Sunday, September 2, 2012

Zion Chapel of Ease Cemetery

Historical Marker, Zion Chapel of Ease & CemeteryRecently I realized that I have numerous photos taken several years ago at the Zion Chapel of Ease & Cemetery on Hilton Head Island which I have never included here. For those of us who love cemeteries, this is a wonderful gem. This ethereal plot of land beside a busy thoroughfare on Hilton Head Island contains a cemetery established 250 years ago.

Originally a chapel of St. Luke’s Parish, it was established on May 23, 1767, and a chapel was built of wood shortly after 1786. "A well appointed chapel, 30x40 feet, of wood with brick foundations, boasting a sterling Communion Service imported from London, was erected in 1788 under the direction of Captain John Stoney and Isaac Fripp. It was consecrated in 1833. Members of the Barksdale, Baynard, Chaplin, Davant, Fripp, Kirk, Mathews, Pope, Scott, Stoney and Webb families worshipped there until 1868 when the church was abandoned and gradually destroyed." (Peeples, An Index to Hilton Head Island Names (Before the Contemporary Development), p. 43.)

Gravestone of Samuel B. Webb

SACRED
to the memory
of
SAMUEL B. WEBB
who
departed this life
2nd March 1836
aged 37 years

His amiable and pious character
was manifest in the warm
affection of husband, the tender
loved of parent, the sincerity and
kindness of friend and humanity
of master

Death's terror is the mountain
faith removes
Tis faith disarms destruction
Believe and look with triumph
on the tomb


Gravestone of Martha Davant


SACRED

to the
Memory
of

MARTHA DAVANT

(unreadable) born
June 4th 1781 and
died June 6th 1818
aged 37 years & 2 days




From Hilton Head, A Sea Island Chronicle, p. 113-114, by Virginia C. Holmgren:

In 1867...the lovely silver chalices of the Communion Service, brought from England in 1834 had already disappeared. No doubt they had been stolen after the fall of Fort Walker. When next heard of they would be in a pawn shop (in Philadelphia) covered in rust and tarnish, and the man who bought them mistook them for antique goblets. When the tarnish was removed he was amazed to see the sacred Christian symbols and the words ‘Zion Chapel of Ease’. They were returned to the parish and are in use at St. Luke’s on Hilton Head.



Zion Chapel of Ease Cemetery

Zion Chapel of Ease Cemetery







4 comments:

  1. Thank you for your pictures and your post. James Davant (also in the cemetery) was my 4xgreat grandfather!

    Steven Davant Mull

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for comment Steven. I looked in my photo archive of that little cemetery and I see that I also have a picture of James Davant's gravestone plus several other Davant family members. Let me know if you'd like for me to send copies to you.

      Beverly

      Delete
  2. Hi Beverly. I am obviously behind in replying to emails. That would be delightful! If still available, lol.

    Stevemull60@gmail.com

    Thanks.
    Steven Davant Mull

    ReplyDelete