An Afternoon in Trinity Lutheran Church Burying Ground – Some Whose Remains Lie Buried There – The Hallowed Sacred Tomb – It's Brief Epitaphed Remembrance, Its Lesson.
The oldest burying ground in Reading today is that surrounding on two sides the Trinity Lutheran Church, Sixth and Washington streets. The old log church was erected in 1752 and the place where it stood is where the parsonage stands now. A few years ago, when it was erected, a portion of the old foundation walls were excavated. In olden times the receptacle for the dead was made near and around the church, and Trinity ground has many of the early citizens of the old borough buried within its limits. The tall willows in the century and a quarter years old city of the dead have been the silent sentinels over the honored remains of our sires who one by one, strong in their religious faith, and desirous of a connection with it after death, have been interred here, and naught but a flat stone or plain marble tablet marks the place. The following are a few of the inscriptions deciphered from them yesterday afternoon, and the extreme clearness of the day was a fit accompaniment to the grave and dreary work the EAGLE reporter was engaged in for one hour.
To the left as one enters from the parsonage gate has lies a flat slab graven on which are these words. Here lies the Body of John M. Hyneman, late Adjutant General of the Militia of Pennsylvania. He was born the 21 of May 1771, and departed this life the 8th of May, 1816. Aged 44 years, 11 months and 26 days.
Right in the same row are the Phillipy family buried. The children are first and ther inscriptions read thus. Sacred to the Memory of John Phillipy, son of John and Elizabeth Phillipy, who was born October the 17th, 1804, and departed this life January the 17th, 18344, aged 29 years, and 3 months. Then comes Maria, aged 13. Then the mother, Elizabeth Phillipy, wife of John, born October 21, 1784, died March 14th, 1854, aged 69 years, 4 months, 23 days. Alongside of whom lies John Phillipy, born April 31, 1781, died May 12, 1837, aged 56 years, I month and 13 days. Between the children and parents lays the remains of Margaret, consort of Charles Zieber and daughter of John and Elizabeth Phillipy, born December, 20, 1807, died May 11, 1865.
Next comes a standing stone marked in memory of Hannah Ruth, wife of Daniel Ruth, daughter of Samuel and Sarah Ely. Born September 10, 1826, died Feb 11, 1855.
Then are the children of William and Catharine Hoberocker, two little head stones marked respectively Sarah J. and Oliver J. F., born in 1847 and 1858. A large flat stone tells of the last resting place of Johannes Cotler, born Feb 27, 1763, died Jan. 23, 1816.
Then are the following: Casper Hess, born Nov. 23, 1799, died Dec 7, 1831. Wilhelm Hess, son of Casper and Barbara, born May 20 1797, died Feb. 25, 1821. Calvin Hess, born May 29, 1753, died Aug. 8, 1822. Barbara Hess, a daughter, born Dec. 11, 1764, died July 11, 1820. Johannes und Maria Hess, the one on Aug. 11, 1795, died June 1796, the other Feb. 25, 1795, died Nov. 1795.
There are a few inscriptions of verse, but very few. Here is a sample: "In memory of Adam Witman, Esq. who was born on the first of November, 1723, and departed this life on the 9th of August, 1781, aged 57 years, 9 months and 9 days. One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to Enquire in His Temple." "In memory of Catharine Witman, who was born April 18th, 1730, and died February 27th, 1808, aged 77 years, 9 months and 9 days. The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow, for it is soon cut off, and we fly away."
To the side of the church lie the remains of Catharine Wobensmith, born Sept. 10, 1769, died Dec. 20, 1866. Samuel Potteiger, born October 19, 1800, died May 8, 1837. Adam and Catharine E. Drinkhouse, the one died August 26, 1817, aged 52 years and 9 days; the other, his consort, died April 27, 1845, aged 76 years, 3 months and 3 days. These two headstones adjoin and differ from the others from the others in that the dates of birth are not inscribed.
To the right of the parsonage is this inscription found on a tablet supported by four upright marble posts. "By conjugal affection has this monument been erected in remembrance of Frederick Fritz, Esq., who was born in Germany, July 14th, 1766, and died in this borough September 11, 1822, aged 56 years, 1 month, 26 days.
Rest, my love my heart is sore,
Rest, I hear thy calls no more,
Rest, my love until I come,
Rest, my love, thy work is done.
On a similar tablet contiguous lies interred "Henry Christman, son of Felix and Rebecca Christman, birn February 14, 1782, died November 17, 1825. The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light to thee, but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light and thy God thy glory. Thy sun shall no more go down, neither shall thy moon withdraw itself; for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and thy God thy glory."
Near this lies "Johannes Shonefelder, born July 22, 1756, died January 2, 1822, aged 63 years, 5 months and 10 days. But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
Then is the last abiding place of two orphans, or at least the inscription would lead one to think so. It reads thus: In memory of Catharine Wood, daughter of John and Catharine Otto, born October 1794, died August 16, 1816. Joseph Wood, only son of Michael and Elizabeth Wood. Died December 12, 1816, aged 22 years, 10 months and 29 days.
We leave this world without a tear
Save for the friends that we hold dear,
To heal their sorrows, Lord descend,
And to the orphan, prove a friend.
We come, we come at thy command.
We give our spirits to thy hand.
Let us united dwell in peace,
Where love and joy can never cease.
Charles Witman, Mary and Louisa Heister, all children of John and Esther Otto, are interred under a tablet alongside the above, which has the inscription upon it of "Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the kingdom of heaven."
General Francis Swaine, a revolutionary hero is buried on the north side. Born Feb. 2, 1754, died June 17, 1820.
Many of the inscriptions are in German text, and those on the sandstone monuments were the first interred. The graves have no mounds to them, but are flat, even with the ground. Within those iron and stone bound limits lies the honored dead of generations who have long since passed hence, whose good works alone do follow them and whose headstones or tablets are the only remembrances that still associate their names with earthly considerations and matters.
Submitted by Glenn.
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