Any one else have an old graveyard?

[Steppenwolfe]

Here in rural Virginia it is not uncommon to have an old family graveyard on your property. We found this one buried in the woods on the far back corner of our land. No trail or road to it, obviously lost to memory. Lot's of history here, unfortunately we can only ponder.

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[DT86]

We don't but there are several close by. All of them are shown on maps though, even the ones that are no longer maintained. Was yours not on any maps? Can you make out any names or dates? It might be interesting to be able to trace the history of your property.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

We don't but there are several close by. All of them are shown on maps though, even the ones that are no longer maintained. Was yours not on any maps? Can you make out any names or dates? It might be interesting to be able to trace the history of your property.

Actually, it was on an old map. But we could never find it, turns out this one was about 1/4 mile away, not even close to what the map showed. And we aren't really sure there wasn't two.

 

[Boondox]

Up here in Vermont private family graveyards are often not on maps. Mapped gravesites are open to the public, so many of the old timers never report them. We have several relatives, and an acquaintance who passed away at 104 years with no living relatives, buried in the lower field. We also have eight of our dogs buried there, each with their own headstone. Our family plot is not on maps, and in a couple hundred years folks living here will probably wonder about the people and dogs buried on their land.

 

[creekbend]

Are you aware of this fact? If any Family member or relative of any individual buried there wishes to visit the grave or graves, you are required, by law, to grant them access to visit the graves? If your gravesite is in any of the County Record books, and the gravemarkers are removed or destroyed, that is a Felony. That is why, one sees so many old family gravesites on the sides of major State Roads and Interstates, where the graves are still visible. Even though, the construction crews took the more arduous completion route by going around the sites, they did so, to adhere to State and Federal Laws. I almost bought some property once, where there where 4 small tombsones and graves from the 1800's.

 

[OneMan]

These look like relatively new headstones done with a sandblaster rather than old hand chisel carved ones. The previous owners didn't know about the headstones? Who cut the brush?

 

[Steppenwolfe]

Are you aware of this fact? If any Family member or relative of any individual buried there wishes to visit the grave or graves, you are required, by law, to grant them access to visit the graves? If your gravesite is in any of the County Record books, and the gravemarkers are removed or destroyed, that is a Felony. That is why, one sees so many old family gravesites on the sides of major State Roads and Interstates, where the graves are still visible. Even though, the construction crews took the more ardous completion route by going around the sites, they did so, to adhere to State and Federal Laws. I almost bought some property once, where there where 4 small tombsones and graves from the 1800's.

No, I didn't know that. But, this graveyard is no easy task to get to. I suppose I could hire myself out as a guide...

 

[ozley]

No, I didn't know that. But, this graveyard is no easy task to get to. I suppose I could hire myself out as a guide...

Boy that was lesson I wouldn't worry about to much.

 

[OneMan]

No, I didn't know that. But, this graveyard is no easy task to get to. I suppose I could hire myself out as a guide...

TVA must have been exempt from those laws when they built the TVA Dam system in several Southern States. They moved many a gravesite and buried many others under hundreds of feet of water.

 

[J F]

Yeah, those look clean/newish. What are the incriptions? (date-wise, anyway, don't want to intrude on anyone's privacy).

Since a kid (46 now), I've always been intrigued when taken to cemeteries, be it places where family are buried, especially when taken to military sites, with the exceptionally neat rows...and then learning the history and sacrifice that came with those "neat rows", it really packs a punch.