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HISTORICAL CEMETERYNEAR SMITHFIELDAnother historical feature of Isle of Wight County has been noticed within the past few days as a result of a hike recently taken by the local Scout troop. The hoys with their assistant Scout Master, Dave Saba, visited an old and little known cemetery near Smith-fleld and discovered the signs of the burying ground, After gathering information on the background of the burying place the dates of several grave stones have come to light It was learned from Mrs, Charles E. Davis of Smithfield that the cemetery is one of the oldest and less known places In the vicinity. It Is located on the Crocker place about five miles out of town in the direction of Rushmere. It was learned that the main road at one time passed back of the house instead of itB present route which put the cemetery on the road at that time. The house itself has an Interesting background. It was qsed as a hospital during the war between the States. Many wounded confederate soldiers were treated within the building. The field in front of the house was used as a burying place for those soldiers who succumbed to their injuries.It Is said that a large and unknown number of Southern soldiers are buried there with no markings for their last resting place. The house has since been used as a pesthouse 1 during an epidemic of smallpox ( here. The exact date of the epidemic Is not definitely known.The cemetery around which our interest centers is located back of the house and is now surrounded t by woods. This place is not a part * of the old soldiers grave yard, t Some of the dates on the tombstones have been learned. Among those are the graves of Joseph 33. * Hodsden and Mary W. Hods den. t Joseph B. Hodsden had one of the t earliest land grants on the piece 1 of land known as the Wright place. , He is believed to have been one * of the first directors of the old St. t Lukes Church. His tombstone p bears the dates 1775-1815. Mary W Hodsden was born 1789 and died 1837.Another family group of interest Is the Wilson faralfy. Solomon Wil- * son and several wives are buried there. Their square Is enclosed by a fence made of old musket bar, rells. No gate was left in the enclosure.The dates of their deaths are: Solomon Wilson 1798, Anne Wilson 1796, Mary A. Wilson 1817, Dr. George Wilson 1861, Mary Wilson 1863, Elizabeth Wilson 1847, and J, D. Wilson 1861. The gravestone of Mrs. Annie B. Cahanlss bears the date of her death as 1873.Mrs .Davis stated that the ownerof the property claims that onegrave dates back in 1600 but she has not been able to find the stone. The cemetery has been torn up badly by hogs which have been allowed to run in the place. The farm was formerly known as the Birdsong Place, This is hut one of the many historical features of human interest which our county presents for its residents and visitors who are lovers of history.
Newspaper Details
Smithfield Times
Smithfield, Virginia, US
Thu, Jul 18, 1935
Page 1
Full Page
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Anonymous
CA, USA 11 Jul 2021
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Smithfield Times
