Earnest Chapel Cemetery

EARNEST CHAPEL CEMETERY

Located on Mathew's Mill Road between the railroad tracks and the intersection of Glaze Road and Mathew's Mill Road. Concrete steps lead up to the cemetery from the road. It was founded in 1808. This cemetery is well kept but a lot of the markers are hard to read.
GPS location: 36.20.22N 082.18.18W

NAME	BIRTH	DEATH	ROW # GRAVE#	COMMENTS
Argenbright, James M.	[No date]	[No date]	5/1	Co. M 1 Tenn. Cav.
Argenbright, Mary J. Stepp	12 Mar 1841	3 Jan 1917	5/2	Wife of J.M. Argenbright
Baines, Lizzie	27 Mar 1850	19 Mar 1922	14/2	Wife of J.B. Baines
Barnes, Alcy	1790	11 Jun 1865	18/7	Consort of Nathan Barnes
Barnes, Alcy M.	15 Aug 1840	8June 1842	18/3
Barnes, Elizabeth W.	1 Jan 1836	18 Mar 1858	18/5
Barnes, Franklin P.	18 April 1862	28 Nov 1862	12/10	Son of Joseph S. & E.A. Barnes
Barnes, Nathan	7 Apr 1788	9 Oct 1862	18/6
Barnes, Sarah E.	28 July 1845	1 June 1858	18/4
Beard, Albert C.	1870	1931	2/2
Bennett, John William	13 Apr 1851	6 Oct 1917	14/3	Father
Biddle, Eddie M.	13 Jan 1866	7 Sep 1895	11/6
Biddle, Elizabeth	1806	1876	6/3	[Shares a stone with James Biddle and Mary A. Biddle]
Biddle, Fannie L.	7 Nov 1868	4 Jan 1898	11/4
Biddle, Infant Son	17 Aug 1895	27 Sep 1895	11/5
Biddle, Infant Son	25 Dec 1897	28 Dec 1897	11/7
Biddle, James	1808	1874	6/2	[Shares a stone with Elizabeth Biddle, and Mary A. Biddle]
Biddle, Mary A.	1840	1879	6/4	[Shares a stone with James Biddle, and Elizabeth Biddle]
Brown, Ida	1 May 1871	19 Oct 1904	9/3
Byerley, Hallie Ilena	17 Oct 1888	11 July 1889	11/1	Daughter of C.W. & S.B. Byerley
Byerley, J.H.	5 Jan 1823	10 May 1898	22/1	[Shares marker with Mary M. Byerley]
Byerley, Mary M.	4 July 1826	17 May 1898	11/3	Double stone. Wife of J.H. Byerley [Shares marker with J.H. Byerley]
Campbell, Blanch	11 Jun 1887	8 Oct 1897	4/2	Daughter of B.G. & Mary C. Campbell
Campbell, Brookins C.	2 Jun 1856	27 Dec 1927	4/9
Campbell, Clyde	19 Jan 1893	1 Dec 1897	1/11
Campbell, Elizabeth	11 Apr 1825	27 Apr 1890	1/10	Wife of Robert Campbell.
Campbell, Frank	22 Dec 1896	13 May 1897	1/8
Campbell, Harlow S.	1888	1958	4/1
Campbell, Joseph	17 Feb 1835	9 Jun 1903	8/2	Married Rachel A. Mulkey Mar. 8, 1856
Campbell, Mary C.	17 Apr 1860	17 Oct 1911	4/8	Wife of B.C. Campbell
Campbell, Oscar L.	2 May 1890	6 Apr 1908	4/7	Son of B.C. & M.C. Campbell
Campbell, Rachel	[No date]	[No date]	8/1	Wife of J.B. Campbell
Campbell, Robert	10 Jan 1816	31 Dec 1894	1/9
Ferguson, Oscar	9 Mar 1873	4 Oct 1884	3/1	Son of John & Sarah Ferguson
Foster, A.C.	27 Dec 1837	30 Jun 1883	10/4	Co. F. 13th Tenn Cavalry. [Triple stone shared with Vina Foster and William Foster]
Foster, Asa	No date	No date	9/1	Co. F 13th Tenn. Cav.
Foster, Vina	4 Mar 1846	[No date]	10/5	[Triple stone shared with A.C. Foster and Vina Foster]
Foster, Will M.	2 Mar 1861	9 Jul 1917	10/6	[Triple stone shared with A.C. Foster and Vina Foster]
Furches, Charles V.	1875	1940	1/2	[Triple stone shared with Rebecca B. & Virinia Furches]
Furches, Rebecca B.	1884	1922	1/1	[Triple stone shared with Charles V. & Virginia Furches]
Furches, Virginia	1875	1919	1/3	[Triple stone shared with Charles V. & Rebecca Furches]
Henley, Charley	14 Nov 1897	30 Jan 1898	12/3	Son of S.G. & E.S. Henley
Henley, Hannah M.	10 Mar 1857	12 May 1894	12/2	Wife of S.G. Henley
Henley, Lawrence	23 Feb 1894	20 Mar 1894	12/1	Son of S.G. & H.M. Henley
Henley, Naomi R.	1914	1916	12/4
Howren, James Dawson	14 May 183?	11 Jun?	1/7	Son of J.? & R.D. Howren.[Stone badly eroded]
Lutrell, Nancy	[unreadable]	[unreadable]	1/5	Wife of James M. Lutrell
Luttrell, James J.	12 Dec 1865	2 Jan 1866	1/6	Son of Geo. W. & Mary Luttrell
Luttrell, James M.	7 Nov 1805	?Nov 1856	1/4	[Stone crumbling]
Middleton, Ann Zimmerman	[No date]	9 Jan 1899	13/1	Wife of Wm. J. Middleton. Age 94 yrs
Middleton, Annie A.	31 May 1846	5 Nov 1880	13/2
Milhorn, Paralee Venora	30 Oct 1885	11 Jul 1973	11/8
Moore, L.T.	11 May 1847	8 Jan 1896	5/3	[Masonic Emblem]
Moore, Mary E.	29 Jun 1847	3 Feb 1912	5/4	Wife of L.T. Moore
Morrison, Peter C.	9 Oct 1812	10 Jan 1897	13/3
Painter, Essie Beard	21 Dec 1874	21 May 1945	2/1
Payne, Alexander M.	20 Dec 1823	12 Dec 1894	12/7
Payne, Alexander M., Jr.	28 Dec 1862	23 Feb 1902	12/8
Payne, Carlisle	5 Oct 1867	13 Jun 1897	17/2	Son of Jacob & Hester T. Payne
Payne, Dora	26 Apr 1859	17 Jan 1862	20/4	Dau. of Ben W. & Mary E. Payne
Payne, John Wm. H.	15 Dec 1870	18 Jun 1871	20/5	Son of A.E. & Alice Payne
Payne, Louisa J.	3 Nov 1858	29 Jul 1917	12/9
Payne, Mary	19 Apr 1854	16 Aug 1855	20/3	Dau. of B.W. & Mary E. Payne
Payne, Newton	21 Sep. 1844	16 Oct 1844	16/2	Son of J.R. Payne
Payne, Rachel	23 Nov 1811	28 Sep 1870	10/8	Wife of Jesse R. Payne
Payne, Robert H.	10 Nov 1830	24 Jun 1879	20/1
Payne, Samuel	24 Nov 1821	28 Jun 1859	21/1	[Stone broken]
Payne, Sarah I.	1 Feb 1823	14 Feb 1891	12/6	Wife of A.M. Payne
Payne, Sarah Isabelle	22 May 1856	26 Sep 1928	12/5
Payne, Thurza	23 May 1819	31 Dec 1853	21/3	Consort of W.G. Payne
Paine, W.B.	[No date]	[No date]	17/5	Co. B. 12th Tennessee Cav.
Paine, William	25 Mar 1841	16 May 1867	17/4	Son of J.H. & Maria A. Paine. He entered the U.S. Army Oct. 1, 1862, 1st Tenn Cal Col (1) & was honorably discharged May 25, 1865.
Payne, Wm. C.	30 Oct 1811	24 Jan1885	20/6	[Stone broken]
Repass, Charles L.	20 Aug 1879	11 Sep 1890	3/2
Repass, Perry B.	15 Apr 1881	20 Nov 1892	3/3
Repass, Sarah	[No date]	24 Dec 1905	3/4	Aged 76 years
Saferight, Eliza	14 Mar 1828	18 Sep 1887	4/4
Saferight, Robt. G.	14 Jun 1857	15 Oct 1887	4/6
Saferight, Samantha	23 Mar 1870	7 Oct 1887	4/3
Saferight, Sarah	26 Dec 1858	20 Jul 1887	4/5
Salts, Wm. Henry	28 Jan 1856	29 Oct 1858	6/1	Son of Wm. & Emaline Salts
Shannon, Lucia O.	31 Mar 1862	20 Jun 1862	2/5	Daughter J.E. & M.L. Shannon
Sims, Addie Cleo Wassom	3 Aug 1891	23 Feb 1956	10/3	Wife of James Sims [Shares marker with James Andrew Sims]
Sims, Addie Viola	11 Sep 1927	[No date]		[Shares marker with brother,James Henry Sims]
Sims, James Andrew	14 Feb 1881	30 Apr 1956	10/2	[Shares marker with Addie Cleo Wassom Sims]
Sims, James Henry	27 Jan 1922	7 May 2001	10/1	[Shares marker with sister Addie Viola Sims]
Smith, Caroline	[No date]	1 Jul 1854	7/4	Consort of John F. Smith. Aged 30 yrs. 6 days.
Smith, Eleanorah	12 Oct 1831	3 Nov 1868	7/6	Aged 37 yrs. & 10 days.
Smith, John F.	2 May 1820	21 Mar 1880	7/3	[Masonic Emblem; Stone broken and worn]
Smith, Joseph	23 Mar 1866	? Jan 1887	7/7	[Stone broken]
Smith, Leban F.	2 May 1852	24 Jul 1887	7/2
Smith, Phebe Catherine	21 May 1863	21 Jul 1863	7/5	Aged 2 months.
Stepp, J.T.	31 Aug 1863	12 Jan 1891	2/4	[Remine made stone]
Sepp, Polly	1 Apr 1803	11 Jun 1879	2/3	Our Mother
Tucker, Wm. Boy	17 Oct 1896	25 Jul 1897	9/2	Son of S.S. & Lina Tucker
Unknown	[No date]	[No date]	7/1	[Fieldstone]
Unknown	[No date]	[No date]	20/2	[No inscription left on stone]
Unknown	[No date]	[No date]	20/3	[Unable to read]
Unknown	[No date]	[No date]	20/4	[Fieldstone]
Unknown	[No date]	[No date]	17/1
Unknown	[No date]	[No date]	17/3	[Fieldstone]
Unknown	[No date]	[No date]	16/1	[Fieldstone]
Unknown	[No date]	[No date]	16/3	[Fieldstone]
Unknown	[No date]	[No date]	16/4	[Fieldstone]
Unknown	[No date]	[No date]	16/5	[Fieldstone]
Unknown	[No date]	[No date]	18/1	[Fieldstone]
Unknown	[No date]	[No date]	18/2	[Unreadable]
Unknown	[No date]	[No date]	18/3	[Unreadable]
Unknown	[No date]	[No date]	18/4	[Unreadable]
Unknown	[No date]	[No date]	21/2	[Headstone broken]
Walker, Lyde Pear	4 Mar 1882	10 Jun 1882	14/1
Wassom, Charity M.	23 Oct 1861	8 Dec 1911	11/12	Wife of Frank M. Wasson [Shares a stone with Frank M.Wassom]
Wassom, Frank M.	8 Nov 1840	10 Jul 1900	11/13	[Shares a stone with Charity M. Wassom]
Wassom, Ida Blound	15 Dec 1893	4 Jul 1973	11/9	[Shares stone with Stella Viola Wassom; dau of Frank M. & Charity M. Ferguson Wassom; postmaster at Telford]
Wassom, John Henry	18 Jul 1879	23 Aug 1945	11/11	Son of Frank M. & Charity M. Ferguson Wassom
Wassom, Stella Viola	24 Oct 1888	19 Apr 1964	11/10	[Shares stone with Ida Blound Wassom; dau of Frank M. & Charity M. Ferguson Wassom]
Way, Drusana Biddle	19 Jun 1834	6 Oct 1907	10/8	Mother. Wife of Hiram Way [Shares stone with Hiram Way]
Way, Hiram	10 Dec 1821	6 Jun 1895	10/7	Father. [Shares stone with Drusana Biddle Way]

Transcribed and contributed for use on the TNGenWeb-Washington County Page and in the USGenWeb Archives, December 6, 2001 by Dawn Peters, Helen Holtsinger and Betty Jane Hylton.

Additional information:

Washington County, Tennessee History, 1988 by the Watauga Association of Genealogists

p.80: Undoubtedly there were several Methodist churches which were active for some period of time and later disappeard. Names of the cemeteries in Washington County identified as Methodist included the following, although churches no longer exist at some of the locations: Fall Branch, Mt. Zion, Pleasant Grove, McKinley, Barnett/Timber Hill, Uriel, Eden, Speedwell, Bethesda, Earnest's Chapel, McAllister. Please contact Betty Jane Hylton if you have more information about Earnest Chapel.

1850 Census Washington County, Tennessee

687/716 Smith, John F 30, Caroline 25, William R. 2, Eldora 1/12.

674/703 Payne, Alexander 25, Sarah 27, Alla J. 1, Elizabeth A. 4/12, all born in Tennessee.

764/791 Biddle, James 42, Elizabeth 43, Alexander W. 17, Jacob N. 14, John W. 10, Mary A. 8, Nancy M. 6, Sarah M. 4, all born in Tennessee.

783/811 Barnes, Nathan 71, b. Maryland, Alcey 61, b. Virginia.

784/812 Barnes, Washington, 40, Rebecca 40, William 16, Mary 14, Elizabeth 13, James 12, Alexander 9, Sarah 5, Martha 3, all born in Tennessee; Payne Martha 59 b. Virginia.

785/813 Payne, Jesse 34, Rachel 39, Alsey E. 9, Ebenezer 8, William F. 4, Alexander W. 4, Zachary T. 2, Samuel R. 1.

1221/1248 Lutterall, James 45, Nancy 38, Richmond 19, Laura 11, George 8, Srusberry 5, Virginia 1, all born in Virginia.

1860 Census Washington County, Tennessee

1066 Smith, John F. 40, Ellenorah 29, William P. 12, Udorah V. 10, Laban F. 8, Mary C. 6, Serus W. 4, James A. 2.

Washington County, Tennessee Marriages, 1780-1870 by Goldene Burgner

p.141

p.38

p.31

p.68

p.107

p.155

p.32

p.75

p.106

p.102

Joseph C. Barnes to Elizabeth Baines, md. 4 January 1866.

Washington B. Barnes to Rebecca Snapp, md. 24 May 1832 by Henry Amansing.

James Biddle to Elizabeth Whistler, md. 23 December 1828 by William Patton.

John H. Byerly to Mary Mitchell md. 19 December 1844 by William Read, J.P.

Joseph Campbell to Rachel A. Mulkey, md. 8 March 1856 by R.S. Ferguson, J.P.

Landon T. Moore to Mary E. Lovegrove, md. 6 February 1868 by William Reeve, M.G.

Peter C. Morrison to Loaticia Kelly, md. 26 October 1832 by Jacob K. Brown

Alexander Payne to Sarah Beard, md. 7 January 1847 by E.L. Mathes, J.P.

Robert H. Payne to Rebecca Jane Beard, md. 23 December 1855 by William Read, J.P.

John F. Smith to Eleanorah Armentrout, md. 10 December 1854 by J.K. Hancher, M.G.

Washington County Tennessee Wills, 1777-1872 by Goldene Burgner

p.88: James Biddle, September 23, 1874 &endash; Wife Elizabeth and daugher Mary Ann have a permanent home during Elizabeth's natural life. Sons J.N. & John Biddle have heir part. Other children: Washington, Nancy Good, Sarah Taylor, Mary Ann. Executor: J.N. Biddle. Test: T.P. Britton, J.L. Biddle. Probated February Term, 1875. Signed: James Biddle.

[The following will and marriage record may be clues to the name of this cemetery.}

p.37: Lawrence Earnest, August 25, 1837 Wife, Hannah. Sons: Jacob B. Earnest, Lawrence W. Earnest, Jonah W. Earnest. Children: Wesley, Elizabeth Coon, Syntha, Axley, Marilla Broyles, Antamond? Payne, Rebecca Payne, Lavinia Barnett, William S., Jonah W., Jacob B. and Lawrence W. Earnest. Executors: Brother-in-law Nathan Barnes, E.L. Mathes. Wit.: William, William G. and Jesse R. Payne. Probated May Session, 1838.

Washington County Tennessee Marriages by Goldene Burgner (continued)

p.17: Westly Earnest to Mary Payne, md. 21 October 1819 by Nathan Barnes

History of Washington County, Tennessee, 1988 by the Watauga Association of Genealogists.

p.319-320: Lawrence Earnest (second son of Henry Earnest b. 1732 Zurich, Switzerland, d. 1809 Greene County, TN. m. Mary Stephens, 1760 Frederick Co., VA) born 1763 Frederick County, Virginia, died after 25 August 1837 (will) in Washington County. He married (1) Rebecca North [dau. of John & Esther North] 11 September 1795 and (2) Hannah Payne. Her father, Jesse Payne, had will recorded in Washington County.

Lawrence Earnest was delegate to 1822 Greene County Convention from Nolichucky Branch for Tennessee Society for Promoting the Manumission of Slaves. Children of Rebecca and Lawrence Earnest: Wesley, Elizabeth, Synthia, Marilla, Artamicia, Rebecca, Lavina, William, Josiah, Jacob, Lawrence, Jesse, Henry.

Historic Greene County, Tennessee and Its People: 1783-1992

p.93-94: Henry Earnest married Mary Stephens in Virginia in 1760.

The Elmwood Farm, the oldest Century Farm in Tennessee, was established by Henry in 1777 and the Henry Earnest House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Henry and Mary's children: Felix, Lawrence, Henry Jr., Jacob, Peter, Mary, Anna, Elizabeth, Lovenia, Sarah and Rebecca.

Lawrence was security for marriages of Gabriel and George North, Rebecca's brothers, 1803 and 1799.

Sullivan County Death Record Abstracts 1908-1918 by Eddie Nikazy, p. 133.

Naomi Ruth Henley, born: 25 Feb 1914, parents: Samuel G. Henley (Washington Co. TN) and Fannie Wattenberger (Washington Co. TN), death cause: "whooping cough and broncho pneumonia," informant: father (Bluff City), buried Earnest Chapel Cemetery, died 9 Feb 1916, record (1916): 248.

TNGenWeb Index