A History of New Hanover Co., and the Lower Cape Fear Region 1723-1800
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Some of the great men of the Cape Fear were buried in the old St. James graveyard, and among them Cornelius HARNETT in 1781, but as heretofore stated, the planters generally were buried in their family graveyards, nearly all of which have gone to ruin, while many have wholly disappeared. This old graveyard has been the theme of numerous writers, as most of the ancient burying places in the country have been and many traditions have been preserved in regard to it. One of these traditions was so well authenticated by the testimony of unimpeachable witnesses living at the time---which testimony was put in writing-and presents so remarkable a case of the fulfillment of a "vision" as to be worthy of record. The facts were recited by the late col. James G. BURR in a lecture delivered in the opera house in Wilmington February 3, 1890 and stated in condensed form, were as follows: In March 1810, Samuel R. JOCELYN, son of a distinguished lawyer of the same name in Wilmington, and himself a promising man-not long after conversing with his friend Alexander HOSTLER and others about the possibility of a man's returning to earth after death and making his presence known, and after making an agreement with HOSTLER that the first of the two who died should, if possible, reveal himself to the survivor--was killed by accident, and buried in St. James's churchyard. HOSTLER was greatly afflicted by the death of his friend, and while sitting along in his room a day or two after the funeral, was overwhelmed by the sudden appearance of JOSCELYN, who said to him: "How could you let me be buried when I was not dead?" "Not dead?" exclaimed the horror-stricken survivor. "No, I was not," replied his visitor; "open the coffin and you will see I am not lying in the position in which you placed me," and vanished immediately. HOSTLER, thought greatly affected, believed he was the victim of delusion and tried to rid himself of it, but at the same hour on the next evening, and again at the same hour on the third evening, the apparition confronted him with the same mournful query. He then determined to exhume the body and see whether the fact was true or not. He told the story to Mr. Lewis TOOMER and asked his assistance in the disinterment, which he agreed to give. They went together at night and opened the grave and upon removing the lid of the coffin and turning the light of a dark lantern on the body, discovered it lying face downward. HOSTLER communicated the facts to Colonel BURR's mother, who was his near relative, and between whom and himself there was an affectionate intimacy, and Mr. TOOMER told the facts of the disinterment in the presence of another venerable lady, Mrs. C. G. KENNEDY, who put the statement in writing for Colonel BURR, who read it during the course of his lecture. |
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