ACLT- Hance-Chesley Cemetery

[RareBreed]

Came across this on my trail walk yesterday. Heard about it and wanted to see it for myself. Very creepy yet cool, especially since the Hance Family is still pretty well known in Calvert Co.

Found this info about the cemetary online.

Just off the Swamp Trail, the Hance-Chesley Cemetery is the final resting place for at least eight people. The earliest burial was in 1812. There are some red-colored stones on the site that are not native to the area. Local tradition is that these mark the graves of servants, stillborn children or those not in the family’s good graces, according to a historical summary provided by ACLT and the Calvert Garden Club.

All but two of the people buried in the Hance-Chesley cemetery bear the Hance name. Y.D. married into the Chesley family, as he was married twice. The two exceptions are sisters who are buried next to him. The two Chesleys in the cemetery are John Chesley and Dr. James Chesley. It’s not clear how the two Chesleys are related to the Hances.

 

[afjess1989]

thats sooo cool!!! i love creepy stuff

 

[steppinthrax]

I know this is an old post, but I"m trying to find some information on the lives of the individuals. Example, who was Dr. James A. Chesley, was he a MD or a Physician?

 

[LightRoasted]

For your consideration ...

I know this is an old post, but I"m trying to find some information on the lives of the individuals. Example, who was Dr. James A. Chesley, was he a MD or a Physician?

A doctor of the past does not make a doctor today. But they were typically referred to as physicians, as that title commanded the most prestige. Though at the time many physicians were also addressed as doctor. Rarely did one attend a medical school, which was then rudimentary at best. Most could become physicians through an apprenticeship with no prior experience.

The medical field in the early 1800's was vastly different from today’s medical practice, characterized by limited medical knowledge, rudimentary technology, and varied training standards. They also had a very limited understanding of disease. Treatments often included bloodletting, purging, and administering herbal remedies. Surgical procedures were risky due to the lack of anesthesia and antiseptics.

The most common diseases at the time were typhus, influenza and cholera, as well as scarlet fever and diphtheria.

In the early 1800's, most physicians were pretty much just hand holders and deliverers of bad news since they really did not know how to heal anything. Such as ....

“I’m sorry Mr. Smith, you have tuberculosis. There’s nothing I can do. You’re going to die”.

“I’m sorry Mr. Jones, but you have an inflamed gall bladder. There’s nothing I can do except give you opiates to deal with the pain. You’re going to die.”

“I’m sorry Mr. Thomas, your leg has been crushed, but GOOD NEWS, we can cut it off entirely so you won’t die of an infection. However, you might die of shock during the operation. Here’s some wine and opium though."

I'm betting that pretty much during this era that people were extremely careful not to get physically injured. Then, there were no paramedics, no rushing to a hospital, no ER's. It truly was, "suck it up buttercup", if one got injured, or sick, though surely they were made comfortable while they tried to heal and get better.

Here is a blog with some doctor history of the past ...

Doctors and Medicine in the Early 1800s — Charles Fergus

Life expectancy in the 1830s was 45 years.

charlesfergus.com