The Tombstone that Talks: A families Ancestral Journey and Questions Answered upon the discovery of a 300 year old grave in Virginia

John “The Immigrant” Lewis was born 1591 Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, Wales to Lewis Ap Richard (Lewis Prichard) and Catherine Morgan. John and his family set sail to Virginia in 1653, settling in Poropotank Creek. He is one of the very earliest settlers in Virginia, and his tombstone is speculated to be the oldest in the area.

For hundreds of years the Lewis family/line of Virginia and Kentucky speculated of their roots, in constant discovery of their progenitor. While there have been numerous books and publications written on this particular line (because of their early pioneering and later connection to Warner Hall), there was no 100% for certain proof to trace John “The Immigrant” backwards into the proper Lewis family. Until his grave was accidentally “discovered” by Dr Malcolm Harris in 1948 that is!

The Tombstone spoke volumes on a variety of levels- it tells of Johns Status, his heraldry, and gives precise dates in order for his descendants to be sure they match “their” John to the proper John Lewis in Wales (Wow, what a task that would be without dates or his parents names!)...One particular detail I find intriguing (out of many) is that John Lewis is buried with an incredibly detailed footstone- very unusual for its time. Not to mention it is phenomenal shape considering its age with no one to look after it. It is also quite interesting in the sense that the soil here is so sandy; no local stones would have been suitable and therefore this had to be ordered from England which took time and money. Gravestones were uncommon in tidewater Virginia in that era, only the wealthiest had them.

Of course the most exciting part of this for the Graveyard Rabbit is that this is the oldest known tombstone in King and Queen County VA and it’s got a great anagram on it; for the family, the inscription of their coat of arms was the key to unlocking their ancestry. The Quartering of the Coat of Arms revealed that their family was of Lewis of Rhys Goch, Howell, Prince of Caerlleon (son of Rhys Goch), a Gemilling married Jenet, daughter of Sir Howel of Caerlleon. And A Grant of Arms was given to him in the eleventh century to use this arms, 3rd quartering is “Argent three Chevronels Gules“. Coat of the de Turberville family of Crickhowell in Brecon, and another quartering shows “Azure three plates“. Fourth position is for the wife, so this was the shield of Johanna Lewis of the family Lewis of Llanddewi Rhydderch acquired by intermarriage with an heiress of the de Trevely family of that parish. These Arms were borne by Sir Walter de Trevely who came into Wales with the Norman Conqueror, Bernard de Newmarsh. And last but not least a Lewis motto (which appears to be added by John The Immigrant to leave his own mark for his descendants– “Omne Solum Forti Patria Est” – “Every Land is Home to a Brave Man”.
What an amazing story!!!

“Here lieth interred the body of John Lewis (borne in Munmoth shire) died the 21^st of August 1657 aged 63 years. The anagram of his name: I shew no ill”.

Unfortunately I cannot recall who emailed me these photos- if you are out there please let me know so I can properly credit you.

Penny Cemetery Fund announces Evergreen Cemetery clean-up

Evergreen Cemetery is a historic African-American cemetery in the East End of Richmond, Virginia dating from 1891. Notable African-American Richmonders including Maggie L. Walker, John Mitchell, Jr., A.D.Price, and Rev.J.Andrew Bowler are buried there. Much of the privately-owned cemetery is completely overgrown with kudzu or is returning to forest. The original organization responsible for the cemetery, the Evergreen Cemetery Association, made no allowances for perpetual care in its charter. In 1970, the association sold its more than 5,000 plots to Metropolitan Memorial Services, which soon went bankrupt. Although listed on the State & National registers of historic places this privately owned cemetery has been abandoned for years.

The Penny Cemetery Fund, an attempt to bring new sources of volunteers and funding to the reclamation of Evergreen Cemetery, is organizing a volunteer clean-up day on Saturday, October 31st. The goal to is to clear one acre. The Penny Cemetery Fund is a charitable foundation created, to restore Evergreen Cemetery, a historic Black cemetery, in Richmond’s east end. Contact Deanna Lewis at deanna@pennycemeteryfund.org for more information about the clean-up or the Penny Cemetery Fund. A Families and Friends group on Yahoo has been the organizing point for a handful of volunteers that have been working doggedly to clean and maintain portions of the privately-owned cemetery.

Slave Cemetery Dating Back to 1898 Just Discovered

Pittsylvania Co., VA - Officials have been working for months to develop the Berry Hill Mega Park in Pittsylvania County. but now, it looks as though they'll have an extra project to work on.

A resident has discovered a large slave cemetery on the property. They believe there are thousands of graves there, some dating back to 1898.

We spoke with one of the ancestors, Cedrick Hairston, assistant principal at Chatham Middle School. We called him Wednesday to to tell him what we knew and he was so surprised, he met us at the cemetery and he told us he had chills. Hairston knew his ancestors were buried somewhere on Berry Hill Road. "We knew that it existed we were just having a hard time in the location." He never imagined, he'd be walking through the cemetery. "It brings mixed emotions to think of your ancestors."

Some graves were marked with stones. Others, just depressions in the ground. The entire graveyard was hidden by woods.

William Gosnell says he found this cemetery eight years ago. "It took me a week of walking back and forth to locate the cemetery." He was asked by a friend and descendent, who has now passed, to keep it a secret. "She told me not to tell anyone where it was at because she was afraid that people would go in there and disturb it," Gosnell said. He kept his lips sealed until two months ago. "The reason that I told people was simply because I knew they were gonna try to develop this area and if they did there was a possibility that the cemetery might be right in the middle of it," Gosnell said. That's when Gosnell says he got in touch with Sonia Ingram with Virginia Preservation.

County officials say this site will be protected. Their plan is to map it, plot it, and protect it some of which they've already started.