I have always noticed a small cemetery, outside of the main town cemetery of Ashland, Virginia. I never paid much attention to it until the other day when I braved the rain and discovered Shiloh Baptist Church Cemetery. I had no knowledge of the cemetery or its occupants until I started exploring. Here is what I found and what I theorize.
The cemetery is about a mile from the Shiloh church. It is right beside Woodland Cemetery, literally just outside of the gate, and immediately outside of the town limits. A lot of towns had ordinances that you could not bury people within the town. This protected the water supply. Both Woodland and Shiloh are immediately outside of the town of Ashland. Ashland probably had such an ordinance.
I walked the entire cemetery and came to the conclusion that it was at least a predominately African-American cemetery. There were a lot of signs from my past experience to lead me to that conclusion. There were a lot of unmarked or poorly marked graves. There were a lot of homemade stones and none of the common "white" names from the area. After a while I noticed three or four photos on stones, all being black individuals.
The cemetery does not look very old at first, most graves are dated between 1960 and the present. There were a few older stones, one dating back to about 1896, you just had to look for them. For the most part, I would say that the cemetery is pretty young, except for the left side. On the left side of the cemetery, there are few marked graves but those that are marked are nicer stones, even fenced in.
There is a lot or periwinkle and cedar tress so I know there are lots of unmarked graves. There are some old field stones as well, marking obvious graves. Periwinkle was commonly planted in cemeteries because it was pretty and required little upkeep. Also note that cedar trees grow along old fence lines. Birds would eat cedar tree berries, sit on a fence and relieve themselves. The cedar seedlings, in this manure, would therefore grow along the fence line and outlast the fence. These are both major indicators of an old cemetery and its outline.
Afterwards I rode into town and found the church. It is an old brick building and the congregation is African-American (church was in session when I drove by). I am wondering if there was some type of segregation back in the day and this was the "black" cemetery for Ashland or was it always solely for the church? Does anyone know? What are the earliest African-American burials at Woodland? Any enlightenment you can offer would be appreciated by all of us.
The cemetery is about a mile from the Shiloh church. It is right beside Woodland Cemetery, literally just outside of the gate, and immediately outside of the town limits. A lot of towns had ordinances that you could not bury people within the town. This protected the water supply. Both Woodland and Shiloh are immediately outside of the town of Ashland. Ashland probably had such an ordinance.
I walked the entire cemetery and came to the conclusion that it was at least a predominately African-American cemetery. There were a lot of signs from my past experience to lead me to that conclusion. There were a lot of unmarked or poorly marked graves. There were a lot of homemade stones and none of the common "white" names from the area. After a while I noticed three or four photos on stones, all being black individuals.
The cemetery does not look very old at first, most graves are dated between 1960 and the present. There were a few older stones, one dating back to about 1896, you just had to look for them. For the most part, I would say that the cemetery is pretty young, except for the left side. On the left side of the cemetery, there are few marked graves but those that are marked are nicer stones, even fenced in.
There is a lot or periwinkle and cedar tress so I know there are lots of unmarked graves. There are some old field stones as well, marking obvious graves. Periwinkle was commonly planted in cemeteries because it was pretty and required little upkeep. Also note that cedar trees grow along old fence lines. Birds would eat cedar tree berries, sit on a fence and relieve themselves. The cedar seedlings, in this manure, would therefore grow along the fence line and outlast the fence. These are both major indicators of an old cemetery and its outline.
Afterwards I rode into town and found the church. It is an old brick building and the congregation is African-American (church was in session when I drove by). I am wondering if there was some type of segregation back in the day and this was the "black" cemetery for Ashland or was it always solely for the church? Does anyone know? What are the earliest African-American burials at Woodland? Any enlightenment you can offer would be appreciated by all of us.
10 comments:
I am an Ashland native and also attended Shiloh Baptist in my youth. Shiloh Cemetery is indeed a black cemetery.You will notice the large McCarthey stone archway. The McCarthey family is very affluent as they run the HW Dabney Funeral home. This funeral home has been family owned and operated since the late 1800's. Ashland is full of rich history. Look into the Dabney name, used to be D'Aubigne, very interesting.
Thanks for the comment. It is great to have confirmation about the cemetery and to find out a little more depth about its history. I am sure there are lots more stories to be found and told about the people there. Take care, Kevin
There is a book called Ashland Ashland by Rosanne Shalf, in this book she recounts the history of the town in pictures and stories from Ashlanders.
To try to summarize/copy some of her various notes and stories. Up until the Civil War they did not allow blacks to meet or congregate on their own and were required to go to church with their masters, but after the Civil War their first church was an old brickyard shanty located at Lankford's Crossing (I am not familiar with this location) but in 1874 they moved to 3/4 acre provided by Elizabeth Hogg a freeborn black on Hanover avenue. The first church at that location was an arbor of tree limbs and leaves and a lean-to shed. Eventually they built a log building to serve as a church. When they moved their church to the building on James Street they used the Hanover Avenue property for their cemetery. They started in approx mid- 1880s.
The book also has some information on the Woodland Cemetery which apparently formed because of the Civil War. The Book has an extensive history of the town and different cemeteries of the town. the ISBN is 1-55618-140-x,LC.
Also as a side note: Mr Charlie McCarthey was one of the family members that ran the funeral home. Hope this helps....
If I am not mistaken, I think Rosanne Shalf used to be mayor or vice mayor of Ashland. I guess that would make her a true authority. Thanks for your post.
I married a man whose father is from Ashland, Virginia. The father's name was Philip Linwood Wilkerson, Sr. He died in the Hampton Roads area when my husband was 13 years 43 years old and was the youngest of 12 children. My husband has never known or cared to know one WILKERSON relative/ancestor but I want to know to pass this info to my children. Can anyone help find a Wilkerson living in or around Ashlan? I was going to try one Sunday to just start going to the African American Churches in Ashland and ask, "Do you know any Wilkersons?"
Family researach has discovered that Betsy Hogg sometimes identified to Betsy Tinsley is the great, great, great, great grandmother of my mother and indeed she deeded the land for the Shiloh Baptist Church Cemetery. Also the land for the Woodland Cemetery and owned approximately 50plus acres in the western part of the Town on Hanover Avenue. Some of the Tinsley family still reside on Hanover Avenue in the home of my grandfather(built around 1913) Burney Tinsley. Lots more history, too much to include here.
I am also a native of Ashland, and joined Shiloh Church at an early age. I was born across the street from the present Shiloh Church. My grandfather, Benjamin Quarles, was the caretaker of the church until he died. My parents, and grandparents are buried in the Shiloh Cemetary.
A lot of the plots were marked by bricks that are now covered. Some used large stones
or rocks to mark the grave sites.
I don't know if I am exactly an authority Mr. Lett, but I surely do love digging into history, especially history that has remained hidden for years, like African American history or the lives of ordinary people. Thanks, Rosanne Shalf
The Ashland Museum now located at 105 Hanover Avenue is set to open soon, but we need to finish our first exhibit, which will be Ashland from 1836 to 1865. As usual, we have very little on African Americans. I would love a photo or portrait of Betsy Hogg or any of the free blacks or slaves who lived in Ashland before the war. Does anyone have any that we can scan and return to the owner? In addition, we would love any stories about slaves in the Ashland area during that time. Please contact me as soon as possible. Kevin, can I put my email addressin here? If not just remove it: jrshalf@gmail.com. Thanks.
This information warms my heart. I am the great great granddaughter of Betsy Hogg and great granddaughter of the Rosa Tinsley family of Ashland virginia. Since I was young, a photo of Betsy has set on my grandfathers mantle until his passing. The Tinsley/Carter/Hughes/Gardner family is happy to share what small pieces of history we have left to share.
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