GREEN SPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH CEMETERY

Cemetaries all over the world tell the stories of human endeavour. Some stones mark the final resting place of those whose lives were long lived and greatly celebrated. Other stones tell the story of sadness or tragedy such as the grave of this child, identified only as 'Kate', either stillborn or taken to the Lord on the same day as her birth.

     High atop a green hill overlooking Virginia Route 75 sets a glimpse into the history of Southwest Virginia. The Green Spring Church Cemetery contains monuments to hundreds of years and hundreds of lives long past.

     Back in 1794, James Montgomery deeded the property to the Green Spring Church congregation and their successors. Mr. Montgomery stipulated that this property would remain in their possession so long as "they call a regular Presbyterian minister of the Gospel according to the Westminister Confession of faith and the doctrine, worship and discipline therein contained within the Larger and Shorter Catechism..." This Deed was recorded at a court held in Abingdon, Washington County, Virginia, March 18, 1794, deed book number 1, page 333. A photocopy of the original deed may be found in the vestibule of the church. .

     The first site of the Green Spring Church was located about 1 mile east of the present location. The Washington County Historical Society held a dig at that site and determined that there are some graves there. This has been substantiated by other records. However, when the church moved to the present location, none of the graves from that site were moved.

     The present Green Spring Church Cemetery became the burial site for many of the settlers in this valley from the 1780's. However, it is unfortunate that due to the ravages of time many graves are now unmarked or the stones have become illegible. Some members of the church have done research and kept records and are able to locate several graves which have become obscured.

     Buried here are many who fought in our country's wars including several "Overmountain Men" who participated in the Battle of King's Mountain. Several of these noteworthy gravesites have been marked by the Daughters of the Revolution. Browsing through the cemetery yields an insight into our long and rich history. Here are some examples:

Cubin, John died 13 Aug 1830 age 75yr
"A native of the Ile of Man"

Clark, Lt. Wm B died 10 Sep 1861
Co C 37th Regt VA Vol (CSA)

King, William died 5 Nov 1810 age 88yr 9mo 28d
Pvt. Christy's North Carolina Regt Am Rev

Kinsolving, David Leighton M.D. 18 - 19
"I was here and gone,
I had a good time."

McChesney, Samuel, 22 June 1753-4 Apr 1803
Age 50yr 10m NAn emigrant from Ire1and"

Dunkin, Capt John
Marked by DAR

McChesney, Patsy Hall
Her Sarcophagus given by nephews,
Cyrus H & Leander J McCormick

     The church cemetery is presently maintained by the gifts and memorial contributions of descendents of those buried there. The church holds a special offering once per year on the second Sunday in August at Homecoming. Mr. Aubrey Brown is the treasurer for the cemetery and Mr. Roby Stewart is the groundskeeper.


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