The Graves

Tombstone Inscriptions (Written by Rev. Castner)

located in the “Old Mansfield Cemetery”

 

 

 

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In

Memory of

John B. Parke

who with John Castner, his wife and child

was murdered in a most brutal

and cold blooded manner

on the night of the first of May, 1843

in the 61st year

of his age

 

Stop, traveler, pause a moment o’er this silent lowly grave

Here lies the dust of one who found a most untimely end.

When balmy sleep to sweet repose his careworn body gave

The murderer came, and with one blow all earthly ties did rend

And to the Judgement bar his spirit quickly made its way

To meet the Judge and the awards of that tremendous day

 

~~~

But in that awful day how will the murderer quail

when wrath of God Almighty shall with vengeance him assail.

 

Erected by Sarah Parke

 

In

Memory of

John Castner

who with his wife

and Child and John B. Parke

was murdered in a most

brutal and cold blooded

manner on the night of the

1st of May, 1843

in the 37th year of his age.

 

O Friends, look here upon these wounds on my temples and on my cheeks.

Children, think often on your Sire, his agony and shrieks

And bend around my lowly grave and drop the filial tear

And as ye value life and peace and things that ye hold dear,

O, seek ye out my murderers all for naught but cruel hate

Hath hurried me along to meet so direful a fate.

 

~~~

The Judgement Day is rolling on and should any of

my murders escape the eye of man the wrath of God will

abide with them forever.

 

In

Memory of

Maria the wife and Maria Matilda

the daughter of John Castner

who were murdered on the night

of the first of May, 1843

Age of the mother 42 years

Age of child 3 years

 

O friends and passers by, pursue this tale of woe

And seek the guilty hands which aimed the deadly blow

A murdered mother’s prayer ascends from

this sad ground

That ye will never rest till all of them be found.

 

~~~~

 

I turned and saw the murderer’s blow,

His wild and fearful eye,

And for this sad imploring look

For only once in pity took

A child -- was doomed to die.

I could forgive my murderers had

they not slain my child,

Our mingled blood cries out to

God for Vengeance.