found a large old Cemetary with about 80% of the graves that were ledgable being that of children 1 year old or younger. The dates of these children ranged from 1880 to 1910. What happened near the town of Pearisburg Virginia for so many children to die in this 30 year perod of time? The oldest grave that had a stone that could be read was that of Captain George Pearis of the United States Calvery who died in 1810. the cemetary has about 150 graves in it and about 115 to 120 of the graves belonged to children between the ages of 1 day old to 1 year old, and they all died in this 30 year period of time. My question is what happened to all these children? Please send possible answers to me at trkrman2004@yahoo.com. Thank you.
2006-08-10 12:41:48 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
Interestingly, the Pearis Cemetery - as it is called - is one of Virginia's better known "haunted" sites.
It is also known for the number of children buried there - a fact called "remarkable" by the Virginian Leader.
I don't know if there is a connection.
Cool question.
http://www.strangeusa.com/viewcity.asp?city=Pearisburg&state=Va
Note to Nate's Pixie - no slaves; 1880-1910 is well after the Civil War and the abolition of slavery
2006-08-10 13:37:33 · answer #1 · answered by TJ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was just in europe for three months and went to 10 countrys and a cemetary in almost every country i visited. There ws many diseases and the plague that they had no cure for back then. I had the same question i saw graves wher the mother lost child after child 45in a row. Back then it wasnt uncommon to lose your children it was expected. It was somesort of PLague. HOPe thta answers your question. Take care.
2006-08-10 20:29:26 · answer #2 · answered by europe 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Might not have been very good medical assistance/doctors in that area at that time.
Does sound strange...now I want to look it up!
Here are some links that I've found so far, though I'm not sure that they'll help:
http://www.wvculture.org/History/journal_wvh/wvh51-5.html
http://www.pearisburg.org/noteaboutourTown.htm
And, there were slaves in that area at that time, but did slave children get healthcare? Did slave women who were pregnant receive medical care?
Note to TJ: I actually did a lot of research on this...and abolition or not, there were still slaves.
2006-08-10 19:50:25 · answer #3 · answered by Haven 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
in case no one answers i would guess a bacterial pathogen in the water supply, supposing the river was their main source of water it's possible a bacterium was thriving there and adults may have been immune to the virus or built immunity in age, where some may have been naturally immune and passed it onto their children
just a guess
2006-08-10 19:48:44 · answer #4 · answered by Michael J with wings 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Aww no clue so sad. Did you take pictures of the headstones? Love to see it if you did.
2006-08-10 19:47:59 · answer #5 · answered by Katie Girl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You've stumbled upon an unspeakable evil, how very Blairwitch project of you
2006-08-10 19:48:32 · answer #6 · answered by martin 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Something in the water.Malnutrition...I don't know ..it is very strange...
2006-08-10 19:47:34 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋