NELSON COUNTY, VA - CEMETERIES – Old Watts Cemetery
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Source: Library of Virginia Digital Collection


LVA Titled Files: Survey Report, Old Watts cemetery:
                  1936 Oct. 21
                  Research made by Massie D. Thacker

Cemetery Location:  2.5 miles southeast of Tye River, Virginia.  From Arrington, 
                    Virginia, take Route #150 at the underpass under the 
                    Southern Railroad; thence 1.25 miles, crossing Tye River by 
                    way of the long wagon bridge; thence on to intersection with 
                    Route #657; thence on Route #657 east about 1 mile just past 
                    St. Stevens Church, turning right at a large oak tree on to 
                    a farm road; follow this road about .5 mile to a large 
                    cleared field on a ridge in which buildings once stood.   
                    The burial ground is to the right in the edge of a pine 
                    forest.
                    Nelson County, Virginia


DATE:

1821 or before.

OWNERS:

Not stated.

DESCRIPTION:

There is found in a very secluded spot some distance southeast of Tye River 
Depot, what is from all appearances, an extremely old burial ground, a portion 
of which is enclosed with a stone wall.  Parts of this wall stand about 4 feet 
high, but for the most part it has fallen down until in many places the wall is 
only about 2 feet high.

There are several trees grown up in this enclosure to maturity and have died; 
others much decayed.  Some of the trees will measure 24 or 30 inches in 
diameter.

There are also found many signs of graves outside the enclosure.  In fact the 
cemetery has the appearance of being an extremely large burial ground not to 
have been used by the general public.

There is so much undergrowth that it is impossible to count the graves, but 
judging from the extent of the space there must be some 20 or 30, possibly 35 
bodies resting there.  The part enclosed by the stone wall will measure about 
20x40 feet.

The wall seems to have been built by some one who well understood masonry, as 
the outside where it can be seen free from the running vines is faced almost 
perfectly, and there was mortar of lime and sand used in the joints.

There is only one inscribed marker found; this is of marble, about 14x20 inches, 
by 2.5 inches thick; inscribed as follows:


Sacred to the memory of
Eliza Watts
Consort of Henry H. Watts
Who departed this life the
22nd July 1831, in the 35th
year of her age.

This site is in a dense body of pines and there is found  in a field just a 
short distance to the east, signs of several buildings which were torn down many 
years ago.  Information is that this place was once occupied by some Watts, but 
no definite information can be obtained as to the date or the names.  There are 
some Watts’ still found adjacent to this locality, but it is not known whether 
or not they are descendants of the family of which we are writing.



HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:

(blank)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION:

Informants:  Mr. Carrington Bryant, Tye River, Virginia
             Mr. R.C. Dillard, Tye River, Virginia

Tombstone Inscriptions

Visit by worker.

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	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.
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