Show IN THESE STATES memorial service will note first landing in new world features JAMESTOWN VA tribute to that intrepid band of colonists who debarked barked de on jamestown beach may 13 1607 to mark the first landing of permanent english settlers in the new world will be paid at annual commemorative ceremonies re here sunday may 11 in the hallowed little jamestown memorial church religious services will be conducted as the main feature of the observance jamestown day as may 13 is designated has been observed under sp sponsorship 0 of the association for preservation of an antiquities ties an annually bally for half a century the tower of the original jamestown church long the only visible relic of old jamestown dates back to 1639 perhaps longer of particular interest are the loopholes in the tower through which colonists fired bred at indian marauders original and the tower Is constructed ted of handmade hand made milde bricks and mortar laid in english bond built M memorial in 1907 the centennial tri trl of the founding of anglo saxon civilization in the western hemisphere the memorial church was erected over the she massive threefoot three foot toot foundations buttresses and tiled chancel of the church of 1639 the old church was turned burned during bacons bacans rebellion in 1676 rebuilt not long after but at some unknown period in the ventury was abandoned and gradually f tell ell into ruins there was a still htiu earlier log church with cobblestone foundations fragments of which may be seen in the graveyard it was in this church probably built in 1617 that the first legislative assembly in the new world was convened july 30 1619 with sir george yeardley the royal governor presiding this historic event took place more than a year before the mayflower set sail from plymouth back of the chancel railing among the remains of the 1639 church may be ba seen the knights tomb formerly inlaid with brass which was F HISTORIC CHURCH this view shows the interior of historic jamestown memorial church decorated for services commemorating the arrival of the first english colonists As the sign indicates markers in m the door boor are unknown graves stolen at an unknown time it Is the only tomb of its kind in america and Is supposed to be that of the same sir george yeardley who died at jamestown in 1627 countless dead are burled buried in the ancient graveyard which has been restored by the national society of colonial dames of america although the actual number of graves and the names of most of their occupants have been lost in the shadows of time a number of interesting old tombstones still remain grave of president an ancient tombstone marks the final resting place of benjamin harrison I 1 ancestor of benjamin harrlson harrison signer of the declaration of independence buried nearby Is another benjamin harrlson harrison ninth president of the united states the lle epitaph on the tombstone of william sherwood proclaims for all the modern world to see that he was a great sinner the inscription legend insists was made in accordance with a provision of his will an intruding sycamore tree now more than years old has disturbed the eternal sleep of the rev james blair founder of the college of william and mary and of his wife sarah harrison blair they began their long sleep side by side but the tombstones have been pushed far apart by the misdirected tree which now has fragments of the stones embedded in its trunk program announced officiating at the commemorative religious service will be the rt rev william A brown bishop of the episcopal diocese of southern virginia the historical address will be div enby paul green author of the historical drama the me lost colony |