TOM THUMB 1838-1883 * * * * * THE DESCRIPTION of FUNERAL SERVICE & BURIAL

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The remains of Charles S. Stratton, more familiar as, “General Tom Thumb,” were buried with Masonic honors in the Mountain Grove Cemetery at Bridgeport, Conn. yesterday afternoon, July 19th, 1883. He died on July 15th. It was estimated that more than 10,000 people attended the ceremonies. Of this throng, fully 8,000 were women and girls. The body lay exposed to view in St. John’s Episcopal Church on Fairfield Avenue, during the afternoon. It reposed in an oaken coffin 3 feet 10 inches in length and covered with black cloth. Silver bars ran along the sides and Masonic emblems engraved in silver were fastened above the bars. The silver plate on the lid was engraved with the Masonic pillar, all seeing - eye, and altar, the inscription in the center being: “Charles S. Stratton, aged 45 years, 6 months, and 11 days.”

The face of the dead dwarf looked perfectly natural. The body was dressed in a broadcloth suit. Blood stone studs ornamented the shirt front. On the left coat lapel glittered a gold badge engraved with the thirty-second Masonic degree. A white lace veil was spread over the face. On the lid rested the Knight Templar chapeau and silver sword of the General. The scabbard was inlaid with chased silver and the hilt was of silver and ebony. The weapon was only twenty inches long. Beside the hat and sword rested a floral anchor and cross intertwined sent by Mr. and Mrs. Phineas T. Barnum. At the foot lay a square and compasses of white roses presented by Mr. William R. Higby, and a cross of flowers, the gift of the Hamilton Commandery of Knights Templar. Two knights in full uniform, with drawn swords, stood at the head and foot of the casket as the spectators passed through a double file of Knights who formed a guard of honor.

The funeral services at St. John’s Episcopal Church were at 2:30 o’clock. The pall bearers were in uniform. Behind, in double file, marched the Templars of Hamilton Commandery and the members of St. John’s Lodge No. 3 of Free Masons.

A prayer closed the service and then the Knights and Masons marched from the church three abreast with drawn swords, escorting the coffin to the hearse. A full band of musicians, uniformed in red and blue, wearing black helmets with waving plumes of white, played the “Dead March,” and the procession started for the cemetery, two miles distant. Twenty carriages occupied by relatives and intimate friends followed the hearse. Nearly 1,000 people surrounded the burial plot when the cortege arrived.

Mrs. Stratton, born 1841 and died in 1901, was only a few inches shorter than her husband who was three feet tall, was too weak to stand and a cushion was brought from the carriage and laid on the ground at the edge of the grave. The little widow sat upon it, supported by her mother and mother-in-law. The ceremonies lasted more than half an hour. Mrs. Stratton became more and more agitated as they proceeded and just as Prelate Dutton dropped the floral Masonic emblem into the grave, and the knights crossed their swords and began to chant the closing hymn, her little figure shook for a moment with strong emotion, and she fell back senseless into the arms of her mother. There were cries of pity from the crowd that looked on and hundreds of women watched with anxiety the efforts to revive the little woman. Mrs. Stratton was lifted and carried to her carriage. She revived as the carriage was rolling homeward.

Article copied from a Bridgeport, CT
newspaper, 1883

I found this interesting & thought you might too.
Not many remember he was a well respected Mason.
Hiram Abiff
The Widow's Son

“No man has ever knelt at our altar of obligation, and arose the same man."
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