Jerry & Joanne's
Southern Connection


  PAXTON FAMILY GENEALOGY



Paxton Family Cemetery
Rockbridge County, Virginia



paxcem1
All photos by Michael Gardebled, Photojournalist.

 
In early spring of 2002, Mike Gardebled of New Orleans & Slidell, Louisiana
made one of his semi-annual treks through the Valley of Virginia in search of
ancestors --both his, and those of several cousins.  He went camera-in-hand,
as befits an experienced photojournalist, researcher, author and columnist.
           Some of
the results are included on this page. Thanks, Mike.



A Private Burying Ground
      
Based in part on a report from the Virginia Historical Inventory Project          

Description:   The Paxton Cemetery is a private burying ground which was
included
 in the Virginia Historical Inventory compiled by the W.P.A. between
1936-1939.  Rada Moore, *
who visited this cemetery and wrote the W.P.A.
report, described  it as,
“. . . a private burying ground, fenced in, and with
steps leading to it from the road.  The owner
sends a colored man several times
a year to clean off the plot.”


Location:     Between Tinkersville & Buena Vista, Rockbridge Co. Virginia.




“It is on the Forge Road, about a
mile or so from the Beggs  Place.   
The small plot defies description.
It's fenced in  but ill-kept, yet many
of the headstones are in better shape
than at HB  (High Bridge) and  FS (Falling Springs). It is absolutely
perfect."
                --Mike Gardebled
paxcem2


Owners:   November 6, 1739- Grant to Benjamin Borden by Gov. Gooch .      
1746- Sold by Borden to Joseph Paxton .                    
1756- Joseph Paxton willed it to William Paxton .                                        
1795- William Paxton to William. Paxton Jr. by descent .                             
April 7, 1817- William Paxton Jr. to James (Harrison) Paxton by will ;
 probated 5 May 1817  
Nov 17, 1902- From heirs of James Paxton to Katherine Paxton                      
Feb 29, 1916- Katherine G. Paxton to Eleanor, Katherine and Archie Paxton
by will;  probated May 10, 1916.
Sept 1924- From Eleanor Paxton, her share to Archie and Katherine Paxton by
will  probated June 19, 1935.

History:  The Paxton cemetery was first used in 1750 and last used in 1859.   
           

 "The reason for discontinuing its use as a burying  ground  was that every
time a grave was dug an old grave was disturbed. The
owners  say it was
surprising how many graves there are in this plot in comparison
to the tomb-
stones. . . .  
Here are buried the Paxtons, Amales, Templetons,
 and  Edmonsons.   When the present  owner (1937) took over the care of the 
cemetery it was in a very bad condition."  
                                                                                --Rada Moore, 1939

              paxcem3

  "All of the older headstones face east . . .  
 as I understand it, it is in recognition of a   
 new day  and the resurrection of the body. "       
                               --  Mike Gardebled

                   
  "Many of the stones are still readable . . . "


enlargement

Elizabeth Alexander
Widow of
John Paxton
1694 - 1756
Immigrants From
Ulster Ireland
alexanderpaxton

Elizabeth was the mother of Joseph, Samuel, William,
Thomas and  John. All but John‘s stone were found in
the Paxton Cemetery.  Diehl reported  John as buried at
Falling Springs Cemetery, but if so, his stone is no longer
readable.  Note:  It is possible Elizabeth also had one or
more unidentified daughters.

                                           

                            Other Stones  Reported by Rada Moore

                                            Joseph Paxton
                                             1721-1755

                                            Samuel Paxton 
                                              1730 - 1756

                                      Here lies the intered body of
                                            Thomas Pasdon (sic)
                                           who departed this life
                                   September 27, 1788 aged 69 years.
                                       
         Thomas is often reported as buried at Falling Springs Church
Cemetery, where the church has a memorial window dedicated
to him, his son John, a grandson. and other family members.
Perhaps at the time the window was dedicated, a memorial stone
for Thomas was placed at the Falling Springs
Cemetery, but it
would seem from the W.P.A. report  that Thomas
was laid to rest
in the family's private cemetery. 



window


         wmsr  
   


ehays






Sacred to to the memory of
William Paxton Sr.
Who died September
the 30th 1795
Aged 63 years.


Youngest son of Elizabeth Alexander
& John Paxton,  "William was perhaps
the most colorful of them all (the Paxton
brothers) and the most conspicuous in public affairs. "
           -- George W. Diehl















Sacred to the memory of
Eleanor Paxton
Who died August
the 13th, 1815
Aged 72 years.
 

    Wife of William Paxton, Sr., she
     was born in Scotland,  the daughter
     of David Hays and his wife, Isabella.
 





In memory of William Paxton       
Who died May 27th 1853
Aged 76 years.



Col. William Paxton was the son
of  Major William Paxton, Sr.
and Eleanor Hays Paxton
wmjr

~~~~~~~

Mike Gardebled also took photos of  the following stones:


Sarah I. Paxton
Died  August 14, 1823
Age 1 yr;

Elizabeth Paxton
Died  December 23-1810
Aged 2 yr 10 mo.

Polly Templeton
Died June 13, 1821
Aged 49 Years

John Templeton
Died June 14, 17__
Here Lyeth the interd body
aged 4 months 14 days

~~~~~~~

Other Stones reported by Rada Moore

Polly Paxton his wife who died
July 13 1859 Aged 75 years.
Blessed is the memory of the Just.

Wife of Col. William Paxton, and daughter
of his cousins, John Paxton & Phoebe Alexander.



Wm T. Hamilton who departed on the
7th of June 1810 in the ____ of his age.

Sacred to the memory of William Hamilton
who departed this life March the 8th 1839 in the
61st year of his age

  Patsy Steele died Sept 15, 1820 age 17

Sarah Edmundson died Nov 16, 1820, age 74

David Edmundson died Mary 2, 1821 age 17

John Templeton died June 14, 1767 age 4 mon 14 days

Amole family members (11)


Our report is based partly on one by Rada Moore that is included in the
W.P.A.'s Virginia Historical Inventory Project, and sponsored by the Virginia
Conservation Commission under the direction of its Division of History. Credit to
both the Commission and WPA is requested for publication in whole or part.


* The Virginia Historical Inventory is available online at LVA's website http://image.vtls.com/VHI/subjects.html


home

Joanne Merrill Kartak © 2001 - 2005  All rights reserved.
Any commercial use, without the express consent of the host/author of these pages is prohibited.
The material contained on these pages, including the photographs, is available
for the private use of those researching family origins.
For information about distributing or publishing photographs or other
original material from this report, please
contact us.




counter



;