| 1. SUBJECT;
The Old
Cemetery". (PW-294)
2. LOCATION:
To the
east of Route #9, .5 miles from Occoquan, Virginia, taking
Route #9 at Occoquan and going one fourth mile, thence east
towards the river about two hundred feet from any cleared
spot to the left of the river's edge.
3. DATE:
Said
to be over a hundred years old.
4. OWNERS:
This
appears to have been a part of the Champe grant from the Proprietor's
Office, later sold to John Ballandine, and then coming into
the hands of Henry Selecman. There is a record in Deed Book
37, folio 245, recording the sale of a tract of land here
by William Selecman; the estate of Henry Selecman was sold
to Corintha S. Giles; this was In 1887 and the graveyard was
reserved. It appears to have been private property.
5. DESCRIPTION:
It covers
a large area, and there are several lots enclosed by iron
fences, now rusted, and the gates are impossible to open.
One lot is surrounded by a brick wall, but there is not a
stone within that has any inscription. The honeysuckle and
periwinkle are so thick that many of the stones are completely
hidden, and it is only by stumbling over them that they are
found. The thick growth and almost semidarkness make it very
difficult to decipher the inscriptions that remain. It is
located on a bluff by the side of the river, and directly
opposite the Lorton Reformatory across the river.
6. HISTORICAL
SIGNIFICANCE:
The following
are the inscriptions that it was possible to read:
1. Bohannon~
(one large granite stone with nothing but that name.
2. Charles L.
Swann, born February 1st, 1862, died January 8th, 1887. uFrom
the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, where my heart
is,that is higher than I.
In loving
remembrance of my beloved Father and Mother.
3. John Wallace
Greg, born 1810, died 1900.
-----born
1808, died 1900.
4. In Memory
of Rachael, eife of Andrew Woolchiser born March 21st, 1819,
died February 17th, 18--
5. Viola Carter,
born May 1st, 1855, died June 28th, 1887.
'~Gone but not
forgotten, we hope you are at rest as a prayer from her
6. Minnie G.
Posey, died 1878, aged 11 years.
7. In loving
remembrance of John Thomas Turner, Oct. 16th, 1850, May 1911
uDearest loved
one we have laid thee in the peaceful grave's embrace, But
thy memory will be cherished till we see thy Heavenly face"
8. In loving
remembrance of Mary E. --- Wife of Wm., born Feb. 8th, 1828,
died March 18th, 1889.
Name chipped
off--- Gone home!
"Farewell to
thee our darling Mother dear, life is sad without thee here,
May we meet in Heaven above where all is peace and love".
(The above were
three were taken from stones enclosed by a high iron fence,
as one name was Turner it is probable that they were all of
the same family.)
7. ART:
8. SOURCES
OF INFORMATION: Informants:
Mrs. William
Lynn, Occoquan, Virginia.
Mrs.
G. S. Eelecman, Occoquan, Virginia.
Mrs.
F. W. Barnes, Occoquan, Virginia.
INDEX
Bohannon
I Posey, Minnie G. 6
Carter,
Viola 5 Swann, Charlie 2
Greg,
John William 3 Turner, John Thomas 7
Mary
E., Wife of Wm. 8 Woolchiser, Rachael 4
Research
made by
Susan
Rogers Morton,
Haymarket, Virginia July
22, 1937.
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