lated the quantity of liquor which would be needed at their own obsequies, and made provision in the minutest details for this part of the outlay. When Mr. John Bracegirdle, a factor of Captain Philip Foster of England, residing in Virginia, came to draw his will, he not only specified the sum of money to be expended in his burial, but also directed that the spirits to be drunk in commemoration of that event should be drawn from “the quarter cask of drams,” which at that time was lying in his store.[1] The personal estate of Walter Barton amounted to fifty-four pounds and fifteen shillings; the cost of his funeral exceeded eight pounds.[2] The expense of Mr. William Vincent’s funeral was equal to fifteen hogsheads of tobacco.[3]
In the early history of the Colony, legal steps were taken to afford to the people of each parish a public graveyard, and the church wardens were required to impale
- ↑ Records of York County, vol. 1664-1672, p. 549, Va. State Library.
- ↑ Records of Lower Norfolk County, original vol. 1686-1695, f. p. 171.
- ↑ Ibid., original vol. 1651-1656, f. p. 120. The following itemized statement was entered of record in proving the estate of John Griggs (Records of York County, vol. 1675-1684, p. 87, Va. State Library.) It covered his funeral expenses:
