It was my understanding that it was against the law to knowingly disturb gravesites. I know sometimes construction crews just conveniently ignore them but that if it exists on the Planning Dept. maps, you could not disturb it. Those graves are fairly recent, and quite a few in number so I would think they would be registered on the Planning Dept. maps. However, I think also, with the families permission, the graves can be moved, it is not necessarily only up to the property owner, but the family. That, at least was my understanding. Terri

Terri, That was my understanding as well, however, when the wastewater treatment plant project went underway, everyone knew about the family cemetery being there....family, board of supervisors, construction, etc. ....and construction went on against the family's wishes...that is until some of the family members were interviewed by the Richmond Times Dispatch and it made the front page. Now the entire matter is under review by the Army Corps of Engineers. Apparently with this new project in Hanover, residents knew it was there and made certain the construction workers did too. Someone working within the Headquarters House (Baskett Homeplace) asked "What proof did anyone have?" and was replied to with the comment, "This is your project. Why haven't you done your own homework?" The worker had no answer/comment. From what I have been told, there were several headstones there and a wall surrounded the cemetery. Now all headstones are gone, but the wall does currently remain and all construction in this particular area has stopped within the past week. Does anyone here have any sources or additional information on the laws regarding cemeteries in VA? This sort of thing must be stopped. It was always my understanding that if a cemetery was on private property, the family ALWAYS had right of way to it and that the cemetery could NOT be disturbed without the family's permission. Then and only then could the remains be removed and reinterred. There are some cases I have heard that even that was not allowable because of the causes of death. If anyone has more info, I would sure love sources or suggestions. Thanks! Sheri Millikin ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, February 09, 2002 11:24 AM Subject: Re: [VAHANOVE] Question about family cemetery > It was my understanding that it was against the law to knowingly disturb > gravesites. I know sometimes construction crews just conveniently ignore > them but that if it exists on the Planning Dept. maps, you could not disturb > it. Those graves are fairly recent, and quite a few in number so I would > think they would be registered on the Planning Dept. maps. However, I think > also, with the families permission, the graves can be moved, it is not > necessarily only up to the property owner, but the family. That, at least > was my understanding. > 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 >

Thank you for bringing this info to light. I have Baskettes in my collateral lines, but nothing to tie me directly to these folks. <p> I hope there is someone on the list that connects with this family. Lyn