Life of John Geddes

The person I decide to do research on was John Geddes. The reason I choose his was beacause one he's the only famous person buried at Frist Scots Presbyterian and his background from the Charleston area. John Geddes was on born on December 25, 1777 (Christmas Day) in Charleston, South Carolina. He died on March 4, 1828 from a lethal stroke .He was burried at First Scots Presbyterian churchyard in Charleston, South Carolina. The religion John Geddes isn presbyterian and he represent the political party called  Democratic-Republican party.

John Geddes os the son of Scots- Itrish merchant Henry Geddes. He was married first to a woman named Harriet Chalmers. Who died in 1803. Then he married Ann Chalmers in 1805, died the the next year. In his marriages he had at least 3 children. He went to school College of Charleston . He also studied at South Carolina college, which now goes by as University of South Carolina. He then studied and law and was admitted to the bar in 1797.

 John Geddes was really active in Politics. He won the election for South Carolina's House of Representatives . Where he became the speaker for the house for two years in 1806. In 1816, he continued to be a member of the House of Representatives  unti he was elected to the Senate. He was the 47th Governor of South Carolina from 1818 to 1820. After he finished his term as governor he was then given the position as Brigadier General of the South Carolina militia. He ran for  mayor of Chalreston in 1823. Which he won. He served as mayor from 1824-1825.

Ancestor research video

This is a video about my Great Grandma Byrdie L. Jones Parks. You can get more informations about my Great Grandma Byrdie L. Jones Parks by clicking here to go my blog post.

My Great Grandma Byrdie

My Great Grandma Brydie L. Jones Parks also known as Grandma Bird was born on March 21, 1919 in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Grandma Bird lived in Reidville, South Carolina. She had three sister and she was the oldest out the three. She is the mother of my Papa. She had three kids. All with separate fathers. She was a hard working lady. She was borning during the Great Depression.

This was the only photo I could use because the other ones are stored up in the Storage room at my
Grandparents hosue.

Grandma Bird had 3 different jobs she worked back then. One job was being a nanny and a governess for two prominent families. Her second job a nurse's aide. Her last job was a midwife. Which was in the Great Depression. As almost all black children in the 1920's and 30's, she did farm labor on her father's 45- plus acre farm.

Three interesting things about Grandma Bird is one she never had the ability to meet a stranger meaning she always knew everybody was because she wasa social butterfly. She would always give her last to anyone because she was that caring. Second interesting thing about her is how much she loved her siblings and family. She would die for them and do so much for them. Even at the age of 80 when she had very very bad arthritis she would walk to story for her neigbors who could not walk.
She always stressed "that its not what you have its what you do with what you have because you can do alot with a little." Which I thought was so cool of her. The last interesting thing about her was her Christianity. She was very strong on Chrisitianity she would make sure all her kids go to church and obey God's word. Which reminds me of my Papa's wife my grandma. She just like Grandma Bird.

Grandma Bird died in April 3, 2002, in Spartanburg, South Carolina, at the age of 83. She was burried in Reidville. The church cementary she was buried in was Travelers Rest Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery.

This is the Tombstone of my Great Grandma Byride

This was all the information that I find out about my Great Grandma Byride. I choose to do her because the only time I ever saw her was when I was a baby and I do not really remember all that since I was like 2 years old. She also holds a special place in my heart because I was her dying birthday wish because her birthday was March 21 and my birthday was March 23 and she got to hold me one last time before she passed. Thats why I choose her.  I learned so much about her and I am glad to have done reserch about her.

Mysterious memorial site on Cofc campus

I've have been at Cofc  for almost a whole year and I have been passing this mysterious memorial that I didn't even know was their. Here at the College of Charleston, their is a memorial of a woman name Elizabeth Hutchinson Jackson. I have been passing her memorial for almost a year now not evening know it was their. I know a lot of student have passed this memorial and not even know its their. It is located in the heart of Cougar Mall.

Elizabeth Hutchinson Jackson was the mother of the 7th resident of the United States who died in the fall of 1781. She had ship fever which is know as Cholera. Jackson was 14 when she died. President Andrew Jackson had wondered the whereabout of where his mother was put to rest. On her maker, it notes that "Near this spot is buried, Elizabeth Jackson" who is mostly not.

After Elizabeth's death, she was buried on a hill. Which was a simple unmarked grave. Andrew Jackson was attempting for years to find the loaction of bones. So he can he could bury her next to his father, but he was unable to do so. Jackson was then told by James H. Witerspoon of Lancaster that " Your mother is buried in the surburbs of Charleston about one mile from what was then called the Governor's Gate, which is in and about the forks of Meeting and King street Railroads."

In 1942, Elizabeth Jackson's gravestone was moved to Charleston on the corner of King Street and Heriot Street. After many complaints of the gravestone having weeds obscure it and being in an unsanitary area, repairs were done and they move the gravestone to the Cougar Mall where it has been since 1967.

Overall this grave was a giant mystery which was cool to find out about. The mystery of the burial site is way more then just a historical footnote.

10 amazaing tombstone symbols

On Monday February 24 my Beyond the Grave class went to Bethel United Methodist Church Graveyard. We went on a Graveyard scavenger hunt where was finding 10 different Graveyard symbols. Here is some history of the church. The church has been in Downtown Charleston since 1797. The church has moved one time in 1876 where it donated to a black congregation. The old church was called Old Bethel where it moved across the street. The graveyard has been through and survived natural and man made disaters. Bethel stands as the oldest church Methodist Church in Charleston. Now to the 10 amazaing Grave symbol.

This symbol is called the Angel. The meaning of this is symbol is
suppose that the angel is guarding the suppose to be the messenger of God.
Elizabeth M. is buried here.

This symbol is called the Olive Branch. The meaning of this symbol is
peace. I also seen so far that the olive branch is usually on a tombstone
that has a wife and hubsand that is burried together. \
Buried here is Norbert and Sarah Vinro.

This symbol is the Cross. This symbol means some of Christian religion and
Charles C. Seyle is buried here.

This symbol is aWreath Rose. The meaing of this symbol is
represents beauty and virtue.
Buried here is Eya Lee.

This symbol is a Crown. This symbol mean trumpih over death.
Buried here is Charles H. Muckenfuss.

This symbopl is Reef and a Dove. I think this symbol meaning is
one the dove represents peaces and innocence. I think the reef means a the morning of a death.
Buried here is 

This symbol is the Weeping Willow. This symbol meaning is sorrow or mourning.
Buried here is Mrs. Elizabeth Furchess

This symbol is Covered Column. This symbol represent the covering of a coffin in a funeral procession.
Fun fact this is where the term ''pallbearers" come from.
Buried here is Rosa Mary.

This symbol is a Book. This symbol represents a scholar, someone who pubish books.
It also represents a evangelists. This book represents the pastor of the Church and a bible.
Buried here is William H. Fleming, D.D.

This symbol is an Angel . The meaning of this symbol is the angel is watching
overthem and are the messengers to god. This tombstone was in so rough condition that I could not find out
who was buried here.

First Scots Presbyterian Church Impression

The church my teammates and I chose was First Scots Presbyterian Church. This church is located on 53 Meeting Street in Charleston, SC. My teammates Jeff and Patrick and I chose this church because  of the location which is very nearby and the we enjoyed the beauty of the big church on the corner of the street.

This is First Scots Church entrance.

As shown in the photo above, The church was founded in 1731 by Caledonia immigrants. During this time, 12 Scottish families also held their first congragations here. The church was built in 1813 by Scottish Brothers John and James Gordon. According to research, my team and I believe that the church has been rebuilt since it was first founded.

One thing we found very unique about this church was the two bell towers. In research, we saw that the two bells were donated to the military during war.

Below are a few pictures of inside the church and the gravyard.

Ruth's Takeover!!!

Ruths Amazing story talk

On Februray 3, 2020 Ruth Miller takeover had just start. She had come to visit my Beyond the Grave class. Miller is a public historian and storyteller. She shared her tour guide and public speaker discoveries to us and it was really intresting . Miller is a certified tour guide for the City of Charleston. she wrote about to 7 to 8 books. That you can find here on her wonderful website. She mentions the "Winners write history books." While Miller was talking to my Beyond the Grave class she told me so many things about Charleston that I did not know at all. One thing that stood out to me when she was telling us about"Charleston is that Charleston population was actually mostly African Americans." I thought that was cool because they never tell you that in history class in high school.

This picture is me and Ruth Miller after she had just
finish talking to our class. I had to get a picture with because I just enjoyed it so much.

My favorite part of her presentation was when we got to do this activite where we had to identify what each tombstone shading she gave us. She told us that each tombstone desgin in her own words " Tell so us much about the person like if they are poor, rich, disabled, or is married. This was my favorite because I like hands on activities. 

This was one of the tombstone shading she gave my group. This is Samuel "Goat " Smalls
He was a disable black man who is most famous for writing a novel Porgy
That later became the only Oprea to be made and from United States.

Overall I really love Miller because she just birghten up the room and kept my attention with her wonderful stoires and her knowlodge. She was just amazing and I'm grateful for her coming to my class and teaching us so much!!!