Although most Americans are familiar with graveyards and especially those set next to a church, many people don't remember that loved ones were often buried near their own homes. Perhaps it was just the times but mourners felt some measure of comfort in knowing their loved ones were nearby. Gracey Manor is possessed of an extensive graveyard where dozens of people associated with the house have found their final resting place. Tis a shame they don't rest in peace.
RIP GOOD FRIEND GORDON
Name: Gordon Williams[2]
Born: 1819
Gordon Williams was a man uniquely suited to his era. His bravura was unequalled, bravery unquestioned, intelligent to a fault and British through and through. He was the epitome of the Victorian Age.
Gordon left home in 1826 and joined the British Navy as a powder monkey. He served in many battles including Navarino in 1827. After a decade in the service he was discharged and the 18-year-old had to make his way in the world. Knowing nothing but adventure he became an explorer and roamed much of Africa , Asia and the Middle East for over 30 years.
With British control of Egypt Middle East was his playground.
It was on a solo expedition in late 1864 that Gordon discovered the tomb at Tel el-Amarna which was to change his life forever.
Buried in a most un-egyptian fashion under a pile of large nondescript rocks and sand, was a tiny staircase leading into the base of a nearby hill. No stele or inscriptions existed and there were no funerary books or jars. In every way it seemed that the residents there wished to remain anonymos and undisturbed. Williams explored the cave and found nothing but dirt. Disappointed, he turned to leave when a peculiar shape on the wall caught his eye. A half circle based by a perfectly straight line. Impossible to form naturally Gordon examined it closer to find a small but distinct crevase around the design. He gently pushed upon it and immediately a shower of sand began to fill the chamber. Luckily the precautious man had tied a rope around his waist connecting him to the door. He pulled mightily and ran for his life making it to freedom only after bathing in the yellow flood.
It took six months to clear the small room which insisted on refilling almost as fast as he could empty it. Finally in early April 1865 he managed a full study of the tomb. In a small ante-chamber behind a false wall he found the prize: a sarcophagus. Quickly Gordon opened the box and surveyed the mummified remains of a man and a woman buried together in an eternal embrace. He did not touch the pair for they were much more valuable in pristine condition. Wealthy aristocrats did enjoy their “unwrapping parties” and this pair would secure Gordon’s finances for the rest of his life. He did however make special note of the cartoush afixed to the lid and, thanks to Champollion’s work, Gordon was able to name the pair as Kheperkheperure (later known as Ay) and Akhenaten.
Through his contacts with a diplomat named Edward Gracey, Williams sold the pair to a young American, quit the desert and built a comfortable home on the African velt. For the first time in his adult life, Gordon had a place he could call his own.
The quiet life did not suit him well though and within a few months he was leading explorers and hunters all over the African interior. One special expedition was chartered by his old friend Edward and attended by none other than George Gracey jr., the nephew and man to whom he had sold mummies two years previous.
The safari was a smashing success and all felt invigorated by the adventure. Each man proved his mettle with gun and cutlass as they were raided by bandits many times and no one owe a life debt, as all were hero once or twice. George and Gordon were as brothers. Many an evening was spent listening to Gordon’s tales of ancient Pharaohs and mummy curses. The only disappointment was a terrible row between the Graceys on the next to last night. The family was never to speak again.
Fame and honor in the British Empire can lead to unusual events. As the Royal Albert Memorial Museum
One evening, as he cataloged the lower Egypt pieces, he discovered an as yet untranslated papyrus. The royal cartoush look strangly familiar and he was only a few glyphs in before remembering an odd little tomb at Amarna which also spoke of Akhenaten.
Williams laboured through the work and soon realized it was a beautiful love letter from the Pharaoh to his vizir Ay. The oddity of this was striking to Gordon until it spoke of their “great secret”. The king was a woman in disguise! They had fooled the populace, the priests and foreign diplomats for 16 years!! The royal progeny were all of Ay not the wife of the Pharaoh and the pair longed to be united after death.
Flush with the excitement of this monumental discovery, Gordon made to find the curator. He had barely reached the staircase when something hard struck the back of his head and tore conciousness from him.
As he lay stupified a vision broke on his mind. A blazing Egyptian sun dropped to the horizon. The mighty Pharaoh stood in a field of battle surounded by enemies but proud and strong despite them. His vizir arrived in an iron chariot and drove away the foes. Then Akhenaten and Ay embraced for their love’s sake. A man, wearing the garb of a priest of Amun, raised-up and threatened to reveal their secret. Ay pierced him with a javelin but before dying he cursed them that, if any ever discovered the lie, they would be seperated forever. Then, unbelieveably, the spirits of Ay and Akhenaten stood before Gordon. They begged him to destroy the letter, never tell anyone and let them be in peace. Williams was a very practical man and did not believe what he had seen. The truth would be known.
Two days after his discovery, Gordon Williams went missing. No one in London could explain where he had gone and few would have accepted that within a year his corpse would be a mummy, prepared in the ancient fashion and dried in the hot western desert near Amarna. He was later sent to Master Gracey with some canopic jars under the pretense that they all belonged with the original sarcophagus. That is until the educated George read the hyroglyphic inscription on the new casket which read:
Gordon Williams
Dead Men Tell No Tales
Beware the Sons of Aten
George erected a tombstone for his friend Gordon at the mansion but never told anyone of his suspicions. “Let the dead keep their secrets”, he thought.
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