Send us where to respond and we will. Karyn of Snohomish Co. Washington

Processioning Orders/St Paul's Vestry/ 1751-1764 Sydnor, Darracott, Pate, Baker, Langford, Harris, Ragland, Davis, Hix, Winston, Grimes, Tinsley Could someone help me locate the area of the following processioning orders in St. Paul's Parish? In 1751, these people seem to appear in Precinct 9 - then in 1755, in Precinct 10. Note the Sydnor family listed in these orders. The Sydnor Family appears to have lived in this area from at least 1751 to 1764 and maybe longer. One of my great-grandfathers was John Darracott who appears on the same orders. 1751-1752: Precinct 9. "Ordered into one precinct for processioning the lands of Matt. Pate, John Baker, Edwd. Langford, Sherwood Harris, John Ragland's orphans, Wm. Davis, Henry Hix, WIDOW SIDNER, Barbary Winston, John Darracott". Mch. 25, 1752. Processioners report within land peaceable and quietly processioned. Sept. 30, 1751. (Valentine Papers, page 1740, St. Paul's Parish Vestry Book) 1755 - Nov. 17: Precinct 10. "Ordered into one precinct for processioning the lands of Matthew Pate, Thomas Baker, Edward Langford, William Allen, Sherwood Harris, John Ragland's orphans, William Davis, Henry Hix, ROBT. SYDNOR, FORTUNATUS SYDNOR, WILLIAM SYDNOR, William Grimes, Barbara Winston, and John Darracott. (Valentine Papers, page 1740, St. Paul's Parish Vestry Book) 1759 - Nov. 19th. Ordered into one Precinct for processioning the lands of Matthew Pate, Thomas Baker, Edward Lankfford, William Allen, Sherwood Harris, John Raglands orphans, William Davis, Henry Hix, ROBT. SYDNOR, FORTUNATUS SYDNOR, WILLIAM SYDNOR, William Grimes, Barbary Winston and John Darracott and return their proceedings according to law. "In pursuance to the within order we the Subscribers have Peaceably and Quietly procession'd the land abovementioned, the Land Mentioned Robert Sydnor's now Mrs. Jennings the Land that was Thomas Baker's now John Kings. Examined: William Grimes and Matthew Pate. 1764 - March 29th. In obedience to the within order, we have processioned the lands of William, Matthew Pate, except the lines between him and Tinsley, left for those who procession the land of Tinsley, Thomas Bakers land procession'd except a line between him and Ragland, left as above; Edwd Lankfords Land processiond, except the land between him and George Hudson left for Ditto, William Allen, Raglands orphans...Lands are included in Sherwood Harris Track, not processiond for want of some body to shew the lines, William Davis's land processiond except the line between him and Col. Littlepage left for those who processiond the land of Littlepage; SYDNORS LAND PROCESSIOND, William Grimes, Barbary Winston, & John Darracott deceased their lands processioned. Signed; Thos. Darricott, William Grimes. (Vestry held for Saint Pauls Parish.) Thanks Mary Jane Stokes

-------- Original Message -------- From: Joanne Yates <[email protected]> Subject: {not a subscriber} Re: [VAHANOVE] Information regarding the cemetery fiasco at PebbleCreek in Hanover County, VA To: [email protected] I e-mailed Mark Holmberg and Michael Paul Williams of the Richmond Times Dispatch this morning, also, to ask their help - we'll see what happens. Jo [email protected] wrote: > Lyn & everyone, > > I've just gotten off the phone with Channel 8 (Richmond television > channel) who has now sent a reporter out to the area as well. I'm not > thrilled about being involved with the media by any means, but whatever it > takes to save our history I'm willing to do. I would suggest for anyone and > everyone to call, email, or write to those email addresses sent earlier and > express your concern. > I'll be glad to keep you all posted, but it looks as if there is a > strong interest on this subject now. > Sheri > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Lyn" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2002 10:21 AM > Subject: Re: [VAHANOVE] Information regarding the cemetery fiasco at > PebbleCreek in Hanover County, VA > > > Sheri, > > > > For those of us are no longer living in the area, it is reassuring to > > know someone in the area still cares to fight the fight. Thank you so > > much for sharing this info. > > > > Genealogy is more than names & dates. It is recognizing and respecting > > the gifts of our forefathers. In the case of Hanover County & > > surrounding areas, our forefathers were also the forefathers of our > > nation. The gift is the freedom we all enjoy today. Many of us had > > forefathers in the area long before the English arrived. > > > > The road was not without bloodshed, but that is where the foundation was > > laid. > > > > Off my soapbox > > Lyn > > (List manager) > > > > > > ============================== > > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, > go to: > > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > > > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237

Lyn & everyone, I've just gotten off the phone with Channel 8 (Richmond television channel) who has now sent a reporter out to the area as well. I'm not thrilled about being involved with the media by any means, but whatever it takes to save our history I'm willing to do. I would suggest for anyone and everyone to call, email, or write to those email addresses sent earlier and express your concern. I'll be glad to keep you all posted, but it looks as if there is a strong interest on this subject now. Sheri ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lyn" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2002 10:21 AM Subject: Re: [VAHANOVE] Information regarding the cemetery fiasco at PebbleCreek in Hanover County, VA > Sheri, > > For those of us are no longer living in the area, it is reassuring to > know someone in the area still cares to fight the fight. Thank you so > much for sharing this info. > > Genealogy is more than names & dates. It is recognizing and respecting > the gifts of our forefathers. In the case of Hanover County & > surrounding areas, our forefathers were also the forefathers of our > nation. The gift is the freedom we all enjoy today. Many of us had > forefathers in the area long before the English arrived. > > The road was not without bloodshed, but that is where the foundation was > laid. > > Off my soapbox > Lyn > (List manager) > > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 >

Hi, I've been "listening in" on the cemetery subject and while I am certainly NOT an expert I do have some experience in stirring up the natives! Get petition drives going. Go door to door, asking people if they are aware of what's happeninng. Have public meetings, WELL-ADVERTISED, abd be SURE to invite the people you're contending with. Do you have a local paper? Pick someone who really KNOWS the subject matter and give them an interview. Radio stations around? Give interviews there, too. Make sure the main person doing the speaking is extremely knowledgable and NEVER ASK A QUESTION THAT YOU DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO! I don't know if this will work for you, it DID work for me! And, 5 nuclear plants bit the dust! Not only that, our P.U.D. customers got their money back! I'd love to take credit for all of that, but many, many people worked on it. Good Luck to all of you. If I lived in Hanover I'd be out there helping! [email protected] our P.U.D. customers got their money back! doing the speaking ----- Original Message ----- From: "Carol" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2002 2:09 PM Subject: Re: [VAHANOVE] Information regarding the cemetery fiasco at PebbleCreek in Hanover County, VA > Sheri > GO GIRL! > The one thing people doing wrong hate is publicity and lots of it. The worst > part is not persuing ALL AVENUES(not just the minimum to comply with the > letter of the law) to try and find the relatives > > I will say this...Tommy Naumann of Burress Vaults has done this for > YEARS(his father in law before him) sooo his company are experts and they > ,of course, were just hired to do the job. Im sure he could have done a > better job at determining what was there than a funeral home director. The > equiptment they use may seem crude to some but i think they know what they > are doing and what to look for.The important thing,if the graves are to be > relocated is get everything they can at the site to transfer to a new > hopefully secure site. > > The important part of this move of the graves is to find out as many names > and information as possible sooo the families(if they are found )will have > some kind of peace. and a place to gather if they want to.This was evidently > NOT done!!!!!!!! We have all heard the horror stories of contractors,upon > finding graves,just covered them over and did not contact officials because > they didn't want to be delayed. > > I am the "caretaker" of my old family cemetery in Wva ...when im gone,i > don't know what will happen to the cemetery.Sooo ,the lesson here is...ALL > families should think long and hard about their own old family cemeteries > and make some kind of advance plans so this will not happen to them. > > Did anyone contact the Oscar Via and Snydor families??Just wondering!!! > > Carol in Hanover > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] <[email protected]> > Date: Wednesday, February 27, 2002 3:49 PM > Subject: Re: [VAHANOVE] Information regarding the cemetery fiasco at > PebbleCreek in Hanover County, VA > > > >Lyn & everyone, > > > > I've just gotten off the phone with Channel 8 (Richmond television > >channel) who has now sent a reporter out to the area as well. I'm not > >thrilled about being involved with the media by any means, but whatever it > >takes to save our history I'm willing to do. I would suggest for anyone > and > >everyone to call, email, or write to those email addresses sent earlier and > >express your concern. > > I'll be glad to keep you all posted, but it looks as if there is a > >strong interest on this subject now. > >Sheri > >----- Original Message ----- > >From: "Lyn" <[email protected]> > >To: <[email protected]> > >Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2002 10:21 AM > >Subject: Re: [VAHANOVE] Information regarding the cemetery fiasco at > >PebbleCreek in Hanover County, VA > > > > > >> Sheri, > >> > >> For those of us are no longer living in the area, it is reassuring to > >> know someone in the area still cares to fight the fight. Thank you so > >> much for sharing this info. > >> > >> Genealogy is more than names & dates. It is recognizing and respecting > >> the gifts of our forefathers. In the case of Hanover County & > >> surrounding areas, our forefathers were also the forefathers of our > >> nation. The gift is the freedom we all enjoy today. Many of us had > >> forefathers in the area long before the English arrived. > >> > >> The road was not without bloodshed, but that is where the foundation was > >> laid. > >> > >> Off my soapbox > >> Lyn > >> (List manager) > >> > >> > >> ============================== > >> To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, > >go to: > >> http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > >> > > > > > >============================== > >To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, > go to: > >http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > > > > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 >

More on this story @ www.wtvr.com ~Jeanette N. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Savasnia" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2002 1:08 PM Subject: [VAHANOVE] Bones Unearthed > WTVR 6. More >> > I Found this on a local news website. This is so sad! ~Jeanette N. > > > > February 26, 2002 > Bones Unearthed > 125 Bodies, dating back to the 1830's have been unearthed in a Hanover County Subdivision. Construction crews have been digging up the bodies in the Pebble Creek community to make way for new homes. It More >> > > > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 >

>From www.wric.com Two Virginia Battlefields have made the top ten list of the nation's most endangered Civil War sites. The Civil War preservation trust says battlefields in Chancellorsville and Cold Harbor are among those threatened by encroaching development. Six more Virginia sites are listed as being at risk.

WTVR 6. More >> I Found this on a local news website. This is so sad! ~Jeanette N. February 26, 2002 Bones Unearthed 125 Bodies, dating back to the 1830's have been unearthed in a Hanover County Subdivision. Construction crews have been digging up the bodies in the Pebble Creek community to make way for new homes. It More >>

Hi Lyn: Bless you (and the others) for trying to save this cemetery! Don't know what the laws are there BUT here in Oregon (and we have only been a state since 1859) We have VERY STRONG LAWS on GRAVE DESECRATION...This applies to graves even if the bodies ARE NOT identified! With that many graves, my Lord, it could have been a WHOLE COMMUNITY! In our small town we have what is known as "Old Pioneer Cemetery" and no one has been buried there in probably fifty years or more....and this little resting place is IN PRIME OCEAN VIEW location.....A few years back there was a movement afoot to sell the property (it is probably worth millions) and our community as a whole rose up and protested! Maybe that was a good wake-up call for us! Since then maintenance is done on a fairly regular basis by BOY SCOUTS and Historical Society etc....Of course a great many headstones are missing and have deteriorated....BUT on the whole we feel reassured that these early settlers are at least "resting in peace" and no one is "digging them up" in the name of progress! Good luck to you and your fellow "Hanoverians" for caring! Regards Dee -----Original Message----- From: Lyn <[email protected]> To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Date: Wednesday, February 27, 2002 7:52 AM Subject: Re: [VAHANOVE] Information regarding the cemetery fiasco at PebbleCreek in Hanover County, VA >Sheri, > >For those of us are no longer living in the area, it is reassuring to >know someone in the area still cares to fight the fight. Thank you so >much for sharing this info. > >Genealogy is more than names & dates. It is recognizing and respecting >the gifts of our forefathers. In the case of Hanover County & >surrounding areas, our forefathers were also the forefathers of our >nation. The gift is the freedom we all enjoy today. Many of us had >forefathers in the area long before the English arrived. > >The road was not without bloodshed, but that is where the foundation was >laid. > >Off my soapbox >Lyn >(List manager) > > >============================== >To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: >http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > >

Sheri, For those of us are no longer living in the area, it is reassuring to know someone in the area still cares to fight the fight. Thank you so much for sharing this info. Genealogy is more than names & dates. It is recognizing and respecting the gifts of our forefathers. In the case of Hanover County & surrounding areas, our forefathers were also the forefathers of our nation. The gift is the freedom we all enjoy today. Many of us had forefathers in the area long before the English arrived. The road was not without bloodshed, but that is where the foundation was laid. Off my soapbox Lyn (List manager)

This email was also sent to all the below - Hanover Planning Committee members Hanover Board of Supervisors Richmond Times Dispatch newspaper Hanover Herald Progress newspaper Mechanicsville Local newspaper Three major network television stations in Richmond area Hanover County Rootsweb email list (genealogy) Several friends & family members Here are the email addresses below should you wish to send your concerns, voice your opinions, ask questions, etc. ----- Original Message ----- From: [email protected] To: [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] Cc: Sheri Millikin ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; Henry R. Broaddus ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2002 9:53 AM Subject: Information regarding the cemetery fiasco at PebbleCreek in Hanover County, VA

To all recipients, Below are three news articles regarding the actions now taking place in Hanover County with regards to the bodies being removed in the Pebble Creek Subdivision. Two are from this week and one is from October, 2001. My questions to present to each of you are these: 1. In what newspaper was it "advertised" that these remains would be removed, asking for family members to come forward, and how to contact those in charge of this? When was this done? Why hasn't this information been shown in any television interviews? 2. In what way is a mortician an experienced or trained person to use in the identifying of gravesites? They are experienced in the preservation or treatment of bodies once they have become deceased, but not in locating graves over 100 years in age. 3. Why wasn't the State Archeological Dept. notified or contacted? Dept. of Historic Resources? 4. Approx. 2 + years ago both my husband and myself were contacted by a representative of PebbleCreek asking for information on who to contact with regards to locating graves. It was at this time we put them in touch with a former Coast Guardsman who does thermal imaging photography. This type of photography clearly shows the size of gravesites, the number of graves, etc. Why was this method not pursued? They obviously knew a large gravesite was in this area or they would not have called. 5. Why was the information on these plots showing gravesites removed? Why did some of residents know & some didn't? 6. Why wasn't this process stopped after finding more than "a few" family members? The body count was over 130 early last night. How many more times will bodies be shuffled around Hanover County? What will happen to our cemeteries now in 150 years? 7. Have any of those directly involved in this process taken into consideration the health hazards that the work crew and the families of residents of PebbleCreek may now be exposed to? There are certain causes of deaths for which bodies may NOT be exhumed. There are now concerns of arsenic in the soil due to the types of caskets used & found during this digging. The work crew have found whole skulls, jewelry, broken glass-topped caskets, dust, many portions of bones, etc. There is quite a bit more involved than just scooping these remains up into plastic trash cans & then dumping remains into vaults. Was this investigated? 8. How many other family cemeteries has Hanover County allowed to be destroyed recently? There is one involved in the sewage treatment plant, one under the Wal-Mart parking lot, and one in the line of fire for the new stripmall/subdivision plan from Pole Green Road to Studley Road. That's four in a matter of a few years that family members HAVE been vocal about and that BofS members and Planning Committee members knew about. 9. In less than 24 hrs I was able to find out the following information. Why didn't the Planning Committee, Board of Supervisors, Builders, etc. do this much homework? There are two cemeteries located at the PebbleCreek Subdivision site. One is a white cemetery and one is a black cemetery. The last interment occurred in 1970 for Emma Green. The graves date back as far as the early 1800's. This property was once part of the Sydnor plantation. Several Mechanicsville/Hanover County residents knew identities of those buried in these cemeteries. Much of this was recorded in a local newspaper. Property deeds dating that far back are available at the Hanover Courthouse for those who wanted to look and see if there were in fact any graves on the property and approximately for how long and one could even get a good idea as to how many. 10. Is Hanover County looking for the same negative publicity as the crematory in Georgia is receiving? Why aren't all the news media in & around Hanover County covering this story? It is time for the truth to be seen that we have some serious problems in our government in Hanover County that would allow this to happen. For other information, I strongly suggest you refer to the Virginia State Laws regarding private/family cemeteries. This information is available on the internet as well as the VA State Library. Thank you. Sheri Millikin Hanover, VA February 26, 2002 Bones Unearthed - WTVR - Channel 6 http://www.wtvr.com/Global/story.asp?S=681250 125 Bodies, dating back to the 1830's have been unearthed in a Hanover County Subdivision. Construction crews have been digging up the bodies in the Pebble Creek community to make way for new homes. It may seem disrespectful but it's perfectly legal to remove remains and transfer them to another location. Hanover County officials says there are a lot of other gravesites in the area, but many of them are sold old and the land has been sold so many times that it's hard to know exactly where they are. The bodies taken from the Pebble Creek Subdivision will be laid to rest in another plot of land. http://www.herald-progress.com/herald-progress/myarticles.asp?H=1&S=490&P=264851&PubID=4965 Remains in Mech graves to be moved By LINA PENALOSA H-P Staff Writer October 18, 2001 - More than 18 months after human remains were discovered on two lots in the Pebble Creek subdivision of Mechanicsville, the process of disinterment and re-internment will begin. Individuals with relatives located in the abandoned graveyard have until Nov. 13 to take necessary action regarding the remains. Following that deadline, PMG-One, LLC, owner of the land in the Pebble Creek development, will apply for a permit to remove and rebury an unspecified number of remains. Some of the remains were first unearthed on Feb. 2, 2000 when Rock View Homes, a Powhatan-based contractor, began working on the site. The unmarked gravesites were part of a 322-acre farm previously owned by Mechanicsville resident Oscar Via, who inherited the property from his father. "We want to see if there are any family members that have people there," said Todd Rogers, manager of PMG-One. Tommy Naumann, vice president of Burruss Burial Vaults, Inc., would probably oversee the disinterment and reinterment, said Sam Beale, representative for PMG. "[He] will do some probing and he'll be able to tell how many burial sites there are," Beale said. "There may be nothing there but dust and dirt, but he'll know what was there. You probably won't find any casket handles or belt buckles or anything like that." Whether or not casket handles and buckles are found, Naumann said, everything including the dust of the decaying casket will be removed for reinterment. "We have backhoes that we bring in," he said. "If we find a vault, then that vault is lifted out with cables, put on a truck and carried out to where it is going to be buried. If we find no vault, then we have to put men in there and dig by hand. And we have to get all of the remains. Anything that belongs to the grave, wood from the casket, cloth from clothing, casket handles, has to be taken out and reintered. Even the black dirt that is the remains of the casket decomposing." Removing one set of remains can take anywhere from half an hour to an hour and a half, depending on whether the remains are in a burial vault, burial liner, or neither. "A burial vault is a sealed concrete container," Naumann said. "A grave liner is a container that is not sealed. It is not meant to afford any protection to the remains." Instead, it is used to keep the ground from sinking after the casket decomposes. Despite the lack of tombstones or markers at the grave sites in Pebble Creek, Naumann said it will not be difficult to pinpoint the number of sites and their locations. "If you go out and count the tombstones, that has nothing to do with the number of graves," he said. "Tombstones are a very modern thing. You do want to search the overall area. Usually, it takes a couple hours [to inspect]. Typically people are buried in a cluster, but you get people that are buried away from the cluster." Visual cues are important to locating possible burial sites, Naumann said. "People used to love to put cedar trees on cemeteries, old walls or fences, or flowers that are not naturally occurring." An eight-foot sounding rod, however, is the most important tool in locating remains. "The ground never re-packs the same," Naumann said. "You can go down there and tell exactly where a grave is. [A sounding rod] goes through the dirt like butter. When you push it into the ground that has not been dug up, you can hardly push it in. "They can give you a very reliable count. The only problem is with infant graves because they are so small. And even a good rod man can find them quickly. Once you go in there, it's very rare that we don't know exactly how many graves are in there." The disinterment and reinterment process must also be overseen by a licensed funeral home, Beale said. "They have to observe you digging them out of the ground and reintering them," he said. "It's a hands-on eyes-on type thing." PMG originally sold the property to a builder, Rogers said, that Wachovia closed on. Rock View Homes then purchased the property and began developing it when the remains were unearthed. PMG once again owns the property. When the remains were first uncovered, Rogers said, PMG and Rock View Homes entered a dispute trying to define, in part, responsibility for the gravesites. The matter was resolved in an undisclosed settlement. Representatives of Rock View Homes declined to comment. At this time, Rogers said, Rock View Homes will not be the company to develop homes on the lots. Construction is slated to begin sometime next summer. Excavation startles residents Hanover subdivision site of 111 graves http://www.timesdispatch.com/vametro/MGBO48955YC.html BY BOB PIAZZA TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Feb 26, 2002 The excavation of more than 100 unmarked graves in part of an affluent Mechanicsville subdivision has some residents crying foul. Workers for a Hanover County burial-vault company, Burruss Vaults, said yesterday that they were under a court order to move the remains. The remains, in what was apparently a small graveyard, are being moved from the Pebble Creek subdivision off U.S. 360 to a nearby cemetery. "When you get a blanket order to move a cemetery, you move everybody in it," said a Burruss representative, who would not identify himself. He said no one responded to a published advertisement seeking information about those buried in the graves. Todd Rogers, a manager for PMG-One, the subdivision developer, said that before lots were sold, the company checked to see if there were any cemeteries on the site. He said none was found in what was then a 200-acre field that had been farmland. "If we would have found the remains while we were doing the roads or whatever, we would have taken the same steps that we are taking now," Rogers said. Still, some residents are upset that they were not told about the graves. "The people around me as neighbors are very upset because nobody has told us about the grave sites," one homeowner said. "When you have $200,000 to $300,000 invested in a home, it's like you want the best, and you turn around and here you are on top of grave sites." Burruss workers were digging with shovels and heavy equipment yesterday at two lots near the intersection of Lake Haven and Green Haven drives. Rogers said a builder found the skeletal remains of two people on the two lots more than a year ago, and PMG-One then obtained a Circuit Court order for the removal and reburial of any remains found on the lots. Rogers said the workers have been at the site for about two weeks and have found 111 graves. He said the excavation should be finished soon. He said he had no way of identifying the remains. The area saw heavy activity during the Civil War, but Rogers said no indications were found that the graves belonged to Civil War soldiers. Hanover Deputy County Administrator John Hodges said it is not unusual to find unmarked grave sites in rural areas. He said that when builders come across graves, they typically leave them alone or get a court order to move them. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contact Bob Piazza at (804) 559-8408 or [email protected]

There are two cemeteries on the property of the Pebblecreek subdivision. One cemetery is a black cemetery and the other is white. These were both shown on the plats before the owners sold the property to the developer. There were several articles in the Herald Progress Newspaper documenting this. The date of the last interment was 1970 exactly..and the burial was for Emma Green, who was the LAST descendent of the black's in the original slaves' cemetery, which was adjacent to the Sydnor Family Cemetery...the white one. It was part of the Sydnor Plantation at one time. There are graves in there from as far back as the early 1800's. There is even one boy buried there when he was 13 years old named Thomas Sydnor. (Unknown COD). This information came from Ethel Eaton at the State Archeological Dept. During a series of events, the developer paid a mortician to search the property. Approx. 2 years ago a representative from Pebblecreek contacted both my husband and myself to get information on how to identify a gravesite. It was at that time we put them in contact with a former Coast Guardsman who does thermal imaging photography (flies over the area & the photography shows the size of gravesites, number of graves, etc) Why was this never done? From what I have now been told one developer had the gravesites "removed" from the deed of property because the mortician "walked" the property over & despite seeing markers and despite several genealogists' information, he stated that "he saw nothing visible that to him, determined for certain, any graves existed". I would urge each of you to contact the Hanover Planning Commission and the Hanover County Board of Supervisors about this. This is the fourth cemetery in two years (that I know of) that has been disturbed in the name of "progress". There are now health issues to be concerned about because of the age of these graves and the way they are currently being handled. None of this was looked in to. The bodies are NOT being removed by archealogists. And despite what they have "reported" on television...it is NO way legal to remove a gravesite from the plat only because someone who is not trained or experienced does not see a grave while walking on it. Members of the workcrew stated yesterday that some of these graves were so close to the surface small children could have come across the bones themselves. Residents in the area knew the graves were there & wanted them left alone. Pebblecreek, the builders, the county Planning Commission, etc., yet again, did NOT do their homework. In less than 24 hours we were able to find out about health hazards that this community has now been exposed to, the identities of some of the graves, and the Paul Harvey "rest of the story". You can contact the Hanover County Planning Commission at: Michael Crescenzo, Director of Planning [email protected] John Bender, Deputy Director Development [email protected] David Maloney, Deputy Director [email protected] Bill Johnson, Zoning Administrator [email protected] Lee Garman, Senior Planner [email protected] Hanover County Board of Supervisors-- John E. Gordon, Jr. Chairman [email protected] Aubrey M. Stanley, Jr., Vice-Chairman [email protected] Timothy E. Ernst [email protected] Thomas F. Giles, Jr [email protected] Charles D. McGhee [email protected] Elton J. Wade, Sr [email protected] J.T. "Jack" Ward [email protected] http://www.co.hanover.va.us/default.htm Hanover County Govern.website Look at the public's outlook on what has just transpired at the crematory in GA. This mis-treatment to the deceased has GOT to stop! Sheri Millikin Hanover, VA ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2002 10:25 PM Subject: [VAHANOVE] Hanover subdivision site of 111 graves > F.Y.I. - > The total body count of remains removed was over 130 by early this evening. > Sheri Millikin > > Excavation startles residents > Hanover subdivision site of 111 graves > http://www.timesdispatch.com/vametro/MGBO48955YC.html > BY BOB PIAZZA > TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Feb 26, 2002

I am really interested in these old cemeteries. I am from the Crawford, Smith, Anderson, Overton and others line, from Jamestown, to New Kent, to Hanover, to Amherst then out of VA to points west. I have been unable to find any of the grave sites for my Virginia Ancestors, and chances are good they are in these old family cemeteries. I have been to Hanover for research and found the library personnel there to be very accommodating. Right now they are tearing down the David Crawford home in Amherst, Co, in a little town named Clifford. I did make it down that side on my last trip and I would have come down to Hanover on my last trip to Virginia, but it was in September of last year, it was planned for my last few days but I was 5 blocks from the Pentagon on Sept 11th at a conference in Crystal City. I do hope to come back again. Lee and the SSSNP 19 At the intersection of flotsam and jetsam west of Desperation, NV http://truckeesrest.tripod.com/silverspringsspayneuterproject/

Dear Gary, You wrote: Do you know who the parents of Henrietta Jouett were ? Joseph Williams (wife Henrietta Jouett) was a sometimes county clerk & other official of colonial Lunenburg Co., VA. He reportedly died testate in Elbert Co., GA. My response: My research shows that Henrietta's father was Matthew Jouett of Hanover Co. This abstract may give you a clue or two: Louisa Co. Deed Book A pp. 237-238, 24 Jun 1746, John Moore, executor of Matthew Jouett, late of Hanover Co. decd and Susanna Jouett, widow and relict of sd. Matthew Jouett to [a justice of York Co. and one of Hanover Co.], refers to Matthew Jouett's last will and testament dated 31 Dec 1743. (adapted from Rosalie Edith Davis, LOUISA COUNTY, VIRGINIA, DEED BOOK A [Bellevue, WA: Published by author, 197], p. 28.) Note that this information is in Louisa Co. records. Most of Hanover Co. public records have been destroyed, but many references to Hanover Co. residents of that era are found in the early records of Louisa Co. which was formed from Hanover Co. Therefore, it is unlikely we will ever find the will which is referenced in the Louisa Co. document. I suspect aforesaid Moore was an in-law of either Matthew or of his wife. Any info, anyone? Anyway, at a later time Joseph Williams of Lunenburg Co. became the executor of Jouett's estate. Joseph's sons, as named in his will, probated in Elbert Co., GA were [Rev] John Williams of Meherrin Creek Baptist church and Matthew Jouett Williams. You will find more references to Matthew Jouett in the land patents abstracted in Cavaliers and Pioneers (now seven volumes). If you know the children of Matthew Jouett (besides Henrietta), will you share with me? Reason: One John Jouett was married to a daughter--Mourning Harris--of my ancestor, Major Robert Harris of Louisa Co. and Albemarle Cos. (colonial period). I don't know whether he is the son or the grandson of Matthew Jouett. E.W.Wallace (female)

F.Y.I. - The total body count of remains removed was over 130 by early this evening. Sheri Millikin Excavation startles residents Hanover subdivision site of 111 graves http://www.timesdispatch.com/vametro/MGBO48955YC.html BY BOB PIAZZA TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Feb 26, 2002 The excavation of more than 100 unmarked graves in part of an affluent Mechanicsville subdivision has some residents crying foul. Workers for a Hanover County burial-vault company, Burruss Vaults, said yesterday that they were under a court order to move the remains. The remains, in what was apparently a small graveyard, are being moved from the Pebble Creek subdivision off U.S. 360 to a nearby cemetery. "When you get a blanket order to move a cemetery, you move everybody in it," said a Burruss representative, who would not identify himself. He said no one responded to a published advertisement seeking information about those buried in the graves. Todd Rogers, a manager for PMG-One, the subdivision developer, said that before lots were sold, the company checked to see if there were any cemeteries on the site. He said none was found in what was then a 200-acre field that had been farmland. "If we would have found the remains while we were doing the roads or whatever, we would have taken the same steps that we are taking now," Rogers said. Still, some residents are upset that they were not told about the graves. "The people around me as neighbors are very upset because nobody has told us about the grave sites," one homeowner said. "When you have $200,000 to $300,000 invested in a home, it's like you want the best, and you turn around and here you are on top of grave sites." Burruss workers were digging with shovels and heavy equipment yesterday at two lots near the intersection of Lake Haven and Green Haven drives. Rogers said a builder found the skeletal remains of two people on the two lots more than a year ago, and PMG-One then obtained a Circuit Court order for the removal and reburial of any remains found on the lots. Rogers said the workers have been at the site for about two weeks and have found 111 graves. He said the excavation should be finished soon. He said he had no way of identifying the remains. The area saw heavy activity during the Civil War, but Rogers said no indications were found that the graves belonged to Civil War soldiers. Hanover Deputy County Administrator John Hodges said it is not unusual to find unmarked grave sites in rural areas. He said that when builders come across graves, they typically leave them alone or get a court order to move them. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- Contact Bob Piazza at (804) 559-8408 or [email protected]

Thanks so much for the information re Novell/Goodall. I'll try to check those lines.

Terri - I have just catalogued a letter from 'Cousin Norvell' at Totomoi to 'Fannie' [I assume this to be Fanny Peachy Pollard], 05-Nov-1875. Cousin Norvell was a schoolteacher (the letter was written as he/she was "... attempting to write and teach at the same time ..."). This letter is the only indication I have seen of a connection between Pollard and Norvell. I realize that the letter was written a century after William Norvell's time, but I was hoping you might have an idea about the identity of this Cousin Norvell. Many thanks, Stephen Huebner At 10:00 PM 2/23/02 -0500, you wrote: >I have no relation to this family but in my research of another surname I >checked out the book, "William Norvell (1746-1794) of Hanover Co., VA." from >the Library of Virginia. I will be happy to do any look ups for people that >might have a tie to the Norvell family while I have this book for the next >month. > >Terri > > >============================== >To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, >go to: >http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237

Apparently William Norvell of James City, married to Rebecca Johnson, had no children. There is no mention of anyone with the surname of Johnson or Norvell in the 1802 will. He left his estate to his wife's great nieces and great nephews in the families of Lightfoot, Taylor, Walker, Allen and Goodall. This is basically quoted from the book which would indicate that the family of Goodall was in some was related to William Norvell or his wife. there is a chart showing how William Norvell of James City was related to William Norvell of Hanover - they were first cousins. This is the only mention of the name of Goodall in the book.

Sherri, Sorry, but I see no mention of any of the names that you requested. I count about 100 various Norvell names but unfortunately not any of yours in the book.