CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, VA - CEMETERIES – Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery ----¤¤¤---- Source: Library of Virginia Digital Collection LVA Titled Files: Survey Report, Bethel Cemetery: 1936 July 21 Research made by Craig Romaine Cemetery Location: 2 miles west of Midlothian, Virginia, on Route #60; .2 mile north of highway on ground of Bethel Baptist Church. Chesterfield County DATE: 1759 - 1839 OWNERS: Bethel Baptist Church. DESCRIPTION: This is a large cemetery located just to the rear of the church. It is on the side of a small hill which extends from the front gate to the edge of the forest. There is a strong iron fence around the entire area. It is perhaps one of the best kept cemeteries in the county. In addition to being kept free from any undesirable growth, it has been beautified by many ornamental shrubs and the entire area is carpeted with a lush blanket of grass. The tombstones and the epitaphs they bear are all well preserved. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: In excavating for a new building at the lower end of Bainbridge Street, workmen found four feet beneath the surface the well preserved tombstone of Young Pankey, who lived in the leisurely days when Manchester was still known as Rock Ridge. The head stone is about seven feet in height and two feet across. It is of the type most frequently found in old cemeteries and is in a very good state of preservation. Tombstone Inscriptions: In Memory of John Spears A Revolutionary Soldier Born Feb. 12th 1759 Died Oct. 4th 1842 Austin Spears Born Feb. 23, 1810 Died Nov. 18, 1862 Higgison Hancock Born Sept. 22, 1792 Died Jan. 26, 1866 Soldier 1812 Devoted husband and parent, Friend of the widow and orphan, Servant of God D. Spears Born Sept. 12, 1823 Died Aug. 20, 1858 Josiah Hundley Born 6, Nov. 1808 Died 19, Aug. 1849 Susana Ford Born Sept. 11, 1825 Died Feb. 20, 1848 Sacred to the Memory of Young Pankey Born 16th April 1788 Died 25th May, Aged 45 years & 39 days John Benjamin Watkins Son of Benjamin C. and Fannie N. Fussell Watkins June 14, 1855 November 30, 1931 Lelia Neville Daughter of Tscharner D. and Martha Taylor Michaux May 11, 1857 November 17, 1934 In loving memory of John P. Justis Born March 14, 1826 Died Sept. 2, 1892 Soldier of Christ well done; Praise be thy new employ; And while eternal ages run Rest in thy Saviour’s joy. In loving memory of Charlotte E. Wife of J.P. Justis Born Oct. 3, 1831 Died May 8, 1905 Year though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thy will be done Chancey Mead Born Nov. 12, 1839 Died Dec. 22, 1900 Weep not he is at rest At Rest In loving memory of Our Mother L. Melissa Mead Wife of Chauncey Mead Born April 16, 1844 Died May 31, 1922 She came to raise our hearts to Heaven She goes to call us there. W. W. Baker Oct. 20, 1844 Feb. 21, 1927 Sarah T. Martin Wife of W. W. Baker Aug. 17, 1845 Sept. 15, 1922 Edward M. Stecer Born Nov. 23, 1858 Died July 8, 1890 Mark the perfect man and behold the upright for the end of that man is peace. In Memory of My Husband George H. Watkins Born March 12, 1851 Died April 23, 1889 At Rest Sacred to the memory of Ira Lafayette Cosby Feb. 28, 1853 Apr. 8, 1934 In Him was life and The Life was the Light of man. Cornelia H. Wife of John H. Martin May 18, 1843 October 7, 1927 When Christ, who is our life shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in Glory. A. J. Eastman Born Sept. 24, 1863 Died Oct. 22, 1901 Yet Again We Hope to Meet Thee When The Day of Life Is Fled Then In Heaven With Joy To Greet Thee Where No Farewell Tear Is Shed. Susan J. Martin Wife of B. W. Martin Jan. 21, 1838 Jan. 27, 1904 At Rest B. W. Martin July 15, 1831 Nov. 18, 1892 At Rest In loving Memory of R. A. Justis Born Feb. 23, 1854 Died Jan. 11, 1911 In loving Memory of Ophelia S. wife of R. A. Justis Born Nov. 29, 1856 Died Feb. 16, 1904 John B. Martin May 5, 1861 Dec. 21, 1922 Austin A. Atkinson Born Aug. 31, 1839 Died July 4, 1898 25 B T H Local Defense Confederate States Army Our Mother Louisa Wife of J. B. Hogle Born Feb. 16, 1838 Died June 4, 1902 At Rest Lucy J. Spain Born Sept. 2, 1865 Died Oct. 10, 1902 F. A. Spain Born July 3, 1858 Died Jan. 3, 1899 Henry Winston Quarles Jan. 30, 1853 Dec. 11, 1910 Papa Georgia Turpin Wife of H. W. Quarles Oct. 11, 1867 July 15, 1902 Mother Ann Elizabeth Via Wife of Charles Francis Russell Born January 8, 1854 Died January 7, 1931 Sarah Catharine Hancock Daughter of Higgison Hancock & Hannah Walthall Born May 21, 1829 Died Nov. 8, 1894 Devoted to her family, her friends, her church and her Saviour, she sleeps in hope of a blessed resurrection. Hannah Wooldridge Wife of H. Hancock Born Aug. 5, 1802 Died Aug. 26, 1880 Faithful and loving in all the relations of life, she sleeps in hope of a blessed immortality Thy word is Truth Higgison Hancock Born Sept. 22, 1792 Died Jan. 20, 1866 Soldier – 1812 Devoted husband and parent. Friend of the widow and orphan Servant of God William E. Spears Son of Austin Spears and Caroline L. Wooldridge Sept. 16, 1819 May 24, 1904 Confederate States Army Capt. W. E. Spears Co. G. 1st Regt. Va. Resvs. Rebecca E. Spears Daughter of Josiah Hundley and Elizabeth A. Ogilby Feb. 12, 1826 Sept. 22, 1913 Robert A. Branch T.R.E. 4 Va. Cav. C.S.A. Confederate States Army James M. Lyell Co. K 55th Va. Inf. J.M. Lyell Born April 16, 1825 Died Jan. 24, 1867 C. L. Baker Born Nov. 21, 1832 Died June 27, 1882 Stanley A. Branch Born April 30, 1856 Died March 3, 1899 Edwin J. Ellett Son of Peter Guerrant Ellett & Martha A. Sublett Oct. 20, 1847 June 30, 1906 Confederate States Army Edwin J. Ellett 3rd Bty. Richmd. Hqtgrs. P. Millard Sayles Aug. 25, 1846 Sept. 14, 1889 At Rest In Memory of Julia C. Can Buxkirk Oct. 8, 1850 Oct. 10, 1885 Asleep in Jesus blessed sleep, from which none ever wake to weep. Erected by her loving daughter Grace. In Memory of Mrs. Mollie L. Beloved wife of E. R. Martin Born July 14, 1841 Died May 28, 1880 A gentle, tender and devoted wife An earnest and zealous Christian. Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord. Rev. XIV, 13 Ver. Sallie Lambert Wife of A. T. Martin Died Oct. 15, 1892 Aged 53 years Alex. T. Martin Born March 11, 1817 Died Dec. 27, 1892 Caroline L. Wife of A. T. Martin Born May 3, 1816 Died Sept. 26, 1874 William Fowles Born in Croyden England Died Dec. 21, 1881 Age 33 years Martha Martie Fowles September 30, 1843 February 21, 1933 Father, in thy gracious keeping, leave we now thy servant sleeping. David La Prade Turpin March 12, 1856 Aug. 31, 1918 Asleep in Jesus At Rest Ida G. Wife of Floyd Crandall Born Oct. 16, 1865 Died Aug. 23, 1888 Oh, how sweet it will be In that beautiful land, So free from all sorrow and pain, With songs on our lips, And with harps in our hands, To meet one another again. Mrs. Mary L. Wife of D. O. Watkins Born March 20, 1824 Died June 9, 1886 Asleep in Jesus In loving memory of David G. Watkins Son of David and Nancy Watkins Born Sept. 11, 1822 Died Jan. 21, 1903 He giveth his beloved sleep. Confederate States Army David G. Watkins Batty. E. 18th Btln. Art. D. B. Watkins Nov. 5, 1851 Feb. 11, 1899 At Rest In loving memory of Emma Wife of D. B. Watkins Born Nov. 11, 1854 Died Dec. 17, 1891 Until we meet again before his throne, clothed in the spotless robe He gives His own, Goodnight, Goodnight, Goodnight. B. G. Watkins Son of David and Nancy Watkins Born March 1, 1825 Died Aug. 1, 1898 Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Confederate States Army B. G. Watkins Co. _. 15th Regt. Inf. Fannie M. Watkins Wife of B. G. Watkins Born Feb. 5, 1830 Died Jan. 2, 1914 The Christian Mother of John B. and C. Tyree Watkins James D. Boaze Died Dec. 17, 1917 Age 73 His wife Susan Ann Martin Died June 2, 1930 Age 88 Confederate States Army J. D. Boaze Co. !. 44th Regt. Va. Inf. To My Beloved Husband George Wills Moore Jan. 13, 1862 Sept. 5, 1931 At Rest Girard Lail Mar. 10, 1851 May 7, 1925 At Rest SOURCES OF INFORMATION: Court Records, Chesterfield County, Virginia Tombstone Inscriptions Visit by worker. ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Joan Renfrow NOTICE: I have no relationship or further information in regards to this family. ___________________________________________________________________