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St. Clair’s Bottom Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery

Chilhowie, Smyth County, Virginia

Partial Survey

The St. Clair’s Bottom Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery is located South of Chilhowie, Smyth County, Virginia. Directions: Exit I-81 at Chilhowie, take Route 762 South, turn left on Route 600 (Old Airport Road) or turn left on Route 660 (Riverside Drive). The church is at the intersection of Routes 600 and 660. The St. Clair’s Bottom Primitive Baptist Church was established in 1775 and the cemetery was probably established soon thereafter. Many of the older stones have weathered to such a degree that any inscriptions are imperceptible. Many of the older graves are not marked with any designation whatsoever. The oldest established burials dates from 1802.

This cemetery is sometimes identified as the Sinclair’s Bottom Cemetery, however, the church takes care of the graveyard, and the name of the church should apply.

This cemetery survey and photos were done by Jeff Weaver on March 24, 2003.

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General Views of the Cemetery at St. Clair’s Bottom Primitive Baptist Church

St. Clair’s Bottom Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery, Smyth County, Virginia
Name Birth Death Comments
Row 1
Barker, Anna B. Compton Oct. 5, 1881 Aug. 2, 1968 Double stone with next
Barker, Elder H. T. Aug. 28, 1875 July 15, 1946 [Primitive Baptist Minister]
Row 2
Bartley, Dora M Nov. 9, 1875 Oct. 28, 1950 Double stone with next.
Bartley, James A. Aug. 19, 1867 Dec. 2, 1961  
Bartley, Opal July 23, 1929 Feb. 8, 1931  
Blevins, Mary E. 1866 1955 Double stone with next
Blevins, John A. 1868 1951  
Sheets, Roy July 17, 1908 Oct. 4, 1923 s/o H. P. & Celia Sheets
Privett, Oscar Jessie Sept. 15, 1919 Feb. 2, 1941  
Perry, Margaret A 1874 1944 Double stone with next
Perry, Roby 1879 1954  
Booker, Lizzie N 1864 1951 Double stone with next
Booker, Phillip H. 1865 1949  
Keen, W.M. Oct. 18, 1900 Dec. 26, 1956  
Keene, Frances July 24, 1863 Mar. 7, 1942 Double stone with next
Keene, Richard Aug. 24, 1864 Nov. 28, 1941  
Row 4
Stone, worn smooth
Stone, worn smooth
Stone, worn nearly smooth, but illegible
Stone worn smooth
Stone worn smooth
Stone worn smooth
Field stone
Stone worn smooth
Stone worn smooth
Stone worn smooth
Gollehon, Robert ca. 1780 Nov. 9, 1843 Double stone with next
Gollehon, Ann Tilson Feb. 9, 1788 Apr. 22, 1842 This stone erected by descendants in 1995
Gollehon, John   July 4, 1841 Age 30 years, 4 months 8 days.
Gollehon, Maria   Dec. 1, 1888 Age 73 years, 2 months 18 days.
Broken stone, worn smooth
Perry, Nannie E. 1890 1968 Double stone with next
Perry, Alonzo 1890 1943  
Perry, James G. 1865 .1950 Double stone with next
Perry, Elzina S. 1869 1940  
Miller, Elder H. B. Mar. 2, 1843 Feb. 8 1935 Double stone with next, Primitive Baptist Minister; Born in Ashe Co., NC; Co. A, 26th NC Inf., C.S.A.
Miller, Edith M Jun 3, 1840 April 1, 1921  
Blevins, Hugh M. 1889 1958 Double stone with next. Primitive Baptist Minister
Blevins, Lelia A. [Miller] 1894 1949  
Row 6
Bonham, Joseph P.   Jun 2, 1882 Age 78 yr. 8 mos. 24 days
Bonham, Mary   Nov. 16, 1863 age 57 years, wife of Joseph P. Bonham
Bonham, W. Francis     S/o Joseph & Mary Bonham
Stone worn smooth
Stone, illegible
Bishop, John     Stone very difficult to read
Bishop, Rhoda   Sep. 26, 1817 Age 72 years __ Mos, 9 days

From the files of Renie Hoover Helton

Surveyed November 8, 1992

Located south of Chilhowie, Virginia near or on the original tract of land surveyed by Col. John Buchanan on behalf of the early settler Charles Sinclair, Sinclair, an Englishman, was already homesteading in the area when the earliest surveys were made. Agreeing to act as guide for Col. John Buchanan’s party, Sinclair was rewarded by Buchanan in having one thousand acres recorded in his name at Augusta County, Virginia, dated March 1, 1748. The church having been established in 1775, makes this one of the oldest burying grounds in Smyth County.

This Cemetery was copied and published in McConnell’s work High on a Windy Hill, in the 1960s. This researcher was able to decipher a bit more information than was found by McConnell and is found herein. Also included within this listing is inscriptions found only by McConnell and duly noted as her work by using the * symbol.

St. Clair’s Bottom Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery, Smyth County, Virginia
Name Birth Death Comments
Adams, Melvin H. Oct. 24, 1900 Dec. 17, 1981  
Alley, Ann* Sept.. 14, 1767   Aged 70 years 2 mos 2 days
Barker, H. T. Aug.. 28, 1875 July 15, 1946 Primitive Baptist Minister
Barker, Anna B. Compton Oct. 5, 1881 Aug.. 2, 1968  
Bartley, Opal July 23, 1929 Feb. 8, 1931  
Bartley, James A. Aug.. 19, 1867 Dec. 2, 1961  
Bartley, Dora M. Nov. 9, 1875 Oct. 28, 1950  
Bishop, Jane   Apr 13, 1888 Aged 59 years 4 mo. 7 days; w/o Andrew Birshop
Bishop, Andrew   Apr 4, 1883 Aged 71 years 8 mos 5 days
Bishop, Mary   Mar. 1861 Aged 45 years 10 mos, 8 days; w/o Andrew Bishop
Bishop, Thomas C.   Oct. 13, 1854 Aged 3 years 11 days; s/o Andrew & Mary Bishop
Bishop, Margaret DeBord 1849 1909 w/o Noah Bishop
Bishop, Dillie Porter   1879 w/o Noah Bishop
Bishop, Minnie   1879  
Bishop, Alice   1879  
Bishop, Charlie 1886 1887  
Bishop, Elizabeth Feb., 19, 1822 Jun. 24, 1911  
Bishop, John B.   Sep. 24, 1877 Aged 61 years 9 mos 1 day
Bishop, Francis   May 1, 1856 Aged 16 years, 7 mos, 2 days; s/o John & Mary Bishop
Bishop, Mary   Sep. 27, 1853 Aged 36 years, 11 mos 1 day; w/o John Bishop
Bishop, Rhoda   Sep. 26, 1817 Aged 72 yrs, 4 mos, 9 days
Bishop, John   Sep. 26, 1837 Aged. 72 years 10 mos 10 days.
Bishop, Rachel   Sep. 28, 1856 Aged 5 years 4 mos 27 days w/o Levi Bishop
Bishop, Capt. Levi   July 12, 1816 Aged 69 years, 4 mos, 8 days
Bishop, ______*   Sep. 30, 1861 Aged __ years, 7 mos 8 days
Blevins, John A. 1854 1974  
Blevins, Gary Andrew Jan… 2, 1951 Mar. 28, 1989  
Blevins, Jack 1917 1918  
Blevins, Steve W. 1936 1938  
Blevins, R. A. Jan… 2, 1896 Jan… 20, 1913  
Blevins, Hugh M. 1889 1958  
Blevins, Lelial A. 1894 1949 w/o H. M. Blevins
Blevins, John A. 1868 1951  
Blevins, Mary E. 1866 1955 w/o J. A. Blevins
Bonham, Ezra Kincannon   Apr. 3, 1857 Aged 5 years 7 mos 8 days.; s/o R. S. & J. Bonham
Bonham, Joseph Bittle Mar. 6, 1859 Apr. 6, 1876 s/o James & C. Bonham
Bonham, Amanda Virginia July 26, 1817 Aug.. 29, 1854  
Bonham, Rachel Oct. 3, 1817 Aug.. 29, 1854 w/o James S. Bonham
Bonham, Easter   June 11, 1830 Aged 72 years; w/o Hezekiah Bonham
Bonham, Joseph   Jun. 27, 1882 Aged 78 years 8 mos 24 days.
Bonham, Mary   Nov. 16, 1863 Aged 57 years; w/o Joseph Bonham
Bonham, W. Francis   Jan… 9, 1865 s/o Joseph & Mary Bonham
Bonham, Infant*     s/o R. & Elizabeth Bonham
Bonham, Hezekiah   June 23, 1817 Aged 72 years
Booker, Phillip H. 1865 1949  
Booker, Lizzie N. 1864 1951  
Cress, Fred W. Jan.. 9, 1925 Mar. 15, 1989  
Cress, Betty B. May 5, 1905 Feb. 21, 1989  
Cole, Eliza Williams Dec. 21, 1817 Oct. 18, 1901 w/o A. C. Cole
Cole, Andrew C. Feb. 15, 1817 Feb. 28, 1858  
Cole, Mary E.   May 1859 Aged 1 mo.; d/o L. H. & E. F. Cole
Cole, Emily F.   May 26, 1871 Aged 24 years, 6 mos 10 days w/o L. H. Cole
Cole, Levi H.   Nov. 29, 1863 Aged 32 years 2 mos 2 days
Cole, Asenath May 6, 1811 Mar. 14, 1885  
Cole, Susan E. Jan… 8, 1847 Dec. 16, 1871  
Cole, Sampson   Jun. 23, 1875 Aged 72 years 5 mos 10 days.
Cole, Fayetta J.   Sep. 16, 1879 w/o J. C. Cole
Cole, Arthur A. Apr. 14, 1876 Nov. 6, 1877 s/o Hugh F. & Nancy J. Cole
Cole, Asenath V. Sep. 20, 1867 Nov. 18, 1885 d/o Hugh F. & Nancy J. Cole
Cole, John F. Mar. 8, 1855 Apr. 8, 1882  
Cole, Charles July 21, 1881 Jun 10, 1882 s/o Hugh F. & Nancy J. Cole
Cole, Martha   Feb. 18, 1874 Aged 90 years, w/o Hugh Cole
Cole, Elizabeth B.   Sep. 11, 1878 Aged 69 years 23 days
Cole, Margaret      
Cole, Hugh      
Cole, _____*     Aged 79 years 5 days
Cole, John*   Sep. 8, ____ Aged 50 days
Cole, Mary* Feb. 15, 1802 Dec. __, 1837 w/o Peleg Cole
Cole, John* Dec. ___, 1771 Sep. 10, 184_  
Cole, Sarah A.* Jan… 22, 1849 July 4, 1881  
Cole, James*   Nov. 30, 1852 Aged 73 years
Cole, Andrew*   Sep. 10, 1802 Aged 22 years
Cole, Nancy V.   Aug.. 9, 1818 Aged 8 mos. D/o J. J. & Polly Ann Cole
Colle, Ann*   Apr. 22, 1812 Aged 51 years 2 mos 13 days.
Deboard, George May 10, 1728 Apr. 22, 1820  
Dinkins, Fanny W.   Sep. 5, 1889 Aged 19 yers 1 mo 10 days, d/o Joseph R. & Eunie Dinkins
Dinkins, Thomas J.*   Oct. 22, ____ Aged 6 years.
Dinkins, _uther*   Sep. 4, 187_ Aged 3 years 3 mos 4 days.
Dungan, Senah A. May 13, 1847 Jan… 4, 1861  
Dungan, John R. Apr. 30, 1843 Apr. 1, 1863  
Dungan, Andrew J. Aug.. 12, 1843 Nov. 13, 1844 s/o James & Sarah Dungan
Dungan, Sarah Jan. 13, 1813 Nov. 18, 1854 w/o James V. Dungan
Dungan, James V. Feb 14. 1813 Dec. 27, 1865  
Dungan, John Robert 1768 1846  
Dungan, Frances Gaskins 1778 1809  
Echols, Andrew C. Sep. 23, 1877 Aug.. 18, 1883  
Edminston, Thomas J., Jun. 1, 1916 Jun. 26, 1981  
Edminston, George A. Oct. 18, 1819 Mar. 16, 1888  
Edminston, George C. 1851 1899  
Edminston, John*   1838 Aged 60 years; s/o Mary Edminston
Edminston, Rachel*   Jan… 22, 1832 Aged 8 years 8 mos 4 days.
Edminston, Ann* Sep. 11, 183_ Oct. 22, 185_ w/o George A. Edminston
Freeman, William B.* May 30, 1852 Sep. 27, 1853 s/o J. H. & C. Freeman
Garland, Myrtle L. Mar 5, 1905 Oct. 28, 1909 d/o J. & M. C. Garland
Gollehon, John   July 4, 1841 Aged 30 years 4 mos 8 days
Gollehon, Maria   Dec. 1, 1885 Aged 73 years 2 mos 18 days
Graybeal, Ellen Jane 1959 1969  
Graybeal, Quincey E. Jun. 22, 1897 May 3, 1992  
Graybeal, Virginia H. Jun. 30, 1902 Sep. 26, 1982  
Greer, Emory T. 1905 1974  
Greer, Wiley Braxton May 15, 1901 Mar 1, 1979 s/o Leonard Greer & Mary Vaught
Greer, Ruby P. Mar. 30, 1911 June. 23, 1985  
Hamm, Rose M. July 13, 1947 Jun. 21, 1970  
Hawthorn, John Mar. 11, 1815 Feb. 20, 1887  
Hawthorn, Polly Cole Aug.. 19, 1816 Nov. 2, 1878  
Hawthorn, Hugh C. Ascue May 21, 1851 Nov. 29, 1854 s/o John & J. M. Hawthorn
Hill, Maning May 1, 1807 Mar. 20, 1876  
Hill, Elizabeth L. Gunnell May 18, 1811 Aug.. 11, 1904  
Hill, George W. Oct. 2, 1827 Jun. 11, 1905 Civil War Veteran
Hill, Mary Snavely Apr. 29, 1837 July 2, 1889 d/o A. & E. M. Snavely; W/o George Hill
Jayne, Abigail   July 12, 1824 Aged 73 years, 5 mos 12 days; w/o Henry Jayne
Keen, W.M. Oct. 18, 1900 Dec. 26, 1956  
Keene, Lola L. Jun. 8, 1903 Jun. 7, 1983  
Keene, Albert Mason, Jr. Aug.. 8, 1946 Mar. 24, 1966  
Keene, Albert “Monk” Aug.. 8, 1926 Jun. 3, 1981  
Keene, Thomas D. July 17 1928 May 30, 1982  
Keene, Richard Aug.. 24, 1864 Nov. 28, 1941  
Keene, Frances July 24, 1863 Mar. 7, 1942 w/o Richard Keene
Kirk, Nuten D.   Dec. 25, 1856 Aged 3 mos 4 days s/o Josiah S. & Lodema A. Kirk
Landreth, Marcia S. Jun. 16, 1873 Nov. 2, 1880 d/o E. & S. Landreth
Landreth, William H. Oct. 28, 1851 Oct. 13, 1881 s/o E. & S. Landreth
Miller, H. B. Mar. 2, 1843 Feb. 8, 1935  
Miller, Edith M. Jun. 3, 1840 Apr. 1, 1921  
Mullen, David R. Sep. 17, 1888 Oct. 20, 1888 s/o J. M. & A. C. Mullen
Mullen, Virginia J Jun. 12, 1886 Apr. 3, 1888 d/o J. M. & A. C. Mullen
Mullen, Asenath E. Feb. 21, 1854 May 14, 1909 w/o J. M.
Price, Rosco C. 1885 1965  
Pickle, John Lockard May 5, 1834 Aug. 15, 1912 s/o Amos Pickle & Mary Bonham
Pickle, Scena Ann July 28, 1836 Apr. 10, 1885
Pickle, Minnie J.   Oct. 3, 1893 d/o J. L. & S. A. Pickle.
Peake, Isaac S. Mar. 19, 1884 Jun. 29, 1939  
Perry, Roby 1879 1954  
Perry, Margaret A. 1874 1944  
Perry, James G. 1868 1950  
Perry, Elzina S. 1869 1940  
Perry, Nannie E. 1890 1968  
Perry, Alonzo L. 1890 1943  
Privett, Oscar Jessie Sep. 15, 1919 Feb. 2, 1941  
Reedy, James H. Nov. 25, 1921 Spe. 20, 1986  
Robinette, Mary   Feb. 3, 1816  
Rouse, Elvira A. Gross July 8, 1833 Feb. 28, 1892 Late w/o E. Gross, Former w/o J. Rouse
Rouse, James   Dec. 31, 1884 aged 40 years 11 mos 2 days.
Rouse, Paulser   May 24, 1858 Aged 80 years
Rouse, John Dec. 24, 1804 Feb. 22, 1881  
Rouse, Mary   June 15, 1880 Aged 75 years 10 mos, 18 days, w/o John Rouse
Rouse, James*   Feb. 6, 1880 Aged 49 years 4 mos 6 days
St. John, Mary C. Nov. 5, 1872 Aug. 15, 1890  
St. John, Laura A. Apr. 2, 1862 Jan. 22, 1864  
St. John, Hannah C. Oct. 4, 1859 Aug. 19, 1877  
St. John, Campbell B. Sep. 18, 1830 Oct. 2, 1879  
St. John, Martha Jan. 22, 1831 Jan. 20, 1889  
St. Johm, George W. Jul 4, 1857 Mar. 10, 1887  
Sheets, Roy July 17, 1908 Oct. 4, 1928 s/o H. P. & Celia Sheets
Snavely, Abraham Feb. 8, 1808 Nov. 17, 1873  
Snavely, Elizabeth M.   Feb. 22, 1886 Aged 78 years 2 mos, 17 days
Snavely, Frances A. Apr. 6, 1845 Aug. 3, 1884 W/o John M. Snavely
Stalcup, Peter   May 11, 1827 Aged 70 years
Thomas, Samuel   Mar. 20, 1813 Agued 25 years 11 mos, 2 days.
Thomas, Abijah*   July 10, 1819 Aged 39 years
Thomas, John*      
Thomas, Elizabeth*   Nov. 6, 1838 Aged 27 years
Thomson, Easter Peake July 4, 1906 July 31, 1975  
Thweatt, Boyd Eugene Jan. 8, 1932 Jan. 17, 1977 s/o Chas. B. Thweatt & Mamie Creeger
Tilson, Charles N. Feb. 17, 1888 Aug. 29, 1960  
Tilson, William H. 1799 1873  
Tilson, Abigail Cole 1799 1875  
Walton, F. M.*      
Walton, Wilborn Booker, July 21, 1895 July 25, 1968  
Walton, Ada Perry Jan. 28, 1900 Feb. 21, 1983  
Wells, Sarah James Apr. 2, 1794 May 21, 1875 W/o Armonia Wells
Wells, James P.*   Dec. 31, 1884 aged 40 years 11 mos 2 days
Williams, L. S. Dec. 12, 1852 Feb. 2, 1915  
Williams, Hannah Poe Sep. 1851 Mar. 4, 1914 d/o Wm. Poe & Rachel Bishop
Williams, James P. May 7, 1881 Jan. 14, 1905  
Williams, Mary B. Apr. 23, 1889 Sep. 22, 1904  
Williams, Charles D. Sep. 24, 1879 1880  
Williams, Robert H. Oct. 1, 1891 Nov 10, 1903  
Williams, J. W. Sep. 17, 1875 Feb. 16, 1901  
Yates, Leonard E. 1910 1972  
Yates, Juanita A. 1924 1980  
Yates, Margaret R. Jun. 6, 1947 Jan. 9, 1988  
UNTIMY……. May 27, 1822    

Headstones from this Survey

Headstones from a few who sleep here. Please select any to view the full-size gallery.