HALIFAX COUNTY, VA - CEMETERIES – Lynn Grave ----¤¤¤---- ___________________________________________________________________ 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. ___________________________________________________________________ Source: Library of Virginia Digital Collection LVA Titled Files: Survey Report, Grave of Dr. John K. Lynn: 1937 Jan. 28 Research made by May S. Rice Cemetery Location: On the tract of land where the courthouse once stood, near Crystal Hill. Halifax County DATE: 1839, date of grave. OWNERS: Descendants of Dr. John K. Lynn. DESCRIPTION: Attached hereto is a facsimile of the marble slab over the grave of Dr. John K. Lynn, who was buried on the tract of land where the courthouse once stood, near Crystal Hill. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Dr. Lynn owned the tract of land where the courthouse was built and an unusual spring of cold water flowing from a large rock gave the name of Crystal Hill to the place. This is the locality spoken of as “Faulkner’s Crossing” in the plea books where court was held in 1769. Dr. Lynn was, at the time of his life, the only physician in Halifax county until Dr. Grammer came to the county. He had a practice that extended for miles around, and from all reports and records must have been a man greatly loved by all. It is hard to measure the good that such a man did for the public and the many hardships he had to endure. He was a man of medium stature and was clubfooted, which goes to show what a man can do although physically handicapped. There are many records where the Lynns were among those who helped to make Halifax county what it is today. Many times their names appear in the records as performing some civic duty, holding office, etc.. Dr. Lynn married Nancy Simms, and they had a daughter named Nancy who married William Walker Hurt, son of Robert Hurt, the noted Baptist preacher. They had eleven children, two girls and nine boys. One of the boys, S.S. Hurt, was clerk of Pittsylvania county court for 62 years and had served as Deputy Clerk and acting clerk for 6 years prior to his first election as clerk in 1874. Another son, John Lynn Hurt, was a member of the Virginia Senate for 24 years and President pro tem of that body for a number of years. Robert Hurt, the minister, seems to have been a man who did just as he pleased regardless of whether it was consistent with the office he filled as a minister or not. It is said he was very fond of horse racing, gambling and all such pastimes and amusements. Upon one occasion he owned a race horse and when called before the church to answer the charge he said: “Yes, I own a half interest in the horse, but the end that I won has to be whipped to make him run.” It is said that he was not turned out of the church. On another occasion the news got out that he was to preach at Catawba Church, and a large crowd went to hear him. The pastor of the church, Mr. McLaughlin, arose to make a few remarks, as every one thought, but he continued to preach and at the end of his sermon said: “I suppose many of you came here expecting to hear Mr. Hurt preach, but I do not care to have my pulpit filled by a horse racer, gambler and man of the world, for I do not think it is right”. William Hurt, Bob Hurt’s brother, was present and he went out to a little store across from the church and bought a raw hide whip. No one thought anything of it for every one drove horses one way or another and it was a common practice to carry a whip in the hand. He said to Mr. McLaughlin that he would like to speak to him, so they stepped aside to talk and Mr. Hurt began whipping him with his whip until he almost tore his clothes from him. On another occasion when Mr. Hurt was preaching on the sin of firing tobacco on Sunday, he looked out towards his house and saw a great smoke. Later he found that it was a barn burning that he had fired until he was ready to go to church and had left it for another man to fire until he could get back from church. He owned a blacksmith shop on his farm, and one day a young man rode up and asked to have his horse shod. While the blacksmith was shoeing the horse, Mr. Hurt engaged the young man in conversation and they discussed the question of whether the south should secede from the Union or not. Mr. Hurt was not in favor of secession and he proceeded to lambast Mr. Calhoun for what he was doing to make the feeling so high in the south, and said: “If I could see that fellow Calhoun I would shoot him; I think he should be assassinated.”. He then became suspicious on hearing the young man defend Calhoun, so he asked: “Who are you any way?” The man replied: “I am Calhoun.” Mr. Hurt became very much confused and ashamed of the way he had acted and apologized and asked Mr. Calhoun to supper with him. They later became warm friends, and frequently when Senator Calhoun was enroute to Washington from South Carolina he would ride on past the stage inn at Halifax courthouse and spend the night with Mr. Hurt. The original Lynn house was burned many years ago and a large modern house has been erected by the present owner, Mrs. W. D. Roberts. In the old house was a room which was known as the Greene Room, so named from the fact that General Greene once spent the night there and slept in this room. Here Lies the Body of Dr. John K. Lynn Who was born 28th Feb. 1772 and departed This life 15th. September 1839 in the 68th year of his age. Who on the verge of life’s island And view the scenes on either hand. My spirit struggles with the day And longs to wing its flight away. Erected by his affectionate wife, Mary Lynn SOURCES OF INFORMATION: Informants: Mrs. W.D. Roberts, Halifax, Virginia Moorefield, Crystal Hill, Virginia Court Records, Halifax county clerk’s office, Halifax, Virginia. Tombstone Inscriptions Visit by worker.