NOTE: Sarah's surname, originally given as "Unknown", has been found to be Rigges a.k.a. Riggs. Her surname (spelled Rigges) and month of death (June) were exposed when soil was removed near the base of her gravestone, revealing more of the inscription. This memorial page remains the original, however, its date giving it precedence over later entries for Sarah Riggs made in December 2008 and April 2010. These newer pages provide much genealogical info.
This, Sarah's original memorial page, is important in that the bio written at the time of its creation illustrates how her gravestone provided clues to her lifespan* and identity:
An eroded brownstone stele featuring a "winged skull" soul effigy in its tympanum marks the grave of an early colonist named Sarah. Located near the eastern wall of the church and facing east, most of its inscription appears to have sunk below ground level. It reads:
"Here was Layed ye Body of
Sarah Wife of Jo...
D..."
The letter D beginning the 3rd line raises the possibility that Sarah's surname may have been Dod / Dodd, like many early members of the Newark Mountain (Orange) church, or it may simply have initiated died / departed / deceased. Her husband's name may have been Job, Joel, John, Jonathan, Jonah, Jonas, Joseph, Josiah, among other men's names common during the colonial era. Based on the style of her gravestone, however, and its proximity to the church and the earliest graves in this burial ground, it seems very likely that she died during the 1720's-1730's.
*It is now known that Sarah did indeed die during this time frame, her death having occurred on June 17, 1735, and that her husband's name was Joseph.
This, Sarah's original memorial page, is important in that the bio written at the time of its creation illustrates how her gravestone provided clues to her lifespan* and identity:
An eroded brownstone stele featuring a "winged skull" soul effigy in its tympanum marks the grave of an early colonist named Sarah. Located near the eastern wall of the church and facing east, most of its inscription appears to have sunk below ground level. It reads:
"Here was Layed ye Body of
Sarah Wife of Jo...
D..."
The letter D beginning the 3rd line raises the possibility that Sarah's surname may have been Dod / Dodd, like many early members of the Newark Mountain (Orange) church, or it may simply have initiated died / departed / deceased. Her husband's name may have been Job, Joel, John, Jonathan, Jonah, Jonas, Joseph, Josiah, among other men's names common during the colonial era. Based on the style of her gravestone, however, and its proximity to the church and the earliest graves in this burial ground, it seems very likely that she died during the 1720's-1730's.
*It is now known that Sarah did indeed die during this time frame, her death having occurred on June 17, 1735, and that her husband's name was Joseph.
NOTE: Sarah's surname, originally given as "Unknown", has been found to be Rigges a.k.a. Riggs. Her surname (spelled Rigges) and month of death (June) were exposed when soil was removed near the base of her gravestone, revealing more of the inscription. This memorial page remains the original, however, its date giving it precedence over later entries for Sarah Riggs made in December 2008 and April 2010. These newer pages provide much genealogical info.
This, Sarah's original memorial page, is important in that the bio written at the time of its creation illustrates how her gravestone provided clues to her lifespan* and identity:
An eroded brownstone stele featuring a "winged skull" soul effigy in its tympanum marks the grave of an early colonist named Sarah. Located near the eastern wall of the church and facing east, most of its inscription appears to have sunk below ground level. It reads:
"Here was Layed ye Body of
Sarah Wife of Jo...
D..."
The letter D beginning the 3rd line raises the possibility that Sarah's surname may have been Dod / Dodd, like many early members of the Newark Mountain (Orange) church, or it may simply have initiated died / departed / deceased. Her husband's name may have been Job, Joel, John, Jonathan, Jonah, Jonas, Joseph, Josiah, among other men's names common during the colonial era. Based on the style of her gravestone, however, and its proximity to the church and the earliest graves in this burial ground, it seems very likely that she died during the 1720's-1730's.
*It is now known that Sarah did indeed die during this time frame, her death having occurred on June 17, 1735, and that her husband's name was Joseph.
This, Sarah's original memorial page, is important in that the bio written at the time of its creation illustrates how her gravestone provided clues to her lifespan* and identity:
An eroded brownstone stele featuring a "winged skull" soul effigy in its tympanum marks the grave of an early colonist named Sarah. Located near the eastern wall of the church and facing east, most of its inscription appears to have sunk below ground level. It reads:
"Here was Layed ye Body of
Sarah Wife of Jo...
D..."
The letter D beginning the 3rd line raises the possibility that Sarah's surname may have been Dod / Dodd, like many early members of the Newark Mountain (Orange) church, or it may simply have initiated died / departed / deceased. Her husband's name may have been Job, Joel, John, Jonathan, Jonah, Jonas, Joseph, Josiah, among other men's names common during the colonial era. Based on the style of her gravestone, however, and its proximity to the church and the earliest graves in this burial ground, it seems very likely that she died during the 1720's-1730's.
*It is now known that Sarah did indeed die during this time frame, her death having occurred on June 17, 1735, and that her husband's name was Joseph.
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