Text: J. Brander Matthews, “E. A. Poe,” Notes and Queries (London, UK), May 13, 1876, pp. 386-387

“In the preparation of the foundation for the monument to the poet Edgar A. Poe, in the churchyard of Westminster Church, Baltimore, it was found necessary to remove his remains to a spot near the grave of Mrs. Clemm, the mother of his first wife. The (N.Y.) Sun says, ‘The coffin at first appearance seemed to be sound, but when raised the sides were found decayed and fell to pieces. Nothing remained inside the coffin but the returned to dust. Some hair yet attached to the skull, skeleton, all the flesh and grave clothes having long since and the teeth, which appeared all white and perfect, were shaken out of the jaws and lay on the bottom of the coffin. The old coffin and its contents were placed entire, as exhumed, in a wooden case, and lowered into the new [page 387:] grave and closed up. The stones for the foundation of the monument were put in place, and everything is now prepared for the superstructure.’ ”