Locality:
Realty Map: 7100601
20th c.
USGS Map:
Grid Locus: K-9 Landform: Ridge top
UTM Easting: 598370 Elevation: 1020 feet
UTM Northing: 4128450 Aspect: Southwest
Site Dimensions: 60 by
75 feet
Survey Description: Site consists of a small cemetery with
at least 28 interments. Observed interments
include eight marked with formal, inscribed markers, 16 with uninscribed
fieldstone markers, and four unmarked graves visible as depressions in the
ground surface. Most of the graves are
oriented to the southeast, but some are oriented to the northeast. Historical plantings include yucca and
periwinkle. Deteriorated remnants of
wooden posts suggest a fence once surrounded the cemetery. Site is overgrown with briars, scrub brush,
and saplings. Many of the grave markers
have fallen and are broken. Mounded
earth along the eastern side of the site, immediately adjacent to graves,
indicates some previous disturbance to the site. Some graves may have been covered with the
earth. Mounded earth was probably
associated with construction of adjacent residential development. Site was field inspected, photographed, and
headstone inscriptions were transcribed and compared to previous site
documentation. Site size was estimated
by pacing the horizontal extent of observed graves.
Surveyed By: T.
Klatka & D. Richardson
Survey Date: 10/97
Field Notes:
x Yes No
Photographs:
x Yes No
Reference(s):
1986
Works Progress Administration of
Additional Comments: Assigned temporal period based on death
dates inscribed on observed grave markers. Observed death dates range from 1837
through 1917. However, the presence of
uninscribed markers may indicate earlier or late use of the site.
This cemetery was initially surveyed and documented in 1936
by the Works Progress Administration and recorded as the “Gish Graveyard” in
Document #32 of the Historical Inventory of Roanoke County, Virginia. The
survey documentation listed inscriptions from the headstones of David Gish,
George R. Gish, and Polly Brugh.
However, the death date for George R. Gish was listed as
About 50 years later, the RVHS surveyed the cemetery and
documented biographical information derived from eight headstones in the
cemetery which predated 1920 (1986: 124-125).
These eight headstones comprise the complete set of inscribed headstones
observed at the site. The following list
was compiled during the 1997 survey of the cemetery. Bold Italics denotes information that varies
from the report prepared by the RVHS, and dashes indicate an illegible
inscription.
The
Marker Inscriptions:
In Memory of our In
Memory of David
Gish, Jr.
Polly Brugh David
Gish,
Sr. Born
Died Died Died______
1879
July 23rd
1878 Aged
77 Yrs. broken
and illegible;
Age 74 (Footstone:
D.G.Sr.) footstone
is also broken)
Blessed are the Dead,
Which die in the Lord.
(Footstone: P.G.)
Born 1801 Aug.
10th, 1839 Son
of David & Polly Gish
Died 1884 Oct.
14th, 1917 Died Octr 4th,
1837
(headstone is toppled, Mary
Thrasher Aged 3 yrs, 2
mos, & 16 days
broken, and illegible;
footstone: L.G.)
At Rest Blossoms
stood, But they cause
GISH us grief,
at present Frost hath
(Double marker, nipped them in the Bud.
Footstones: G.G. /
M.A.T.G.)
In Memory of
Mary Ella
Daughter of
G.H. & J. Gish
Died
Aged 2 yrs, ___, ____
___________
___________