Christ Episcopal Church Cemetery - Dover, Delaware
Posted by: 
barbybig
N 39° 09.303 W 075° 31.270
18S E 454969 N 4334112
The church was built in 1734. Many famous Delawarean's are buried within the brick walls lining the property; a cenotaph memorializing Caesar Rodney (1728-1784) Statesman, Soldier, and Signer of the Declaration of Independence is also found here.
Waymark Code: WM3PK7
Location: Delaware, United States
Date Posted: 04/30/2008
Views: 21
This historic cemetery lies within the grounds of the Christ Episcopal Church. It contains about 900 marked graves, including more than a dozen famous Delawareans. One marker is a cenotaph, erected in memory of Caesar Rodney, signer of the Declaration of Independence. The location of Rodney's actual remains is a mystery.
"Early on, Rodney supported the patriotic cause for independence. In 1774, he was selected as a delegate to the First Continental Congress, and again, for the Second Continental Congress. In 1776, he was suffering from cancer of the jaw, and returned to his home near Dover, Delaware. When the vote for independence neared, delegate Thomas McKean sent him a message to return immediately to the Continental Congress. Despite illness and a cold drizzling rain, he rode all night for 80 miles to Philadelphia, arriving just in time to vote. His vote for independence was absolutely critical, as the Delaware delegation was equally split between independence and remaining British, and Rodney’s vote put Delaware squarely on the side of independence, two votes to one." -Bio excerpt from Find-a-Grave.