Hopewell · Lawson’s District No. 8 · Somerset County, Maryland
Cemetery No. 911-II-26-Center
The Stevenson family burial ground lies near the east end of Hearts Ease Road in Hopewell. The 1995 field record places it in the front yard of an older homesite identified with Benjamin Stevenson on the 1877 Atlas. It was enclosed by an iron fence and large boxwood plants.
The transcription documents 12 named people of the Stevenson and Ward families, plus an additional unidentified brick grave and two recorded footstones. The donor collection includes photographs of ten of the named markers.
Latitude (survey record) 38° 01.321′ N
Longitude (survey record) 75° 48.487′ W
Transcription note: Readings from the original contributed record are retained with unusual spellings and uncertain wording noted. Where the survey photograph supports a correction or clarification, that reading is identified separately. Photographs are not proof of grave locations other than the cemetery identified in the source.
Graves Recorded
Harriett A. Stevenson
Transcription
[Weeping willow]
In Memory of
Harriett A.
Wife of Benjamin T. (Stevenson)
died Dec 2, 1881
In the 23 year of her age
Benjamin T. Stevenson
Transcription
[Weeping willow]
In Memory of
Benjamin T. Stevenson
born May 3, 1809
died Aug. 20, 1886
Aged 77 yrs. 3 mos. & 17 ds.
Do not confuse this man with the child of the same name recorded below; the photograph labeled “Benjamin T.” belongs to the child.
Original survey photograph. Click to enlarge.
Clara J. Stevenson
Transcription
[Weeping willow]
In Memory of
Clara J.
Daughter of Benjamin F. & Mary J. Stevenson
born Aug. 7, 1870
died Oct. 11, 1884
aged 14 years, 2 mo’s & 7 ds.
Weep not for her who meekly led
A life of piety and love,
Whose unassuming virtue shed
A hallowed influence from above.
Original survey photograph. Click to enlarge.
Benjamin T. Stevenson
Transcription
[Small lamb]
Benjamin T.
Son of Benjamin T. & Mary J. Stevenson
born Sep. 24, 1883
died Dec. 18, 1884
Aged 1 yr. 2 mo. & 24 ds.
Homeward to the realms
Of the pure.
The photograph confirms this is the child’s stone, not the marker of Benjamin T. Stevenson who died in 1886.
Original survey photograph. Click to enlarge.
Mary J. Stevenson
Transcription
Mary J.
Beloved wife of B. F. Stevenson
Born Oct. 11, 1844
Died June 28, 1910
Aged 65 yrs. 8 mos. & 17 days
“To live in hearts we leave
Behind is not to die.”
Original survey photograph. Click to enlarge.
Charles W. Stevenson
Transcription
[Weeping willow]
In Memory of
Charles W.
Son of Benjamin F. & Mary J. Stevenson
born March 1, 1873
died May 29, 1894
One by one earth’s ties are broken
As we see our love decay.
And the hopes so fondly cherished
Brighten but to pass away.
One by one our hopes grow brighter
As we near the shining shore;
For we know across the river
Wait the loved ones gone before.
Original survey photograph. Click to enlarge.
Anna Virginia Stevenson
Transcription
[Lamb]
Anna Virginia
Daughter of Thomas & Aurinthia A. Stevenson
born May 19th 1867
died Nov. 15th 1870
Take these little lambs said He
And lay them in my breast;
Protection they shall find in me.
Original survey photograph. Click to enlarge.
Harriett E. Stevenson
Transcription
In Memory of
Harriett E.
Daughter of Thomas & Aurinthia Stevenson
born July 14, 1859
died June 28, 1861
Original survey photograph. Click to enlarge.
John W. Stevenson
Transcription
John W.
Son of Benjamin & Harriett Stevenson
died Oct. 17th 1855
aged 4 years 8 months and 26 days.
Original survey photograph. Click to enlarge.
Alice Ann Ward
Transcription
[Flower & lamb]
In Memory of
Alice Ann
daughter of Thomas and Susan Ward
born Jan’y 27th 1849
died Feb. 13th 1852
Alice dear, O Alice dear,
Thou art gone to rest
And left us here.
To mourn the loss
Long here, here below
While no one can fill
Thy place we know
Original survey photograph. Click to enlarge.
Alverta Ward
Transcription
[Cross & lamb]
In Memory of
Alverta
daughter of Thomas and Susan Ward
born Jan’y 19th 1850
died Feb’r 27th 1852
Children, thou art
sleeping, down in the clay cold beds.
While’st thy fond parents weeps,
For the beloved ones
That has died.
Original survey photograph. Click to enlarge.
William E. Ward
Transcription
[Two sheaves & monuments]
In Memory of
William E. Ward
son of Thomas & Ann Ward
died July 12th, 1854,
in the 29th year of his age.
Edward, thy day was short on
Earth.
Cut down in live’s full vigour,
To fill the tomb when all was mirth
And never more to meet on earth.
No never:
Yet again we hope to meet thee,
When the storm of life is past
[A. H. Lyeth, Maker, 446 Balt’o]
Cemetery and Research Notes
The family plot was described in the field record as an iron-fenced burial ground with large boxwood bushes, some six and a half feet high or higher. The same account records one additional small brick-lined grave without a marker inside the boxwood. That grave is not assigned an identity.
Two additional footstones, inscribed A.A.W. and A.S.W., were reported. They are documented as field observations, not automatically counted as additional people.
This graveyard is on private property; do not enter without permission. The condition described reflects the original field survey, not a present-day inspection.
Original survey and transcription: Philip L. Goldsborough, Rebecca F. Miller, and Maurice “Moe” Davis, listed January 9, 1995; transcription retyped by Philip L. Goldsborough March 24, 2006.
