The tall and ornately-carved Blake family tombstone in Charlotte's Old Settler's Cemetery is the final resting place for their son, a young Confederate Navy officer who died of disease contracted during his service "to his country."
The tombstone reads as follows:
"Died of disease contracted in the service of his country
July 5th 1864
LIEUTENANT
JOSEPH DAVIDSON BLAKE C.S.N
Son of James H. & M. A. Blake
Aged 33 years
A gallant and able officer, a thorough and elegant gentlemen, who bore his long sickness with great patience and committed his soul to the keeping of his blessed Redeemer."
From Find-A-Grave: (
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"Joseph Davidson Blake, born North Carolina, about 1831; originally served in the United States Navy, from September 9, 1847; entered the Confederate States Navy on February 23, 1862, as 1st lieutenant; served as lieutenant on the CSS Gaines, Mobile Squadron; treated for a very bad sprain in his ankle, after a fall, on Friday, June 13, 1862; treated for catarrh, with coughing and fainting spells, on Thursday, August 21, 1862, and again with the same condition on Saturday, August 30, 1862; on Thursday, October 30, 1862, the surgeon reported, in his medical journal, that Blake was suffering from "phthisis pulmonalis" adding that Blake had been "suffering with a severe dry cough since about the 1st August – Became much prostrated, and obtaining leave of absence, visited the Springs, with much benefit. The cough has continued constantly since, and upon examination two weeks ago, I detected considerable irritation in upper portion of left lung, with dullness on percussion, and puerile respiration on right side. Last night had an attack of haemoptysis spilling about half pint of blood"; the surgeon treated him with medication, adding, in his notes, that "The disease is hereditary in his family"; it was later noted that Blake had been examined by a survey on November 1st, 1862, and that he would be relieved from duty; went on sick leave; later served on the Richmond station, 1863-1864. [CSS Gaines Medical Journal; ORN 2, 1, 322; Register 1863.]