Bluestone Cemetery Relocations

Sorry for my long absence. I've been busy taking some courses and haven't had much free time.

I have neglected to post the Bluestone Cemetery Relocation list which lists the graves relocated for the construction of the Bluestone Dam in Summers County. As noted on the sheets, this encompasses the "Lilly Cemetery" in the village of Lilly. Which, by the way, does still exist (the village). Some have suggested that the village is under water. This is not really true. Some of the area was inundated, but most of the land was purchased by the Corps of Engineers. So, you can still go today to find the village; albeit, it is off the beaten path for anyone not familiar with the area (and there is not much to see). But, locals can point you in the right direction.

Hope you find this helpful. Remember to use the list of sources I have included (to the right on the page) for other information.

Also, keep in mind that when you go to the Lilly/Crews Cemetery to find the relocated graves many of the tombs are illegible. Yes, this is frustrating. According to random sources, the Corp could not identify many of the tombs. This is not unusual. Unfortunately, many of our ancestors made crude tombstones that could not withstand time.

Be sure and follow the "Reinterment Site list" on the right of the lists to determine which cemetery. Not all ended up at the Lilly/Crews Cemetery.

Click on the images and they should enlarge

Samuel Pack, Francis Farley, James Ellison Sr. Battle of Point Pleasant

The following is taken from "Annals of Southern West Virginia 1769-1800", Wikipedia, Ancestry.com sources:

The Battle of Point Pleasant was the only significant battle of Dunmore's War of 1774.

For years, Shawnee, Mingo and Cherokee laid claim to the land south of the Ohio for hunting purposes. In an attempt to make peace with the British and deflect hostility away from their own tribes the Iroquois Indians signed the Treaty of Fort Stanwix. However, some Indian tribes were present and refused to sign (including the Shawnee). Those tribes that did sign were paid by the British crown.

Due to increased pressure from land speculators and settlers, the British government signed the Treaty of Lochaber, 1770. The Cherokee relinquished their rights to land in parts of North Carolina, Virginia, and present day southern West Virginia; however the Shawnee and other tribes did not.

The Shawnee (led by Chief Cornstalk) refused to give up hunting grounds south of the Ohio (Shawnee built villages along the eastern coast, two of which were at present day Moorefield, WV and near Winchester Va).

As settlers began pouring into the Ohio River Valley the stage was set for Native-Anglo conflict.

In 1774, Lord Dunmore asked the Virginia House of Burgess to declare war on the Shawnee and their Mingo tribe allies. Subsequently, British diplomats managed to keep the Iroquois and Delaware tribes neutral during the conflict.

Lord Dunmore split his forces into two armies: commanded by himself and Col. Andrew Lewis (whom the city of Lewisburg is named).

Over 1100 able bodied men were assembled by Lewis at Camp Union. Lewis's army marched up the New and Kanawha Rivers with instructions to meet Dunmore's forces at the mouth of the Kanawha. However, once there, he received instructions to cross the Ohio and engage the Shawnee. On Oct. 10 Chief Cornstalk surprised Lewis's army. The Battle of Point Pleasant lasted for a day. Although Lewis and his forces "won" the battle and drove the Indians back, the ratio of Virginians killed to Shawnee was 5 to 1 in favor of the Shawnee.

As a footnote: some historians consider Dunmore's War the first war of the Revolution. Some accounts (and those of Lewis's ancestors) claim that Dunmore was two-faced. The governor was suspicious of colonist animosity with the British. In lieu of this, he may have tried building a coalition with Cornstalk in talks before Lewis reached his own forces. Lewis's presumed defeat would then squash the forces of the recalcitrant western Virginians.

--for a more detailed reading, check out "Wikipedia's Dunmore's War". There are also a number of books written on the subject.

Our ancestors who fought in this battle:

Francis, Thomas and and John Farley:

The Farley brothers spent several weeks constructing Fort Randolph (Point Pleasant) and assisted in getting the sick and wounded back to their homes on the Greenbrier and New Rivers. Thomas is buried near Sugar Run at Walker Creek in Giles Co., VA. Francis died at Shawnee Town, Illinois in 1829 at the age of 103.

Francis was in Michael Woods' Company during the Battle of Point Pleasant. He was also in Henderson's Company in 1782, and was one of Caperton's Rangers on the Greenbrier and Kanawha rivers.

Samuel and George Pack: See my Blog update posted 10/1/2011 for documentation!

Note: From a letter written by Michael Woods to Col. William Preston, dated May 29, 1774. He writes: "there are a few men who live in a string [stream] on the other side of the river that will be forever unconvenient to any other place to muster at, for they would not have above seven or eight miles to a muster here; and if they must go elsewhere they most of them must go 15 or 20 miles to muster (this list includes Samuel Pack and his brother George)"

James Ellison, Sr.:

1775 Compensation List for Dunmore's War...See my Blog update 10/1/2011

John Swope (possibly an ancestor/distant relation to Michael Swope) also served.

Great Resources for Research

The following are excellent resources for anyone interested in Summers County history and/or conducting research on their family from the general area:

-Summers County History, 1984 by the Summers County Genealogical Society.

(a copy is on file with Concord University. There may also be a copy at the Summers

County Library).

This book is very informative and includes compiled information and photos from a number of other sources.

-Historical Genealogy of the Basham, Ellison, Hatcher, Lilly, Meadow, Pack, Walker and Other Families, by Charles Silas Hatcher, 1908, unpublished.

(a copy is on file at both Summers Co. and Raleigh Co. libraries).

Hatcher's book is probably the most unbiased written account of the history of these families.

It is not error free. For instance: Hatcher claims that First Lady Lucy Webb Hayes was related to the Packs and other families. I traced her genealogy and did not come up with that conclusion. She was a Cook on her mother's side and her family originated out of Kentucky. She was a very popular first lady which might account for all the fuss.

-History of Summers County, James H. Miller, 1908.

For all its inaccuracies, hyperbole, and political gamesmanship, the book is an interesting read. If you find information about your own family here, double check the information!

-Lilly Family History 1566-1997.

(most are in private ownership- check with a member of the current Lilly Reunion Board)

The Lilly family did a first class job researching their family and descendants. It is an intelligent and carefully researched book. It includes information on cemeteries and anecdotes about various Lillys throughout history. It also contains excerpts from Hatcher's book, maps of the village of Lilly, and lots of photos.

-Cemetery Records of Summers County/Cemetery Records of Monroe

(Monroe County cemetery record can be found at the Raleigh County and Monroe

County Libraries)

Of course, I only researched specific people from my own tree and where they are buried.

Be very patient if you go in search of a cemetery/tomb. Roads change over time, and cemeteries can fall into disrepair. I discovered a few cemeteries of my ancestors had been plowed over by private owners. Do not get frustrated: people just assume that if a cemetery hasn't been visited in decades that no one then cares. Many cemeteries were (and continue to be) on private farms throughout Summers (and what was once Mercer/Monroe).

I should add that the books sometimes assume someone is buried in a specific location. They also recorded burial plots via word of mouth. You will then go to the cemetery and discover tombs that are unmarked or don't exist.

WV Archive Online

This is a great resource for marriage/birth/death records.

Ancestry.com

Ancestry is a fee based site. It contains U.S. Federal Censuses, family trees, newspaper articles, etc. It is a great source.

As always, with any kind of research, keep an OPEN MIND. Just because someone in your family tells you a story/juicy tale, does not mean that it is a fact.

My family has insisted for years that because one of our ancestors was a Bouvier that we are related to Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onasis. I did the research and found that we are not directly related to her. Also, my grandmother insisted that our Lilly ancestors were French and, therefore, separate from the other Lillys of Summers County- which proved to be false. Just

because your grandmother said so, doesn't mean it is so!

On the other hand, don't be afraid to ask elders in your family. Hopefully they will be helpful.

Some people in my family were unwilling to view or make copies of photos. I even offered to pay for copies or to make scans. Some people are just plain quirky and selfish. If your family is strange like this, search out other avenues to find photos. Check newspaper articles, contact genealogy societies and local historians- they can sometimes be very helpful.

Local historians can be very helpful but keep in mind that a true, professional historian will share sources- you might have something he/she can use and vice versa. I spoke with a local "historian" via phone once. He was reticent about sharing information. It was pretty clear this guy was selfish and untrained. My advice to you when you run up against these people: thank them for their time and move along.

Lastly, do not get frustrated about this or that sordid tale about your family. My own family has a few. It's called human nature: people make mistakes, sometimes sleep around, get embroiled in lawsuits, and tell tall tales. They were human. And, as the poet Alexander Pope said: "To ere is human".

"Homecoming Is Held at New Streeter Church"

The following is taken from Beckley Post Herald (Greenbrier Valley News Section), 1950

By Teva Meadows:

"Following Sunday school and church services conducted by the pastor, Rev.

W. E. Harvey, of Maxwell Hill, an all-day service during which a basket lunch

was enjoyed, was held at the newly constructed church at Streeter last Sunday.

The Church has been named the Rhoda Ann Memorial Missionary Baptist church,

and the all day meeting was the first homecoming to be held there.

The Rev. Mr. Harvey related that he first came to Streeter to hold services on

July 4, 1949 and when he arrived there only one man was waiting to hear him.

Within the next thirty minutes a crowd of about 50 persons had gathered.

It was then that he first felt the need of a church in that vicinity. For many years

previous the people in the neighborhood had been having services in a one room

school.

Following the services, during which Rev. Harvey felt the need for a church,

the patrons of the community set about planning the church.

The new church is located on a lot where the old grist or water mill stood and which

was owned by the late Samuel Pack. Mr. Pack died in 1893 and for the next

47 years his widow, Rhoda Ann, lived on the property and was a faithful member

where services were held in the schoolhouse. The new church was named

for her.

During the past half century when the little school also served as a church, there

have been several pastors. The first was Jerry L. Meador, who served for a number

of years. The first clerk of the church was Micheal Adkins, an 84-year-old member

who is living still. Bum Pack, a retired school teacher, who taught in the little

school for several years, recalled vividly the baptismal service in 1906 when he himself

was baptized.

The Rev. Christopher Pack, now of Rainelle, and who is now 84-years old, was

the next pastor of the church. He was born and reared close to the location

of the church and served in the capacity of pastor several years.

The Rev. Richard Lilly, of Sand Knob, was the next pastor, he was replaced by

the present pastor, Rev. Harvey. The superintendent of the Sunday School is

Mason Lilly, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Lilly, lifelong residents of community.

The Sunday school was organized in January of this year.

During the Sunday afternoon service special music was furnished by different

church groups and guest speakers were also present. Those who spoke

or sang during the afternoon included: Rev. Homer Lilly, of Rock Castle

association; Rev. Malcolm Lilly, of Dunne and the Dunne Choir; Rev. Christopher

Pack of Rainelle: music by the White Twins, Orville and Norville of Nimitz."

Sarah Swope 1787-1862

I would like to thank Howard Vest for all his help the other day!

To my family: Sarah "Sally" Swope married Joshua Harvey. She is mother to Elizabeth Bell Harvey who married John Pack, grandmother to Mary Jane Pack who married Alexander Basham, and great grandmother to John Wesley Basham.

Cemetery is located off Rte. 19 beyond Ghent. Once the road becomes parallel with I77 you will see an unmarked, steep dirt road to your right.

"In Memory of Sally Harvey who died Feb. 21, 1862 and was born 1787"

Cemeteries, Part Three (Ellison Ridge Continued)

Cemeteries on Hatcher's Bench Rd. (16/2), Wallis Property sites

The following information may be helpful to anyone researching their family genealogy from Summers Co. I did not notate all the tombs. I may do that later.

Hatcher's Bench Road (located on hill above white building):

Toye Richmond 1916-1993

Zella Houchins 1896

J. Willis Lilly

Randy Yancey 1960-93

Samuel Bragg 1890-80

Carlos Ray Basham

Albert Preston Basham (son of Aiden Basham)

Cora Cook Basham

Carl Dean Basham

Boyd Cook 1924-1973

Joe Cook

Floyd Cook

Dot and Don Frye

Rollins

Meadows 1876-1987

Children of John A. Lilly (James Lilly)

Wallis Property (1): Go about a mile up the mountain on Hatchers Bench, pass the Wallis home. Once you pass the grain silo, you will see a gentle hill to your left. There is an untended cemetery about 500 ft from the road:

Joseph Lilly 1888-1951

John F Lilly 1849-1935

Virginia Lilly 1850-1919

George Johnston 1874-1905

Jeanette and James Johnston

Wallis Property (2): Continue out the dirt road, passing through several gates. You come to an open field. To the right you will see a small cluster of trees in the middle of the hay field under an old locus and wild cherry:

Virginia Harvey (wife of D.H. Harvey) 1889-1904

Jonathan Harvey 1841-1914 (a grandson of Joshua Harvey)

J. Calvin Harvey 1818-1914 (a brother to Elizabeth Bell Harvey)

Nannie Ann Lilly 1876-1953

Mildred Lilly

William Stonewall Jackson Lilly

Mason Lilly is probably buried here however at the time the weeds made it difficult to identify all.

Indian Trails

The following is taken from Charles Silas Hatcher's "Historic Genealogy...":

The Bluestone and Paint Creek Indian Trail

The Indian trail crossed Ellison Ridge (just south of Streeter) through the farms later owned by J.J. Bragg, Lacey Wills, John E.C.L. Hatcher, Reverend Allen McKinney, Posey Wood, Dr. Ballard C. Mann, and Luther W. Okes. This trail is mentioned in some of the early deeds of Ellison Ridge recorded in Giles County, Virginia (Summers Co. was once a part of Giles County VA).

This trail passed down the New River via the mouth of Indian Creek and then along the west side of New River to the mouth of Big Bluestone River. Here the trail left New River, going up Big Bluestone to the mouth of Little Bluestone River, up little Bluestone to the mouth of Suck Creek, up Suck Creek and thence across Ellison Ridge and the Flat Top Mountains. It went on through the site of present city of Beckley on to the head of Paint Creek and down the Paint to the Kanawha River.

Two other trails came into the main route on top of Ellison Ridge. One came from New River over the Tallery Mountain, crossing Big Bluestone River and going up Ellison Ridge to the main trail. The other trail crossed Little Bluestone River near the Fall Rock and went up the ridge by way of Panther Knob to join the main trail.