Bear Den Cemetery, Warren Co., VA

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Linda Whitmer 
(whitmer@crosslink.net) 

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                    GRAVEYARD READINGS
                        BEAR DEN
       Browntown, Gooney Manor Area, Warren Co, Va

                     October 7, 1992

   Read by Linda Vaught Whitmer and Louise Vaught Walker


This cemetery has been read by others.  A copy of the findings of 
Elizabeth Hall Rudacille and Hilda Manuel Snyder (read on Mar. 24, 
1974) can be found in the Lorraine U. Jackson files at the Warren 
Co Heritage Society's Laura Virginia Hale Archives, Front Royal, 
VA.  The info was more legible at that time than it is now.  We 
have included all legible material from our findings and compared 
them to the 1974 readings.


Aunt
Amanda Vaught
Mar 3, 1840
Mar 29, 1912
   (verse)

Father
C. Frank Thornton
Oct 11, 1840
Mar 26, 1920

Mother
Rosanna Thornton
Aug 10, 1842
Oct 10, 1926

W.T. Miller
Born Mar 4, 1854
Died Feb 24, 1898
   (verse)

Julia, wife of
Elisah Jones                 (1974 reading says Elijah Jones)
Died Oct. 5 (or 8), 1900     (and 10/8/1900)
Aged 65 years

Louisa Fox, wife of
Aruelius Waiers?             (1974 reading says Aurluis Waters)
Born Sep 10, 1881
Died Jun 28, 1904            (and 6/23/1904)
   (verse)                   (they did not record this was grave
                              of Louise R. Fox "wife of" A....)

Fieldstone marked: Polley Fox


George B., son of
G. & R. Santmyers
Died Oct 11, 1862             (1974 reading says 1962)(error?)
Aged 3 years 3 months & 23 days    (and they omitted "23 days")

Ephraim J.(or L or I), son of  (1974 reading says Middle
                                Initial=J)
George & Robirdie Santmyers
Died Dec 12, 1868
Aged 12 years 9 months & 8 days

Robirdie, dau of
G & R Santmyers
Born Aug 1, 1871
Died Apr 9, 1880

Dedicated to the Memory of 
George Santmyers
Died Jan 13, 1882
Aged 61 yrs 3 mos & 8 days
   (verse)
This tombstone has an anchor inscribed.

Rebecca, wife of 
George Santmyers
Born Nov 14, 1829?        (1974 reading says: 1/12/1829 ?)
Died ?, 26, ?             (and 6/26/1885)
This tombstone has an anchor inscribed.

Ella, wife of
W. T. Miller              (1974 read says Wm. T. Miller) 
B Nov 4, 1851
D May 20, 1884            (and 5/20/1887)

In Memory of Ephraim Vaught  
Born
Died
Aged

In Memory of Mary, Wife of Ephraim
Born
Died
Aged

The above two grave markers are WOODEN (Chestnut) They are curved 
at top and stand about 4 feet high and are about 18 inches wide.  
They are still standing but are very weathered and splitting.  The 
names and words born, died, aged are still legible but the dates 
are not.  Ephraim's does appear to have once had a complete birth 
date but it can not be read now and the previous readers only  
record the year 1797.  They also show his death as 5/4/1871 age 74 
yrs 3 mo 23 days.  (note: Ephraim is not in the Virginia 1870 
census. He does appear in the 1870 mortality schedule.  The 
gravemarker date of 1871 date is, therefore, wrong.) The previous 
readers also show Mary's info as: b. 10/2/1799  d. 2/9/1878

This graveyard is on the property of James L. Colton in Browntown 
Va.  We suggest if you travel to the graveyard, you should go in 
the cold of winter, as we were escorted out by a snake.  Also 
beware of bear in this area.

Also note, there are many unmarked field stones.  And there appear 
to be more fieldstones down the south slope.  Unfortunately we 
were not able to check them for markings as Mr. Snake had other 
ideas.

Submitted to USGenWeb archives by Linda Whitmer 
(whitmer@crosslink.net) on 9 July 1997