PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA - CEMETERIES – Greenwood Presbyterian Church Cemetery

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Source: Library of Virginia Digital Collection


LVA Titled Files: Survey Report, Greenwood Presbyterian Church:
                  1937 Dec. 7
                  Research made by Susan R. Morton

Cemetery Location:  20 miles south of Manassas, Virginia, on Route #640.
                    Prince William Co., Virginia


DATE:

1855.

OWNERS:

Ewells originally.
Oliver Chamberlain.
Trustees of Greenwood Presbyterian Church.

DESCRIPTION:

While this is not the original Church, having been built some years after the 
war between the States, it is much the same architecture as the old building, 
except the old Church had a gallery.  It is located in a lovely grove of oak 
trees, on a road that is not much used, but was once a bury highway, being a 
part of the old Dumfries-Occoquan road.

There is an old graveyard to the north of the building, but what appear to be 
the oldest graves have no inscriptions on them.  There were many burials here 
during the War between the States, and many soldiers are buried here, but it is 
not possible to locate their graves.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:

The Church was built on land given by Oliver Chamberlain.  It was originally a 
part of the Ewell tract called “Bel Aire”.  It is the second Presbyterian Church 
to be built in the County, the first one being “White Hall”, near Nokesville, 
which is now in ruins.

This Church was built by a group of dairymen who came down from the north, in 
1848.  Thomas Clarke, his son-in-law, Oliver Chamberlain and Abram Walden 
organized and held services in various homes until 1855, when this Church was 
built and dedicated.  The above mentioned men were the first Trustees.

Preachers came from Washington and Alexandria.  During the War between the 
States the Church was burned by Yankee soldiers, but was rebuilt as soon as the 
war ended, the citizens of the community contributing the labor.  It is a very 
pretty little country Church but is now neglected, the grass being knee high at 
the very door.

The following inscriptions will be found on the tombstones in the graveyard:


Thomas Clarke
born in Shanford, England
December 21, 1817
Died February 17, 1908
He served three years during the Civil War in the 2nd Reg. of the D.C. Volunteers


Mary M.
wife of Thomas Clarke
born June 4, 1822
Died August 4, 1921
This grave was marked by the Mt. Vernon Chapter,
D.A.R.
A real Daughter


Thomas Frazier
born May 20, 1828
died February 5, 1905


James A. Florence
born June 20, 1850
died May 27, 1915


William A. Hershey
beloved husband of Ella Hershey
died 1872


William L. Strobert
January 8, 1848
died 1894
and
Angelica
his wife
born 1844
died Jan. 31, 1915


Orville Comstock
Marc. 22, 1839
May 5, 1904




SOURCES OF INFORMATION:

Informants:  Mr. John Hinton, Minnieville, Virginia
             Mr. William Lyne, Occoquan, 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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