Rappahannock County Grave Hunt

21 Jul 2017                     Rappahannock County, VA

     On Friday, July 21st, two members of the CMM and five members of the Fauquier Court House Chapter (FCHC) DAR planned and conducted a search for Revolutionary War Patriot graves in Rappahannock County.  This project was conceived by FCHC Regent Cat Schwetke, and planned by CMM Graves Committee member Bill Schwetke.  Larry Alexander was the second CMM member on the trip.  A similar group had conducted a similar effort in Southern Fauquier last month and more hunts are planned.
     On this day visits were planned to seven grave yards in which 10 Revolutionary War Patriots were buried according to Virginia SAR Grave Chairman Mike Lyman's recent book.  Reports for each cemetery follow:

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Major Corbin Cemetery - 396 View Town Road, Amissville, VA

Coordinates of cemetery:  38.652784, -78.023482.  Owner lives at 396 Mountain View Road, Amissville, VA.  Parking at that address.  Access through owner’s property.  Badly overgrown, some tombstones found, none for Patriots

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Tapp-Griffin Cemetery, 140 Hinsons Ford Road, Amissville, VA

This cemetery was skipped because of the extra time used up gaining access at Major-Corbin and the anticipation of similar access issues.

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Miller Cemetery, Mountain Green Lane, Washington, VA

     The owner, Alexander Sharp, agreed to meet us and show us this cemetery.  He also cleared the way through brush and grass with his tractor.  The cemetery is slightly overgrown, but obviously cared for.  Both patriot graves we sought were located.

Panorama of Cemetery, showing location of two patriot graves.

John Miller (38.734112, -78.171700)

Nimrod Hitt (38.734080, -78.171692)

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Dearing Cemetery
Caledonia Farm-1812 Bed & Breakfast - 47 Dearing Road, Flint Hill, VA

     The owner met us, pointed out the cemetery, gave us some interesting information about the cemetery, and one of his workers cleared a path through the grass for us.
     The cemetery is very well maintained, with several field stones, but no marker for our patriot – a possible son of the patriot with 1812 marker at tombstone was found.  Cemetery coordinates:  38.760756, -78.127628

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     Our next stop was the Griffin Tavern in Flint Hill for lunch.

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Elijah Anderson Cemetery - 27 Shurgen Lane, Amissville, VA

      Our first stop after lunch was at what we believed to be the Eijah Anderson Cemetery.  We met with the son of the owner of the land, and he led us through three fields of hay to the cemetery, which, though beautiful, was not the correct cemetery.  He gave us a good lead to follow up with on our next visit to this area.

Wrong Cemetery

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Corder-Pierce Cemetery

     This cemetery was easily accessed, and workers in the field nearby gave us the address of the owner of the land.  The one grave we sought here was easily located in this obviously cared for cemetery.

     A modern tombstone marked the grave of Private John Corder at 38.692158, -78.037308

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Pierce Cemetery at Narmada Winery  43 Narmada Ln, Amissville, VA

     The Pierce Cemetery is enclosed by a concrete wall on the grounds of the Narmada Winery.  It is currently densely overgrown with an abundance of poison ivy.  The owner and winery staff were very helpful, and promised to contact us when they had cleared the overgrowth after the grapes are harvested this Fall.
     GPS coordinates of the cemetery are:  38.688886, -78.025927

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     The Narmada Winery had wine and cold water, from which we each took our choice to replenish ourselves and celebrate the successful location of 3 patriot graves.  We also made plans for clean-up projects and grave markings.