Maria T. McHugh BLOG!!

Public Library card for
Maria T. McHugh

Grave of Maria T. McHugH

Pictured above is the gravestone of Maria T. McHugh. Her headstone is quite eye-catching with the flowered cross on top. On the side of her grave is a verse from the Bible: "I have loved, O Lord, the beauty of thy house and the place where thy glory dwelleth." Ps. 25-8. I have decided to research Maria T. McHugh who died May 29th, 1880 and was born on June 5th, 1812. I have decided to research her because her grave marker sticks out and shows that the people who buried her and designed this marker had a beautiful vision and much love and appreciation for her.

Miss Maria T. McHugh was born on June 5th, 1812 and died May 29th, 1880. She aged 68 years and died from old age. In 1861 there was a City of Charleston census prepared by Frederick A. Ford where he found that the total population in 1861 was 48,409. He gave a list of the different types of houses found in Charleston as well as the population of whites, slaves, and freed persons of color along with genders and ages. In this census, Maria T. McHugh is mentioned on page 37 of the census as living in a house on #77 Beaufain Street. Maria T. 

HcHugh was also mentioned on page of The Catholic Church in the United States of America where it says that "The church again fell into serious financial difficulties, and was extricated only by bequest of $4,000 made by Miss Maria T. McHugh." This quote from this book is saying that St. Marys Church had serious financial problems in 1869 and Maria T. McHugh helped the church out by giving them $4,000.

Unfortunately, there is not much information on Maria T. McHugh other than on the City of Charleston census, the Catholic Church in the United States of America, and the Yearbook of 1897 of Charleston. Unfortunately, I could not access the 1897 Charleston Yearbook online, although it did give me a sneak peak about her donation to the St. Marys Roman Catholic Church to get them out of their financial struggle.  

Research Proposal

I have decided to research Maria T. McHugh who died May 29th, 1880 and was born on June 5th, 1812. I have decided to research her because her grave marker sticks out and shows that the people who buried her and designed this marker had a beautiful vision and much love and appreciation for her.

B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L. Magnolia Cemetery

When I first walked into Magnolia Cemetery, I saw a family of geese just strolling on the path. The cemetery goes back as far as the eye can see, covering about 150 acres of land with around 35,000 people buried here. Magnolia Cemetery is a popular destination for tourists to go exploring, you can find more information on Charlestons popular Bulldog tours website. 

The cemetery has many curly roads covered in gravel, the trees are covered in Spanish moss giving the cemetery a very old look... probably because it is just that old! The cemetery has a park like design and about 2 ponds, which is why the geese were waddling around! 

click here for more
information 

This Mausoleum is quite fascinating and different from the other grave markers and mausoleums I saw throughout the graveyard. At first glance it looks like a small church, this mausoleum is a great example of 19th century Victorian necropolis. Patricia & Jack Lipinski wanted to make sure this was built so that their daughter had less to do in the event of their death, so they hired Jason Craft to build this massive work of art. From the stain glass windows on every side of the walls to the beautiful architectural features, this mausoleum has truly captured the eyes of many, including daughter Tara Lipinski (AKA gold medalist 1998).

Rev.I.E.H Seymoui was a pastor at a baptist church in Unionville, SC    and died January 17, 1861. His grave marker stuck out to me because of its height and unique top sculpture. A woman on her knees praying up towards heaven and over a reef of flowers,  and there is also a symbol of angel wings on his grave as well. The discoloration on this side of the stone was interesting, the fact that it was lighter in the one middle spot... easy for visitors to read the name. Usually the grave markers from this time period are hard to read, however this one was quite easy to see.

The Grave marker for the Jones family in Magnolia Cemetery was quite beautiful and

honestly breathtaking. On each side was a tribute to the family members, the mother, father and son, with a different detailed sculpture on the top part of the grave marker. Each woman on the sides tells a different story, they are faced different directions with different hand gestures and different quotes underneath them. They seem to be quoting a bible verse: Rev. 14:13 (son's quote), 1 Corinthians 15:52 (mother's quote) and Job 14:1. 

Overall, Magnolia Cemetery was a beautiful place with so many untold stories and unfound mysteries that lie far and wide. The layout of the grounds itself is quite beautiful and honestly very peaceful, being right on the march and having a couple bodies of water, the rich vegetation with old trees... man if those trees could talk! So much of Charleston history lies within this "plot", so many stories and more to come. The cool thing about graveyards is the fact that everyone in them all come from different backgrounds, and each person that lies in there is important in their own way. Each person here was very clearly loved and the families and friends of the deceased had different ways of showing their appreciation and love for their lost loved one. Magnolia Cemetery was an amazing sight to see because I was able to see and imagine the type of love and appreciation others had for their lost ones, which was pretty amazing. 

The Mysterious Headstone

Elizabeth Jackson's headstone located in
front of Robert Scott Small Building

The words on this headstone read:

Near this spot is buried,

Elizabeth Jackson, 

Mother of President Andrew Jackson,

She gave her life cheerfully for 

the independence of her country,

on an unrecorded date in Nov. 1781,

And to her son Andy this advice: 

"Andy, never tell a lie, 

Nor take what is not your own,

Nor sue for slander,

Settle those cases yourself."

Andrew Jackson, son of Elizabeth
Jackson and 7th President
of the U.S.A. 

Elizabeth Jackson and her family moved to America in 1765 where they bought land and started a life for themselves. Years later when the British invaded Charleston, SC during the Revolutionary War, Elizabeth Jackson and her family came to Waxhaw church and helped the sick and wounded soldiers after the massacre in the Waxhaw settlement. Soon after the massacre, Andrew Jackson and two brothers joined a patriot regiment, where one of his brothers died. Soon after , the two brothers were captured and held as prisoners in Camden, SC. Elizabeth Jackson was able to arrange for her sons transfer, unfortunately both boys were infected with small pox and Andrew Jacksons brother died just after returning home. After her son Andrew Jackson got well she returned to Charleston Harbor and helped the wounded soldiers and prisoners in the Charleston Harbor. Shortly after, Elizabeth Jackson died from cholera during the cholera epidemic. According to Agnes Barton, Elizabeth Jackson was nursed in Mrs. Barton's home and when she died they buried her on a hill in a simple unmarked grave. So why is Elizabeth Jackson's headstone on the College of Charleston's campus? No one really knows, and no one really knows where she is buried. The marker was moved to its current location in 1967 from its original location about 2 1/2 miles uptown. 
There are many articles written about Andrew Jacksons mother and her life, but none can provide substantial evidence or truthful reasoning as to why  Elizabeth Jacksons headstone is on CofC campus. 

Thank you to these two websites for the information! Click here or here to read more. 

Storytime: Gen 6

When we received this assignment in class, I remembered my Gigi telling me about her brother in law researching her family. Jerry Breed, her sisters husband (Gigi's brother in law) traveled the country and used ancestory.com to find out a great deal of information about my family. As it turns out, my mothers side of the family dates back to 1695 in Germany! It was so interesting to find out that I am very German (on both my mothers side and my fathers side) because I am actually traveling to Germany over winter break... it is going to be so cool to see where my ancestors lived! 

Saphronia Beaver with son James
Franklin Beaver

Jerry Breed was able to get information dating all the way back to 1695, starting with generation 1, but what I found interesting while reading this report was a woman mentioned in generation 6. Saphronia Hazeltine Abernathy, Gigi's great grandmother, had an entire page of notes based on her life. She was born September 4th, 1840 in Hanging Dog Church, Cherokee and lived to be about 40 years old when she died in 1880 in Georgia. Based on the notes and stories from my great grandmother, Ruth Hagood, Saphronia Hazeltine Abernathy was quite the woman. 

Saphronia Abernathy married a man, Albert Deweese, and gave birth to a son William and then moved to Henrysville in Logan County, Kentucky around 1860. Her first husband, Albert, enlisted in the Civil War and she was widowed shortly after. Saphronia Abernathy and her children somehow made their way back to Cherokee County where she gave birth to another daughter, Ann (Nettie). It is said that Nettie's father was Jehu Reed, a man with a horrible reputation... he had reports of being a bushwhacker, abusive to his wife and children... Jehu Reed was even killed by his own cousins! People spoke harshly about Saphronia's life, judging her for her constant marriages... but you have to think, she was married by 16 and widowed by 23 with two children. She did what she could in order for her children to have a life, therefor she had to marry Jehu Reed for support, despite his reputation. After his death, luckily, things started to get better when she married into my family by marrying Samuel Stewart Beaver (B. 1846 D. 1930) in North Carolina, 1870. They moved to Georgia where she gave birth to my Gigi's grandfather, James Franklin Beaver (1878), and happily lived out the rest of her life until her death in 1880. 

Graveyard Symbol Scavenger Hunt

September 30. 2019. Bethel UMC Symbols Scavenger Hunt.

Bethel United Methodist Church has been around for nearly 220 years, and its first location serviced both blacks and whites until 1852 (building was relocated). The building now known as Old Bethel was donated to the black congregation in 1876, which was then moved again across the street to the present building, where both white and black congregations serve Charlestons oldest standing Methodist Church.

*Fun fact: this church was the only church to stay open and continue services during the Civil War!

For more information, go check out their website by clicking here!

1.

1. Weeping Willow: associated with grief, earthly sorrow, mourning. This grave marker is a headstone, and buried here is James F.M. Lord (B. 1825. D. 1862.)

2.

2. Crown in Cross: (AKA Knight Templars Blood-Red Passion Cross and Crown) typically means "victory over death", usually symbolizing the reward in heaven after going through trials in life. This grave marker is a headstone, and buried here is Joseph W. Aincer (B. 1839. D. 1888.)

3. 

3. Dove and flowers: the dove has several different meanings, in this case the dove has something in its mouth which represents peace and that the soul has reached divine peace in heaven. Different flowers have different meanings, and on this grave stone it is unclear the type of flowers. However, when the family created their mothers tombstone, they most likely put flowers on it to symbolize the feminine and beauty of their mother. This grave marker is a headstone, and buried here is Elizabeth M. Aincer (B. 1807. D. 1872.)

4. 

4. Wreath and dove: the wreath symbolize memory and victory over death and the dove flying downward represents the Holy Spirit. This grave marker is a die in socket and buried here is Anna Chrietzberg, wife of Reverend A. M. Chrietzberg (B. 1821. D. 1872.)

5.

5. Slanted Cross: the true meaning behind a slanted cross has not yet been revealed, however there are many working theories:  Some people believe it is significant because of the way Jesus carried his cross during crucifixion. Others say it is because Jesus has laid down his life for ours and that we are to take up the cross and follow him. The meaning as to why the slanted cross is on this grave marker is most likely to symbolize that the person buried here is of the Christian faith. Also write on this grave are the words "rock ages cleft for me", which is a Christian hymn dating back to 1775. This grave marker type is a headstone and buried here is Charles C. Seyle (B. 1823. D. 1880.)

6. 

6. Angel: An angel with open wings is supposed to represent the flight of the soul to heaven. What it looks like the angel is holding is some sort of an instrument, which is meant to symbolize the angel Gabriel. This grave marker is a die on socket and buried here is Rebecca Jane (B. 1856. D. 1875.)

7. 

7. Cloth over grave marker: usually seen where a cloth is draped over an urn, which represents the veil between the living and the dead, or guarding the body (ashes in the case of an urn). This grave marker is a die on socket and buried here is Rosa Mary (B. 1835. D. 1881.)

8. 

8. Lamb: usually marks the grave of a child, the lamb representing innocence. In the Bible, lambs are associated with Jesus, you may hear "the lamb of God" in the Christian faith. This grave marker is a ledger and the grave marker has deteriorated, therefor I am unable to read the person buried here or their birth / death dates. 

9. 

9. Sleeping child: On this grave marker appears to have a sleeping body (child), which usually represents a child's grave. The body is in the horizontal position, or the "sleeping" position, and is barley clothed- covered in a cloth- representing the innocence of the child. This grave marker is a ledger and buried here is Engenia Robia (B. 1859, aged 3 months and 2 weeks.)

10.

10. VERY IMPORTANT: a lot is happening with this gravestone. There is an open book on the top representing 'book of life', 'Bible', or that their 'life' story has paused. There is a wreath on the back of the gravestone, representing victory over death, and then there is another wreath on the front of the gravestone also representing victory over death, but this wreath is more detailed and has flowers on it, which can represent beauty. The type of grave marker is a bedstead, and this size of bedsteads are commonly used for children. Buried here is someone from the "Fleming" family. 

To learn more about the different types of grave markers, I used these three articles: (click on to go to the page) one, two, and three.  

Ancestry Assignment

For the paper we have to write and the history we find on ancestry.com, I have chosen to start with my great grandmother, Ruth Beaver. We were close when I was little and she would tell me many stories about her father.