PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA - CEMETERIES – “Sudley” Cemetery ----¤¤¤---- Source: Library of Virginia Digital Collection LVA Titled Files: Survey Report, Sudley: 1937 Oct. 22 Research made by Susan Rogers Morton Cemetery Location: 3 miles west of Route #211, going 2.5 miles on road leading from highway Route #621, thence .5 mile on private road. Prince William Co., Virginia DATE: Prior to 1780. OWNERS: The house built and owned by the Carters for many years. John Carter, grandson of Landon Carter, of “Sabine Hall” being one of the owners, as noted in an old will. It has been owned and occupied by several different families since the early days. Mr. William Ayers, and various tenants, and later coming again into the Carter family. It was sold by Edward Carter, to a Mr. Rankin, whose widow married a Dr. Smith, of New York. She now lives in California and rents the place to Mr. H. C. Polen. DESCRIPTION: (A description of the house and gardens has not been recanted in this space but can be located in the original document at the Library of Virginia.) HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Today this old house is a picture of neglect and decay, but even that cannot take away the dignity and charm of the past. This was the finest of the Carter houses which belonged to the children and grandchildren of Robert Carter, of “Nominie Hall”. In the group were, “Mountain View”, “Sunnyside”, “Red Hill”. “Bleak Hill”. “Woodlawn”, all in sight of each other. Some miles to the south were, “Portici”, “Pittsylvania”, and “Liberia”. There were many slaves at “Sudley”, and several remember the large quarters and cabins which surrounded the yard. McDowell’s army passed through here in August, 1862, and there was more or less skirmishing about the place, and later it was used as a hospital, after the second battle of Manassas. At least one Confederate soldier is buried here, a little to the south of the house, under a large honey-locust tree, and the grave is surrounded by an iron fence broken now by the falling of the large limb of a tree across it. The following is the inscription: William G. Preston son of J.T.L. and S.L. Preston of Lexington, Virginia He was a private in the College Company of the 4th Virginia Regiment, Stonewall Brigade, and fell at Manassas, August 28th, 1862, in the 19th year of his age. This young patriot lost his mortal life defending his native state. Some fifty rods to the south is the family graveyard, now in sad neglect, the stone wall which once enclosed it has been taken away and used for building stone, and many of the stones are broken, and some gone entirely. One was found in a field some distance from the grave to which it belonged. The inscriptions which could be deciphered, some being badly chipped, are as follows: Dr. Benjamin Taliaferro born at Epson, Spottsylvania Co., Virginia September 9th, 1810 died at Mountain View, January 20th, 1855 I loved thee on earth, may I meet thee in Heaven Sacred to the Memory of Louisa Taliaferro 2d daughter of Wm. Fitshugh and E.L. Carter and wife of Dr. Benj. Taliaferro Born at Red Hill 1818 died March 19th, 1875 (There was an epitaph on this stone but so badly defaced that only a few letters could be traced.) In Memory of John Carter who departed this life on the 2nd of March, 1858 aged 65 years Sacred to the memory of Courtney Carter died at Woodlawn, February 11th, 1841 in the 61st year of her age Sacred to the memory of Dr. Cassius Carter Born at Mountain View, Fairfax Co., Virginia Nov. 28th, 1825 died at Mount Sharon, Orange Co., Virginia July 22nd, 1856 Though lost to earth, we hope to meet in heaven Sacred to the memory of John S. Carter born Dec. 8th, 1802 died 1825 Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. Sacred to the memory of Wm. Carter born at Sudley, August 16th, 1788 died at Mountain View, August 27th, 1888 At peace with God, and --- --- --- in the principles of the Christian Religion. There are other stones, some without inscriptions, others illegible. SOURCES OF INFORMATION: Informants: Mrs. R. L. Wheeler, Manassas, Virginia Mr. Robert Lewis, “Portici”, Manassas, Virginia Mr. James Cushing, Manassas, Virginia Mrs. Maud Ewell, Haymarket, 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. ___________________________________________________________________