Today in 1831 William Driver, a ship's captain from Salem, Mass., is credited with coining the term "Old Glory" in reference to the American flag.
This tombstone was designed by William Driver himself several years before his death, in 1886. It is in the form of a tree trunk with a ship's anchor carved on one side. The inscription reads: "A master mariner; sailed twice around the world; once around Australia; removed the Pitcairn people from sickness and death in Taheita (sic) to their own home on Septembere 3, 1831. Then sixty in number, now twelve hundred." Near the preceding inscriptions are the words: "Trust in the Lord and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily shalt thou be fed." Toward the bottom is carved: "I never wanted since" and "His God, his country, his ship and his flag, 'Old Glory.'".
I could swear I've seen a headstone similar to that one on one of our cemetery walks... even had a big anchor. I'll have to try and find a picture of it now.
ReplyDeleteI would like to see it if you find it.
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