Ruth Miller and the Tales of Charleston

Ruth Miller is a tour guide here in Charleston, South Carolina. She is originally from New England, however, she ended up here in the Holy City surrounded by rich religious history. Miller has written several books about Charleston, including The Angel Oak Story and Touring the Tombstones.

Miller came to our class to talk to us about the rich religious history here in Charleston. Specifically, the religious history buried within the old 18th-century graveyards.

In order to understand the history within the graveyards, it is important that we know the history that influenced the graveyards and the city of Charleston.

Photo was taken by Natasha in class

Charleston was one of the first cities in all of the original thirteen colonies and was the richest. It flourished with different cultures and backgrounds that can still be felt in today's Charleston atmosphere.

On unique thing about early Charleston, where the laws pertaining to the freedom of religion. People came to the New World in order to escape religious persecution, and Charleston ended up being the best place for that. For example, Charleston actually recruited Jews “because the rest of the world [was] driving [them] out” based on their religious beliefs.

Miller expressed how Charleston “had absolute freedom of religion” and “no other colony had the freedom of religion, but this town.” Different laws were made to help provide a free environment for people of different religions.

One law claimed no one could harass another person for their opinions on religion, and a group of 7 or more could create a new religion if they so desired.

Not only did the idea of religious freedom bring in lots and lots of new people, but Miller stated that when “you offer freedom of religion and 1000 acres of land… that’s all you needed” to recruit people to come to Charleston.

Thanks to all this religious freedom and influence of cultures and people, we now have the beautiful city that we have today. 

The Mystery Headstone at the College of Charleston

Walking through Cougar Mall, I had never noticed the headstone. I never heard about it, and no one had ever mentioned it. The headstone of Elizabeth Hutchinson Jackson resides right outside the Robert Scott Small building. There is even a little pathway that goes right by it.

Much like the other monuments in Cougar Mall, I never paid much attention to it. I always believed it was some random monument for some random person. Where did it come from? Why is it on the College of Charleston campus? Is she really buried there?

Headstone in Cougar Mall

Elizabeth Hutchinson Jackson was the mother of Andrew Jackson, our 7th President of the United States. During the Waxhaw Massacre, the Jackson family was placed inside a church with over one hundred wounded people. The Jackson family took this time to tend to the wounded as much as they could.

After the Waxhaw Massacre, Andrew and his brothers Hugh and Robert decided to join a patriot regiment, however, Hugh died soon after. Andrew and Robert were one day captured as prisoners of war, and if it was not for their mother, they would have died of smallpox had their mother not requested a prisoner exchange. Find more background information here.

Elizabeth Jackson tended to wounded and sick soldiers during the Revolutionary war, and her actions can be described as heroic and selfless. She died in Charleston in 1781. 

DAR monument

In the grave marker in Cougar Mall, it does say she is buried “near this spot,” however, I am unsure how true that is.

The marker is originally the product of service members who were honoring Elizabeth Jackson. The service members picked the original spot near King Street based on a letter sent to Andrew Jackson in 1825 claiming that is where his mother had been buried.

However, in 1947 some service members claimed the grave marker was not being tended to. There were weeds and shrubbery concealing it from view, and it gained a lean because of people using it as a bench when waiting for the bus.

Eventually, the Daughters of the American Revolution dedicated a separated monument to Elizabeth Jackson in a completely second park, but the uneasiness of the unkept original marker was still there.

Local historians finally moved the marker, here, at the College of Charleston. Where it now resides in one of the most beautiful college campuses in America. Find more historical background here.

Double Trouble - Two Graveyards in One Night!

For our first nightly adventure for the semester, we visited two graveyards:  the Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St. Paul and the St. Patrick Catholic Church. At both of these graveyards, the assignment was to take pictures of different grave markers and describe them here in a blog post.

Words on the Mausoleum

This Mausoleum belongs to  William Johnston who lived from 1767-1840. His wife and children are not buried with him. This Mausoleum is located in the Cathedral Church.

Mausoleum 

Cross 

This next grave is a beautiful cross grave that belongs to Emmerson Cobb Cook in the Cathedral Church cemetery. Cook was born September 21, 1918, and died in June of 2004. 

Cross gravestones are unique and easy to spot when walking through graveyards. Some can be big, small, and incorporated in many different types of grave markers. 

Cradle Grave

This is a cradle grave accompanied by a die on base in the Cathedral Church cemetery. This is the grave of Susan L. Guerard and her husband William Percy Guerard. Both were born in the 1830s and both died in the early 1900s. 

Usually, cradle graves are placed for young children who have passed too early in their lives. However, I feel it is fitting here for a resting husband and wife. 

Obelisk

This obelisk is in the Cathedral Church cemetery. It is the resting place of Catherine Porcher. She was born in 1790 and died after 79 years in 1869. 

Pedestal Tomb with Vaulted Top

This pedestal tomb belongs to Matthew Sulley Reeves in the Cathedral Church cemetery. Reeves was born in December of 1814 and died at age 47 in August of 1862. 

Reeves was an accomplished musician and received his training in Europe. 

Die in Socket

This die in socket grave marker belongs to Eliza Wigfall in the Cathedral Church cemetery. She lived from 1785-1864. She was 78 when she died. 

Pedestal Tomb - Urn

Unlike the first pedestal tomb, this one has an urn place at the top. I was unable to get a name off of this tombstone, however, I thought the symbolism was unique. The rose on the front can represent beauty, hope, and/or unfailing love.

Headstone

This simple headstone belongs to Anne Toomer in the Cathedral Church cemetery. She lived to be 81 years old from her birth in December of 1845 and her death in July of 1927. 

Ledger

This ledger grave marker in the Cathedral Church cemetery belongs to Constance Simons. Simons was born in September of 1842 and died in June of 1929. The traditional cross at the top of the grave indicates her religious beliefs. 

Plaque Marker

This simple plaque marker belongs to Elizabeth Schachte and her husband John Schachte in the St. Patrick's cemetery. Both were born in the early 1800s and both died in the 1860s.

I thought the vines growing on the front of the grave marker were very beautiful.