Above is Nathaniel "Nace" Hopkins’ historic original tombstone showing the lettering. The epitaph may never have been recorded until now. Hopkins was buried in the old Paradise Cemetery at the corner of Rt. 50 and Barber Rd. in Trappe, Md. His original tombstone had been broken in two many years ago and was replaced by a modern tombstone erected by the Trappe Bicentennial Committee some years ago. Unfortunately the modern replacement only gives the years of his birth and death and copied none of the other information on the original. The modern stone also replaced his wife Caroline’s tombstone which was separate.

The epitaph on Hopkins’ original tombstone reads "To my Father/ NATHANIEL HOPKINS./ Born 1834./ Died Feb. 22, 1900/ A soldier in the Civil War/ and originator of/ Emancipation parade in/ Trappe."

It is not known which of Hopkins’ children erected the stone.

Below is a photograph of wife Caroline’s original tombstone which reads "CAROLINE HOPKINS/ Born 1867./ Died/ Mar. 7, 1912" Note that the date of her birth is incorrect. Her death certificate lists her birth as June 20, 1820, not 1867