George Washington's Funeral
This article is about an old newspaper in the possession of a local man that gives an account of George Washington's funeral.
Washington Evening Journal, 19 January 1917
CRAWFORDSVILLE MAN HAS PAPER WITH ACCOUNT OF WASHINGTON FUNERAL.
J. W. Kilgore of Crawfordsville has an old newspaper that he prizes more than any horse he has on the farm. It is an issue of the Ulster County Gazette published at Kingston, N. Y. January 4, 1800.. The old paper has been handed down thru a number of generations, first coming into the possession of David Kilgore, then to John L. Kilgore and later to Joseph Martin Kilgore and finally to J. W. Kilgore, the present owner. The paper is framed and protected behind glass.
Of particular interest in the paper is an account of the funeral of George Washington, held in December 1799. The column rules of the paper are in heavy black as a symbol of mourning, a fashion of printing that used to be in vogue when a national personage died. The phraseology and spelling in this paper of over a century ago is curious to people of this generation and the account of the funeral is here reproduced to give readers of the Journal an idea of how news was given to the readers of the Ulster County Gazette in 1800. Here it is:
WASHINGTON ENTOMBED
On Wednesday last, the mortal part of WASHINGTON THE GREAT—the Father of His Country, the Friend of man, was consigned to the tomb with solemn honors and funeral pomp.
A multitude of persons assembled, from many miles around at Mt. Vernon, the choice abode and last residence of the illustrious chief. There were the groves—the spacious avenues, the beautiful and sublime scenes, the noble mansion—but alas! The august inhabitant was now no more. That great soul was gone. His mortal part was there indeed; but ah! how affecting! how awful the spectacle of such worth and greatness, thus, to mortal eyes fallen!—Yes! Fallen! Fallen!
In the long and lofty portico whereof the hero walked in all his glory, now lay the shrouded corpse. The countenance still composed and serene seemed to depress the dignity of the spirit, which lately dwell in that lifeless form! There those who paid the last sad honours to the benefactor of his country took an impressive—a farewell view.
On the ornament at the head of the coffin was inscribed Surge ad judicium—about the middle of the coffin—gloria deo—and on the silver plate
GENERAL
GEORGE WASHINGTON
Departed this life on the 14 December 1799 Aex. 68
Between three and four o’clock, the sound of artillery from a vessel in the river, firing minute guns, awoke afresh our solemn sorrow--the corpse was removed—a band of music, with mournful melody melted the soul melody melted the soul into all the renderness of woe.
A procession was formed and moved on in the following order:
Cavalry, Infantry, Guard, with arms reversed; Music, Clergy
|
Cols Sims Ramsay Payne |
P
A
L
L
B
E
A
R
E
R
S |
CORPSE |
P
A
L
L
B
E
A
R
E
R
S |
Cols Gilpin Marstellar Little |
Mourners
Masonic Brethren
And Citizens
When the procession had arrived at the bottom of the elevated town, on the bank of the Potomac, where the family vault is place, the cavalry halted, the infantry marched toward the mount and formed their lines—the clergy, the Masonic brothers, and the citizens descended to the vault and the funeral service of the church was performed, the firing was repeated from the vessel in the river and the sounds echoed from the woods and hills around.
Three general discharges by the infantry—the cavalry and eleven pieces of artillery, which lined the banks of the Potomac at the back of the vault, paid the last tribute to the entombed commander in chief of the armies of the United States and to the departed here.
The sun was now setting. Alas! The son of glory was set forever. No, the name of Washington—the American President and general—will triumph over death! The unclouded brightness of his glory will illuminate the future ages!