ROANOKE COUNTY, VA - CEMETERIES – Tombstone Cemetery

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Source: Library of Virginia Digital Collection


LVA Titled Files: Survey Report, Tombstone Cemetery:
                  1936 Aug. 24
                  Research made by William C. Sponaugle

Cemetery Location:  It is located near the Federal Highway #11, near Hollins 
                    College, south side.
                    Roanoke Co., Virginia


DATE:

1799, date of oldest grave.

OWNERS:

This old cemetery is a perpetual reserve, containing several acres, and it seems 
to have been part of an original grant to Benjamin Denton, dated September 6th, 
1799.

DESCRIPTION:

It is a public burying ground, and has been used as such for many years.  But 
little is known about the original graves, in fact little is known about any of 
them.  The condition is fair.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:

As the historical highlights nothing can be said only as to age and some early 
settlers who were buried here, and nothing is known about them.  There is one 
marker of which it is said by some historians that there is nothing like it in 
the world.  It was erected by Benjamin Denton, and the work done by Lawrence 
Krone, a German.  It is of solid stone, a slab one foot above ground, four feet 
long, two feet and six and one half wide, nine inches thick.  The bust and head 
are carved in the stone, which rests on top of the gravestones.

The inscriptions are as follows:

Benjamin Denton was born Apr. 9th, 1769
Beggie Denton was born Mch. 31, 1799
Robert Denton was born Nov. 6th, 1796, died Sept. 9, 1805
Dallas Denton was born Oct. 15, 1808
John Denton was born Aug. 6th, 1794
Matilda Denton was born Oct. 15th, 1808

Inscriptions, English:

“Once loved, once valued, now availes me not,
Though my relatives have not me forgot,
Sleeping in dust I still must here remain.

Sleep on, sweet Babe, the day draw nigh,
When God will call thee to the Sky,
There to behold his blest abode,
And dwell forever near thy God.”

The carved stone is also translated in Latin and German.



SOURCES OF INFORMATION:

Informant: Professor Joseph Turner, Hollins College

The Times and World News, May 12th, 1929

McCauley’s History of Roanoke County 

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 
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