THANK YOU VERY MUCH, Zach, for your speedy reply and for your advice !
There are 2 cemeteries that I have in mind. One is nearly 200 years old, best I can figure, and is now in the woods and quite overgrown. There are no marked graves visible, but there are many tree limbs everywhere, so some graves may be themselves buried under leaves and limbs. I must park on a neighboring (not the owner's) property in order to get to this cemetery. That's one problem. I understand about snakes, briars, and ticks in the summer time, which is why I'm asking this question now, with high hopes of poking around to see what might be hidden. One grave in this cemetery is quite unique, I think, being enclosed by a stone wall, perhaps 3' high.
The second cemetery is more recent, but is approximately 100 years old, in an open field, very much overgrown with weeds. It had been surrounded by a fence, which was broken down some years ago by cows that did keep the weeds from taking over, but now the cows are gone and the landowner-farmer is raising pigs. Thankfully, he has not allowed the pigs into the area where the cemetery is located ! However, I must park in his driveway, get him to unlock pig gates, and guide me away from the large and numerous hogs. This cemetery has mostly marked tombstones.
Both cemeteries mentioned here are at different locations on the same property. The original deed for this real estate specifically designates one-half acre set aside for each of the 2 graveyards, without giving their metes and bounds. Would it be acceptable to ask to the owner to mark off these half-acres, so that we, the family, can clearly see what/where to clear/clean?
GRATEFULLY,
Mrs. Carole Bryant
Prince Frederick, MD
-----Original Message-----
From: Zach Lewis <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Fri, Feb 11, 2022 9:58 am
Subject: Re: [VA-ROOTS] cemetery laws, VA
Hi Carole, I don't think there are any laws that would prevent you from
visiting a cemetery in Virginia. I have visited numerous cemeteries and had
no problem walking around gathering information from the headstones. My
only suggestion is that if you were to visit one that is heavily overgrown
you might want to wait until late late fall or early spring because of
snakes. Of course if you have to cut through someone's property I would get
there permission to do so.
Zach Lewis
757-827-7522
On Fri, Feb 11, 2022, 9:42 AM Carole D. Bryant <
[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> I have a rather extensive question !
> Being a resident of Maryland, I have little or no knowledge of Virginia's
> cemetery laws, specifically regarding old family graveyards. Who owns the
> cemetery? Who can be buried in the cemetery? How may one obtain access to
> an old cemetery which is surrounded by a parcel of land now owned by
> someone not related? etc. etc. ANY HELP will be GREATLY APPRECIATED !
>
> If anyone would like to comment on Virginia customs regarding this
> subject, that would also be VERY HELPFUL.
>
> Gratefully,
> Mrs. Carole Bryant
> Prince Frederick, MD
>
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To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at
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This list is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at
https://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html
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