Odd I always thought you had right of egress to the cemetery, though I know all too well that they do not have to maintain them. The only thing I'll say about loggers in VA, it depends on who's doing the logging. In one case, on Dews Rd, I can positively tell you it was the best thing that ever happened. The logging family found the cemetery and have restored the wall, and do the best they can to keep it up, though I do not believe they have close ties to the family buried there (DeJarnette's /DeJarnatt/DeJarnet) Those stones, in particular, date to about the early 1830's, and are all oddly, the same stone, though the death dates on them are maybe 10 years in difference. They are not the normal stones found in the area, so I beleive they were all purchased at the same time and somehow they found a "stonecutter" to cut in the death dates. The style on the death dates vary from those of the birthdates. The only thought is that George DeJarnette, having lost his wife, bought a number of stones, in preparation. Then again, perhaps they were common in the area and could be purchased as needed. I haven't found many like that, but maybe he was the only one of my ancestors who had money enough to buy them <G> ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, September 23, 2004 12:46 PM Subject: [VAPITTSY-L] Re: Endangered Cemeteries > This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. > > Classification: Query > > Message Board URL: > > http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/3AC.2ACE/1409.4.1 > > Message Board Post: > > A lot to think about in your post. > > Most states have, in their code, provisions relating to private cemeteries and the care or protection thereof. > > Basically, Virginia, as my non-legal eyes decipher it, protects cemeteries from damage such as vandalism. > > If I buy land that has an existing cemetery on it, I do not own that cemetery. I am not obligated to maintain it or allow others to cross my land to visit it. On the other hand, I must protect the cemetery from damage by people, cattle, etc. Such damage in VA is a felony, although there's evidence that county authorities are not interested in prosecuting such incidents. > > There is a lot of logging going on in Pittsylvania Co. at the moment. A few of these woodlands have abandoned cemeteries in them. I don't know what the fate of the graveyards is. It may depend on the attitude and moral leanings of those who own the land. > > I understand the logging. Owners are afraid that if they don't get the lumber now, the Federal government may pass some law that prevents them from managing their own land. It's the old story about, for instance, someone has a swampy area on their land and the Feds declare it a protected "wetlands." > > I'm told there were a couple of changes in the VA code this year but I have not seen them. Their website has not been updated. > > > ==== VAPITTSY Mailing List ==== > To subscribe to other county mailing lists visit http://www.rootsweb.com >