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Archiver > VAAMHERS > 2006-01 > 1136150001


From: "Lynden Harris" <>
Subject: Re: [VAAMHERS] Little Bethel Church, Pedler Mills area
Date: Sun, 1 Jan 2006 16:13:21 -0500
References: <MB08AmEaJswFCHOzyfy000019f3@MB08.myfamilysouth.com> <8C7DD2572109E58-DD4-E98A@mblk-d18.sysops.aol.com>


Scott;

I have information that John Harris owned 500 acres on 26 of October 1744
on Indian Creek of Piney River on the south side of Priest Mountain and on
Castle Creek of Tye River. Also, Lee Harris owned 400 acres on 30 January
1745 on a branch of the Pedlar River.

I wish that it was someway I could help as I too am Harris from Nelson
county. I have traced my gggg grandfather to Henry Harris born in 1802
somewhere in what is Nelson county Va today. Regards, Bucky Harris,
Staunton, Va







----- Original Message -----
From: <>
To: <>
Sent: Sunday, January 01, 2006 3:02 PM
Subject: Re: [VAAMHERS] Little Bethel Church, Pedler Mills area


> My grandfather Harris owned the land up to and around Little Bethel until
> he sold it off because it was too far from the main farmhouse to farm that
> area. His entire farm was sold in 1945. All 500 acres of it in Pedlar
> Mills. My uncle age 87 is still alive and tells me stories of growing up
> there and listening to the folks singing during revivals. My uncle also
> witnessed Baptisim service in the creek at the bottom of Duncan Hill. The
> creek is called Horseley Creek.
>
> I have started to buy land there to PRESERVE IT and have been working 6
> months on finding the info you search out and have had some luck. I own
> appox 30 acres presently. My intention is to REBUILD the Chapel as a
> memorial to the familes who were raised there as well as to provide a
> place for the familes to come and visit their loved ones burried there. I
> myself am 46 years of age and oneday will be burried 2 miles down the
> Wagon Trail Road in my family cementary located at the parkers Home.
> Parkers home WAS my grandma's father back in the day. Their name was
> Pleasants.
>
> There were TWO people burried at Little Bethel as recently as 2004. I went
> to BOTH cementaries 7 times in 2005 and saw that SOMEONE is cutting the
> grass at Little Bethel. I do not know who for sure but hoped it was one on
> the CHURCH FAMILIES. If not I susoect it is the neighbor farmer Mr
> Massie. Another family friend from years back. Mr Maddoux who currently
> owns what was my fathers 500 acre farm knows alot about the area. As does
> Mr Mooney who just sold 1.06 acres and a 4 bedroom 2 bath house down below
> Lillte Bethel. My family maintains the other cementary at Parkers on
> Wagon Trail.
>
> I am currently in the process of buying the 9.22 acres directly in front
> of that fallen in Chapel. I have detailed digital pictures of the chapel
> as it lay in ruin. . The church is on top of what was and is known as
> Duncan Hill. There was also a black school there as well.
>
> What is your interest / purpose in gathering this information and what is
> your relationship to the Church / interest in the area / chapel. I began
> contacting the County Tax office 6 months ago and it is listed as
> abandoned an am trying to work rebuilding the Chapel. Not for my ownership
> but as a memorial to those families. I would welcome you to join in this
> process if that is something you have similiar interest and intention in.
> That is PRESERVING and restoring a very important part of history.
>
> I am concerned that "ACCESS" to the area is trying to be SHUT DOWN. The
> man who owns the 6 acres at Wagon Trail and Claspie Hollow Road has not
> wanted to grant me access to my 9.22 acres. even though the church has
> used that soil road as right of way in to their church for years. The man
> in Va Beach Va who owns 20 acres BEHIND Little Bethel has made the same
> comment to us through my real estate agent. He said he hopped 2005 was the
> last yaer anyone was buried there and came across his land. The people
> DIRECTLY in front of Little Bethel but down on the road are the Ruckers
> and they WERE members of the church. Ms Rucker moved into town years ago
> at the same time my Grandmother Harris did. Mrs Rucker was a family
> friend as well. Guess there were so few families back there in between
> 1800 and 1945 that everyone knew everyoneThe house looks maintained but
> maybe not lived in. To that end I am trying to buy the 20 acres owned by
> the man in Va Beach as well. Again in an effort!
> to PRESERVE and restore history. NOT DEVELOP IT past a memorial Chapel
> that is.
>
> I do have a contact who is alive and over 90 years of age and knew many of
> of the families and history of the church and has provided us with
> information on same. She grew up there and my uncle over the years
> assisted her and her family in their times of need. I am currently
> begining to plan our trips for 2006 there. Tentative=ve is a trip on Feb
> 12 - 17. Also our family, descendants of the pleasants and Harris meet
> every year close to Easter and work on our family cemetery right down the
> road. Maybe we could met you and you family there this year.
>
> I sure do hope you interest are similar in nature to mine. If so you are
> the first I will have met that feels like I do. Even the locals who know
> the history. I have deep roots there and although my family is white I
> feel a deep need to see to it that LITTLE BETHEL CHURCH Land and Cemetery
> stays PRIVATE , Restored, UP KEPT, and in the hands of the families that
> descend from it. I just want to assist financially in that endeavor. I
> also plan to build there one day and will gladly keep the cementery cut as
> well as the Church Lot. It would make me feel proud to do so.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Scott Harris
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From:
> To:
> Sent: 1 Jan 2006 08:24:33 -0700
> Subject: [VAAMHERS] Little Bethel Church, Pedler Mills area
>
>
> This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
>
> Surnames: Rucker, Eubanks, Thurman, Campbell
> Classification: Query
>
> Message Board URL:
>
> http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/BAC.2ACE/1325
>
> Message Board Post:
>
> I am looking for any information on the Little Bethel church, currently
> colapsed
> in the Pedlar mills area of Amherst County. I am looking for any records,
> deed
> references, Board of Trustee Names, date established or any points of
> contacts
> affifiated with the church.
>
>
> ==== VAAMHERS Mailing List ====
> Find tons of Amherst County info at the Amherst County VAGenWeb Project!
> http://www.rootsweb.com/~vaamhers/
>
>
> ==== VAAMHERS Mailing List ====
> Find tons of Amherst County info at the Amherst County VAGenWeb Project!
> http://www.rootsweb.com/~vaamhers/
>
>


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