Charles Irving Thornton

Charles Irving Thornton is a gravesite in Cumberland State Forest, marked by a stone monument with a detailed inscription on Oak Hill Road. The memorial stands at the burial location and bears religious text commemorating the person laid to rest there.

The monument remembers a child born in 1841 and died in 1842, representing a time in early America when infant mortality was common. This gravesite documents personal grief from the 19th century.

The inscription reflects 19th-century American beliefs about the afterlife and spiritual salvation. Such thoughtful, religious words on gravestones shaped how people remembered their loved ones during that era.

The gravesite sits deep within Cumberland State Forest and requires navigation using local signs or assistance from forest staff on site. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes and follow Oak Hill Road to reach the monument.

The inscription on this gravestone was written by Charles Dickens, the famous British author, who composed it through correspondence. This is one of only two known graves worldwide bearing an inscription personally penned by Dickens.

Location: Cumberland County

Inception: 1842

GPS coordinates: 37.49250,-78.31361

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:45