PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA - CEMETERIES – “Mount Atlas” Cemetery

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Source: Library of Virginia Digital Collection


LVA Titled Files: Survey Report, Mount Atlas:
                  1937 Mar. 10
                  Research made by Susan Rogers Morton

Cemetery Location:  .5 mile north of Waterfall, Virginia, on Route #601 thence 
                    west .25 mile on private road to house.
                    Prince William Co., Virginia


DATE:

(house) 1795.

OWNERS:

--- Burwell
--- White             1795 to ----
Charles Carter        ---- to 1807
John Carter           ---- to 1835
Willis Foley          1835 to 1863
Foley heirs           1863 to 1903
R. B. Gossam          1903 to the present date. (1937)

DESCRIPTION:

“Mt. Atlas” has one of the most commanding views to be found in that section.  
There are several people, who as children, remember watching the Battles of 
Manassas from there.

With the exception of the burglar-proof meat house, there are none of the old 
buildings left.  There were until a few years ago, the slave quarters, several 
cabins, weaving house, etc.

The house practically has four stories, as the basement was once used as the 
winter kitchen, and store rooms, and there are two finished rooms in the attic, 
with a fireplace in one of them.

The entire woodwork is of yellow poplar, and some very good hand-work, charming 
in it’s simplicity.

Most noteworthy is the painting over the mantel in the large drawing room, 
framed by the woodwork of the mantel.  It is the oil painting of a young girl in 
the attitude of prayer.  The artist is unknown, and the present owner thinks 
that it is very likely the work of some itinerant painter, but whoever was the 
artist, it is interesting and well preserved.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:

John Carter greatly resented the new owner of the property, calling him an 
“Irish upstart” etc., and his mind evidently affected by his worries, he refused 
to leave the place, and held a feudal claim to it until his death.

The new owners graciously giving him quarters there, but the situation must have 
been rather trying as he thought he could order the slaves as he pleased, and I 
even came across an old letter that he had written to the Court asking them to 
send him protection in the way of firearms and other weapons, so that he could 
assert his rights and drive the “interlopers” from the place, but he is resting 
peacefully enough now in the old graveyard some three hundred feet to the east 
of the house.

This old graveyard is quite large and there are many graces there, but only one 
with any inscription, which follows:

Charles Carter
born the 22nd day of May, 1870
departed this life, 19th of Nov. 1807

During the War Between the States, there was an epidemic of diptheria which took 
a heavy toll in that section, therefore the graves were hastily made, and after 
the War the ruins of the farm left little for the marking of graves.

It is said that the Foleys, seeing and hearing the firing at Manassas 
Battlefield, at once filled a two horse team with ice from their large ice house 
and proceeded to the battlefield.  In the heat of that July day, how gratefully 
that ice must have been received by the wounded.



SOURCES OF INFORMATION:

Informants:  Miss Maud Ewell
             Mr. Bailey Tyler
             Mr. Randolph Smith
             Mrs. R. B. Gossam

Tombstone Inscription

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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