Verbal/Material Lore – Gravestone Epitaph
“Roswell Shurtleff Emerson”
English
| Roswell Shurtleff Emerson Cemetery Lane Graveyard – Hanover, New HampshireUnited States November 1st, 2017 |
Informant Data
Roswell Shurtleff Emerson was born February 20th, 1846, and died February 13th, 1890. He was the son of the aforementioned Joseph and Anna Pope Emerson, and appears to be named after his grandfather, also Reverend Roswell Shurtleff.
Contextual Data
This epitaph does not appear to be taken from the Bible, but is definitely a religious statement. Who gave this epitaph to Emerson, and why, is unknown.
Text
“We will ever be mindful of His covenant.”
| Edward Feist, 21 11 Crimson Oak Ct, Niskayuna, NY Hinman Box 0459, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH Dartmouth College Russian 13 Fall of 2017 |
Roswell S Emerson was lynched and hanged in Tensas Parish Louisiana on the court house square. He had gotten into an altercation with several persons during the day and into a physical altercation with Reeves Lewis, an elderly judge in the Parish. Arrested and placed in jail, that night he was broken out of jail by a mob of unidentified men and hung.
Mr Emerson was for the most part a well respected citizen of Tensas Parish. He had severed several years as a deputy sheriff, and had served as Parish Register of Voters. He had also purchased a local general store and had converted it into a rather highly esteemed establishment serving fine liquors, cocktails and cigars, complete with book collections and reading rooms.
Mr Emerson’s funeral was conducted by the Rev F W Smith of the Christ Church in Newellton. His body was taken on the steamer City of Providence to Vicksburg, Mississippi, escorted by his niece Mrs. A M Burbank and Dr C H Parker. From there they took a rail service to Hanover, NH.