15 Sep 2015 Stevensburg, VA
Compatriot Lon Lacey, on left, with local historian Buddy Simms, with one of the few stones found at Bloomsberry.
Today Lon Lacey led a search party of three: himself, CMM President Bill Schwetke, and local historian Mr. Buddy Simms to Stevensburg and the property of Mr. Medley Riley where Mr. Simms believed he had located Bloomsberry, the home of Gabriel Long. Gabriel Long was one of the original Culpeper Minutemen who later served well in various units of the Continental Army. He finished the war as a major, and then was Gen. Lafayette's escort during his visit to Culpeper in 1825.
Mr Riley was very hospitable and helpful in allowing us explore the land. Mr. Simms had done considerable work with land records, and thought he had a good idea where Bloomsberry was located. Mr. Simms research seems to have paid off, and a clearing inside an area of trees is likely the site of Bloomsberry; and a series of depressions in the ground may be the adjacent grave yard, where we expect that Gabriel Long is buried. Much more work must be done at the site to verify this.
Mr Riley was very hospitable and helpful in allowing us explore the land. Mr. Simms had done considerable work with land records, and thought he had a good idea where Bloomsberry was located. Mr. Simms research seems to have paid off, and a clearing inside an area of trees is likely the site of Bloomsberry; and a series of depressions in the ground may be the adjacent grave yard, where we expect that Gabriel Long is buried. Much more work must be done at the site to verify this.
 Lon Lacey surveys an area of several depressions that might be Bloomsberry's graveyard. |  Stone showing evidence of having been worked to fit a structure at the suspected site of Bloomsberry. |
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