare [Heare] and John Lawson, as trustees. The church was several years in building. The aisle took up half the interior space. The first elder in the church, William Naylor, was among the first to be buried there. He was a lawyer, and a pillar in the Presbyterian church." Connie, you would probably know how much can I quote, list, etc. from the book. I don't mind transcribing this if it's acceptable. I hope I haven't gone too far in quoting the above. Not everyone can go out and spend the $80 but IF anyone is interested and wants a copy of History of Hampshire County by Maxwell and Swisher (reprints of the 1897 edition) It is a hardbound book, 774 pages. You can contact Dan Oates, 51 W. Birch Lane, Romney, WV 26757; (304) 822-4410; email: [email protected] or you can go to the Hampshire Review office.