Frederick Gazette Oct 9, 2003

by Paul Gordon  Email:  pgord@erols.com

Oct. 9, 2003

That there was a cemetery on Site C along Carroll Creek should have been no surprise to city officials. They may be shocked to learn that there were two cemeteries on the site, both of which upon excavation could produce human remains.

All it would have taken was to review old maps. Even those prepared by the city in 1928 showed a cemetery on the parcel west of a once proposed extension of Middle Alley through the site.

The 1858 Bond map of Frederick County with its Frederick insert shows a cemetery, as does Titus Atlas 20 years later. A detailed 1913 Sanborn map shows two burial grounds, both west of proposed Middle Alley. The most eastern one had a 6-foot stone wall enclosing it.

All Saints Parish of the Church of England (now the Episcopal Church) built its first house of worship along East All Saint Street circa 1750. It had a burial ground that existed until the beginning of the 20th century. Some local rich and famous were buried there, including Gov. Thomas Johnson and Gen. Roger Nelson, both of whom were re-interred at Mount Olivet Cemetery. It is said that Nelson's grave was "covered with bushes and briers" before removal, an indication that the cemetery was in disrepair.

According to Scharf's history, by 1882, there were at least 14 known bodies remaining at the burial site. But official and church records may not have recorded all burials.

Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church was built to the west of All Saints Parish along East All Saints Street in 1818. Scharf identified remains of six parishioners in its cemetery in 1882.

To be sure, the grades along All Saints Street have changed over the years. But if none said otherwise, more than likely, remains and tombstones were lowered into the ground. That is what happened at Memorial Grounds Park and Laboring Sons Park.

No doubt such will be the case on Site C. Not only will there be evidence of re-burials just below the soil, but there could be a goodly number. Based on the tales I learned when I was a kid living within one block of the site, it is said a substantial number of bodies were placed there without permission in what were apparently abandoned cemeteries.

Rita and I hope that the vestiges of a prayer shawl (tallis) or skullcap (yarmulke) are found. There is reason to believe that Henry Lazarus who settled in the area before Frederick Town was founded, perhaps 1742, may have been interred in All Saints Parish cemetery.

Henry, his brother Sampson and business partner Levi Cohen were the earliest Jews to settle here. They became influential, despite being "different." That they were religious is verified. Henry Lazarus signed his will prepared in Frederick Town in both English and Hebrew. In 1779, when he died, Sampson and Levi went to New York in order to practice their religion more readily and joined various religious societies.

We do not know where Henry was buried upon his death in Frederick Town. We do know that burials of those days were made quickly and nearby. We also know that Sampson Lazarus had been appointed "overseer" of the road to All Saints Parish Church. Though his burial was not recorded in church records, we believe Henry was laid to rest in its burial grounds, because of his brother's contacts with the church and the need to bury him quickly.