January 1, 2025~ Zachariah Wheat Family Cemetery and Ash Spring

ASH SPRING, located on Wheats Valley Road, Bedford, VA

Happy New Year! 

Ron and I recently revisited the Zachariah Wheat Family Cemetery, and Ash Spring in Bedford County, Virginia. It was a treat to be back for the second time (after I had the opportunity to learn more about the family's history). My goal for 2025 is to complete all of the necessary documentation to prove that Ron and I are fifth cousins! That's right! 5th cousins😉😃😁:

With the help of a friend, who is the archivist/deputy clerk at the Bedford County Circuit Court, WILLS were located for Zachariah Wheat, and his son, Hazael.  WHAT A FASCINATING READ! Zachariah's will, dated 1853, listed his sons, Forrest, Hazael, and Zachariah J, as well as his daughters, Nancy Watson, Polly Watson, Elizabeth Jennings, Lydia Sharp. His deceased children(Lucy Everett, and Edith Rebecca Logwood) were also mentioned. Zachariah's Will was 3 pages long(Will Book #15; pages 81, 82, 83):

    

Hazael Wheat's(one of Zachariah's sons) Will was a mere 1/2 page; (Will Book #31, Page 16). The Will was written in 1889. His daughters mentioned were: Mary Eliza Wheat, Mildred Edith Watson, Lucy Davis McClintock( LUCY DAVIS WHEAT WHITE MCCLINTOCK). His son Joseph Fletcher Wheat and Othy W Wheat were mentioned. 

"THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING", so to speak.These 2 WILLS PROVE the lineage relationship between Ron and me! Thanks again to my friend Karen, who helped me locate these wills!

OK......back to the cemetery! The path to the family cemetery started here:

To the lower right of this photo, began a narrow path, loaded with briers, twisted vines, and gnarly dense thicket, to the top of the hill. We knew we had located the cemetery when we spotted the stone walls! 

We made our way to the opening of the cemetery, but not without a few scratches! Hiking boots, gloves and hand clippers were part of our attire! 

Here is the entrance to the cemetery! 

 

Many of the graves mentioned in Zachariah and Hazael's WILLS were located. Many grave sites were not found. Below is a list of known graves in the family cemetery:

Numerous headstones were mere rocks, covered with moss, and revealed no name. Sadly, we were unable to locate Hazael's wife's marker. Her name was Eliza Mildred Tinsley Wheat. IT COULD HAVE BEEN THIS STONE.........OR NOT. 

January 1st temperatures were FRIGID, and we were on a mini-mission to 'clean up' and photograph a few major tombstones. The first being the double headstones of Zachariah and Edith Chastain Wheat:

We carried some of the supplies with us that were needed to clean......... not an easy job.

Did I mention that this was not an easy job???? and did I mention that it was late in the day, and the sun was going to be setting soon, and we still had to walk back down the not-so-clear-path to the car🤪?

I suspect that we will return soon to finish the job that we started..... I want to be able to read the bottom lines ..... I THINK IT SAYS: "RESTING IN HOPE OF A GLORIOUS RESURRECTION"

Last headstone was easy to find and was located near the entrance. Hazael Wheat, son of  Zachariah and Edith Chastain Wheat. Easy to find, yes........but not as easy to navigate to get to the headstone!

Ash Spring was our last destination. It is located on Wheats Valley Road near the intersection of  Wheats Valley Road, and Overstreet Creek Rd, Bedford, VA

We will return to Ash Spring again! The family cemetery is located within a mile of the old house!

Onion Mountain is seen at the back of the house!

***********  HAZAEL AND ELIZABETH WERE SIBLINGS. Their father and mother were Zachariah and Edith Chastain Wheat.⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️