John Z. Jenkins' marker

[L Verge]

(02-09-2015 11:47 PM)Susan Higginbotham Wrote:  Thanks, folks!

I think the symbol are the letters "IHS" superimposed upon each other. Depending on you who talk to, it means either Iesus Hominum Salvator (Jesus, saviour of mankind), In Hoc Signo [Vince] (In this sign, conquer), or the first three letters of "Jesus" in Greek.

http://www.historyfromheadstones.com/index.php?id=1000

The sign is not exclusive to the Catholic denomination. It appeared on altar cloths and other adornments on furniture within the altar portion of our Episcopal church when I was a child.

Zadoc Jenkins and his family were Episcopalians until sister Mary converted to Catholicism while being schooled by the Sisters of Charity in Alexandria, Virginia. She then proceeded to convert her family - except for younger brother James Archibald.

She evidently had a hard time convincing her mother-in-law to make the switch also. John Surratt's foster mother was not converted until on her deathbed. There is a note in the church records (I think St. Ignatius Oxon Hill) to the effect that the priest didn't know whether the conversion would work since the lady had been an Episcopalian all of her life!