NELSON COUNTY, VA - CEMETERIES – “Montezuma” or “Spring Hill” Cemetery ----¤¤¤---- Source: Library of Virginia Digital Collection LVA Titled Files: Survey Report, Montezuma or Spring Hill: 1937 Mar 24 Research made by Annie L. Harrower Cemetery Location: .5 mile east of Norwood, Va. on Route #626. House 200 yards west of road on hill. Nelson County, Virginia DATE: 1763. OWNERS: Col. William Cabell first settler here middle or late 1700’s Hector Cabell 1783 Landon Cabell 1814 Thomas S. McClelland 1814 James B. McClelland before 1835 to 1862 W. B. Hubbard 1873, May 16, public auction Cabell Robinson inherited part Mrs. Sue Sommerville 1920 to present date (1937) HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Montezuma once call Spring Hill, was built by Hector Cabell, son of Col. William Cabell in 1783. Hector Cabell was a great friend of Thomas Jefferson, who helped to plan the house. The concealed steps are typical of houses planned by Thomas Jefferson. The Indians camped near this house before they were forced farther back in the mountains. Signs of them are here now. Indian cooking utensils made from stone are found in the yard. Their graveyard is not far from the house. There are a few old cabins on the place but they are not in very good condition. It is said the Indians named this place “Montezuma”, it being an Indian name. There are also five springs on the hill, and it is sometimes called “Spring Hill”. Thomas Stanhope McClelland, born February 4, 1777, was a graduate of Dickinson College in Pennsylvania in 1795. His father wanted him to be a preacher but he preferred to be a lawyer, which he was, and practiced under Judge Archibald Stewart. He was one of the greatest lawyers in the State, and was one of the lawyers employed in settling up Patrick Henry’s estate in 1808. He also practiced in Nelson County. His father came to this country about the middle of the last century (report date 1937) from North Ireland. He married a Miss Cabell of Union Hill in 1803. He went to Lynchburg, Virginia, in 1804. In June 1805, he wrote to Mr. Cabell, his father-in-law, to know if he could buy “Montezuma”, which he did after the death of Hector Cabell on June 6, 1807. He lived here and practiced until 1825. He died here in 1835. His son James Bruce McClelland was born here June 25, 1827. He inherited “Montezuma”. He was a Major in the War Between the States and fought at Manassas, Virginia. He married Nannie L. Otey, daughter of Dr. William Leftwich Otey, of Lynchburg, Virginia. He died of fever here August 31, 1862, and his wife followed him with the same disease on October 11, 1862. Major Cabell, brother of Mrs. Thomas McClelland, was called to take charge of “Montezuma”, and the family of his sister, which he did until his health failed. The large family and community graveyard is in the woods back of the old mansion. Some of the graves have fences around them and some have not. There are many graves but only a few have inscriptions on old marble slabs. They are: Sacred to the memory of Thomas Stanhope McClelland, Sr. Who died August 20, 1835 Aged 58 years 7 months and 26 days Margaret Cabell wife of Thomas Stanhope McClelland, Sr. Born at Union Hill November 24, 1785 Died at “Montezuma” April 3, 1863 Age 78 years Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, from hence forth yea, saith the spirit, that they may rest from their labors and their works, do follow them. Rev. 14-13 SOURCES OF INFORMATION: Informant: Mrs. Sue Summerville, Norwood, Virginia Court Records: Clerks Office Nelson County, Lovingston, 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. ___________________________________________________________________