Thomas Bacon, Jr.

This man’s plot is marked with a ledger grave, a flat, horizontal stone that has plenty of room for a lengthy epitaph or whatever else one wishes to have inscribed. Using 195 words, this is the longest epitaph and summary of one person’s life of all the grave markers at Mount Moriah.

Shown below is the full text, line by line, of this memorial. Thomas was the son-in-law of Henry Holcombe, who pastored First Baptist Church of Philadelphia from 1811 until his death in 1824. Henry’s Notable life story is explained here.

Thomas Bacon Sr. was a lieutenant in the Georgia militia during the Revolutionary War, serving under General Francis Marion. The family lived in Liberty County, south of Savannah, which is known for growing rice and cotton. That’s what both father and son did. 

Thomas Jr’s first marriage produced one daughter before his wife died. He then took Elizabeth Sumner as his bride in 1801. They had two children before Elizabeth died in 1809, so Thomas found Sarah Holcombe to be his bride in 1810. The phrase, “third time’s the charm” applies here, since she was his wife for the rest of his life and outlived him by many years.

They were married by Sarah’s father, who was then the pastor of the First Baptist Church in Savannah. The following year Rev. Holcomb accepted the same position at First Baptist Church of Philadelphia. The Bacons remained in Georgia as Sarah brought forth ten more children over the years.

There was a political side to Thomas, having a sense of duty to his fellow man. He represented Liberty County in the Georgia legislature from 1805-1812 and was a state senator in 1819. His discernment and knowledge of the law equipped him to serve as Justice of the Inferior Court of Liberty County between 1803-1824 when he wasn’t a legislator. He also served as a deacon in his church for many years.

For reasons unknown, Thomas was visiting Philadelphia in 1834, ten years after Henry Holcombe died and his widow had already moved back to Georgia. Thomas died there suddenly, so he was buried with Henry in the church burial ground. The church arranged to have all the graves relocated in 1860 to a larger plot they had purchased at Mount Moriah.

As a dedicated family man he saw his children become successful in various professions. Among them were three lawyers, four college professors, one minister, and one doctor. This is the transcription of his epitaph:

 

Sacred / To the Memory of / Thomas Bacon, Esq. / A Planter of Georgia / Son in law of the late Henry Holcombe / He was Born / In Liberty County, Geo., Septr. 7th, 1775 / And Died / In Philadelphia, Octr. 23rd 1834 / Elevated to Public Stations by the confidence / of his Fellow Citizens Mr. Bacon acquitted / himself of the duties assigned him with integrity and usefulness / In the Church he professed to be a follower of the / meek and lowly Jesus…of which / he worthily occupied the office of Deacon. / As a husband he was ever solicitous of / multiplying his partner’s joys, and never failed / to sympathize in her sorrows. / As a Father of a numerous Family, he ruled / his Children and Household with a discipline / that blended energy and affection. / In his intercourse with society, he was dignified, / courteous and friendly, delicate in his Charities, / and prompt to assist in the hour of need. / In Fine his life as a Christian Statesman / and Jurist, the truth that nothing / is substantial without Honesty, that there / is no enduring happiness, without Piety, / and that the highest earthly distinction / is a Consistent Christian. / A Tribute of Affection / By his Wife and Children.