DUNCAN-MELVIN-CARATHERS CEMETERY

Duncan-Melvin-Carathers Cemetery
2003

Located in Johnson City, TN on Market Place Blvd, between Knob Creek Rd., and West Oakland Ave., a street that replaces part of Denny Mill Rd, and near Lowe’s Store. It was cleaned in 1985 by the Dirty Street Fighters. George and Margaret Holley kept the cemetery mowed for 9 years. After which, the Dirty Street Fighters graciously mows it once a month during the summer months. The developer of the land, purchased from the Marion Sell heirs, has built a treated wood fence around the graveyard in 1999.
At least a hundred graves are in this cemetery. Many are limestone rocks and some misplaced over the years of neglect.
GPS Location:  36.20.41N 082.24.16W; Elevation:  1630 ft.

Surveyed, transcribed and donated to the Washington County TNGen Web May 2003 by George & Margaret Holley, Lori Craiger, Donna Briggs and Betty Jane Hylton members of the Cemetery Survey Team of Northeast Tennessee. Deeds researched and updates by Gordon Edwards in 2017.

Copyrighted 2012 by the Cemetery Survey Team of Northeast Tennessee. No part may be copied without written permission from the Cemetery Survey Team.

Additional information:

None of the deeds reviewed made any mention of a burial ground. During the development of Marketplace Blvd and related plat (Plat Book 18, Page 22), the burial ground was indicated, but no deed reference was provided. It was noted as the “Tester Cemetery” on the plat. Descendants of Cicero and Ida Tester have used one corner of the burial ground in recent decades. An adjacent property has a right of way called out to access the burial ground.
Deeds referenced below contain the burial ground within the called parcel.
DEEDS –
Deed Book 24, Page 533 (1844) – Heirs of John Duncan to Henry Bashor. 180 acres. Prior deeds for partition of the Charles Duncan tract were not researched.
Deed Book 37, Page 495 (1860) – Henry Bashor Peter Bashor. 33-1/2 acres.
Deed Book 40, Page 122 (1866) – Peter Bashor to Isaac Branscom. Peter and Isaac were partners in the Bashor-Branscom Mill.
Deed Book 41, Page 279 (1869) – Peter Bashor to Isaac Branscom. This was a partition of their several parcels. Lot #2 was conveyed to Isaac. Also reference DB41/281 which became Peter’s shares, but not inclusive of said burial ground.
Deed Book 41, Page 529 and Deed Book 46, Page 6 (1869 & 1876) – These were deeds of trust to Nathan Shipley, etal. Branscom lost three parcels, including the subject parcel. Clerk & Master deeds were found for two of the three parcels – the burial ground parcel deed was apparently not recorded. The deed trail picks up – see description below.
Deed Book 118, Page 249 (1914) – Wm Perry Hunt to James W. Sell. This deed is for the exact parcel shown in DB46/6 that contained the burial ground. Within this deed, it is indicated that William Hunt obtained title by inheritance from his father, David Hunt, who had gotten the parcel from Nathan Shipley. The deed making that bridge of ownership has not been located, but the trail appears clear.
Deed Book 300, Page 456 (1952) – Heirs of James W. Sell to Marion Sell. Tract #1 – which has the exact calls.
Deed Book Roll 143, Image 1318 (1998) – Mary Pauline Sell (widow of Marion) to Marion, Jr and Frank Sell. Marion, Jr and Frank were the developers of Marketplace Blvd.
Deed Book Roll 495, Image 1514 (2006) – This deed mentions the right of way – shown in Exhibit B, Item 19. This parcel is adjacent to and between the burial ground and the public roadway and is commonly known as the Ashley Furniture parcel.

From Washington County Tennessee Wills, 1777-1872 by Goldene Fillers Burgner, c1983:

JAMES MELVIN January 28, 1860
Wife Stacey. Children: James R., Susan & Mahala – 80 acres including spring and orchard. Wit.: Azariah Peoples, William C. Melvin. Exec.: James R. Melvin. Probabed July Term, 1860. Signed: James Melvin.

JOSEPH MELVIN
Wife, Hannah. Children: Joseph, John, Rheba (or Rhoda) Melvin. Executors; Hannah Melvin, James Melvin. Wit.: Ed G. King, John Range, William Duncan. Proven April Sessions, 1817. Signed: Joseph Melvin.

CHARLES DUNCAN April 14, 1817
Wife, Susannah. Children: John, William, Robert, Sarah, Mary, Stacy, Elizabeth, Margaret, Lovarry, Raleigh. Executors: Susannah Duncan, William Dunc. Wit.: T.V.Y. King, Richard Carr, William Car. Proven July Session, 1818. Signed: Charles [his mark] (v) Duncan.

* From Washington County, Tennessee, Marriages 1780-1870 by Goldene Fillers Burgner, c1985:

More information about these families can be found in History of Washington County, Tennessee, 1988by Watauga Association of Genealogists andRobert Young, Sr.: Patriot and Pioneer by Fred and Dessie Little Simmons, 500 Hillrise Blvd., Johnson City, TN c.1984.

From Washington County, Tennessee Death Record Abstracts 1908-1916 by Eddie M. Nikazy.

p. 222 Infant Tyree, male, parents: Moses Miller and Nellie Tyree, death cause: “born dead,” buried: Caruthers Cemetery, died: 3 Mar 1916, record (1916): 153.

p.154 Infant Miller, female, parents: Moses Miller and Nellie Tyree, death cause: “stillborn,” informant: Zacharias Tyree (Johnson City), buried: Carather Creek, died: 17 Feb 1915, record (1915): 86.

1850 Census Washington County, Tennessee

446-468 James R. Melvin 33, Nancy 26, Raleigh 9, Elizabeth 6, May M. 2.

CHARLES AND LURANAH DUNCAN MARKER

Submitted by Margaret Sherfey Holley, 1069 W Oakland Avenue, Johnson City, TN 37604-2120

May 27, 2003 Edward Duncan, South Haven, MS and Joseph Duncan of Chattanooga, TN, [fourth great-grandsons of Charles and Luranah Duncan] with the help of George and Margaret Holley placed a new marker for Charles and Luranah Duncan in the Duncan-Melvin-Carathers Cemetery, Market Place Blvd, Johnson City, TN.

DUNCAN

Charles 1748-1818 Luranah 1752-1828

 Patriot

American Revolution

Pioneer Settlers in State of TN

[On other side]

CHARLES

BORN ROWAN CO, N.C.

SON OF MARSHALL & MARY ANN

FROM PRINCE WILLIAM CO. VIRGINIA

Charles Duncan was one of eleven children of Marshall and Mary Ann Duncan. He had four land grants on Knob Creek with a total of 769 acres.

His will dated 14 April 1817, witnessed by H.G. King, Richard Carr, and William Carr, probated July 1818 (Washington Co. TN will Book 1, p.117) named his wife Luranah who was to have the land and farm where he then lived during her life or widowhood; all his land was left to his sons William, John and Robert to be divided equally among them; William and John were to have the profits from the saw mill since they built it at their own expense; and further named his sons Raleigh, Marshall, and Joel and his daughters Sarah, Mary, Stacy, Nancy Elizabeth Margaret (no commas between) and Lorany; and specified that if Robert died without lawful issue, then Robert’s share of the land was to be divided among all the children. Although Lurarah’s name has sometimes been read as “Susannah,” Charles named a daughter Luranah and his son William named a daughter Lieuranah. Charles Duncan’s inventory was filed 9 Aug 1828 (Washington Co. TN Inventory Book 1, pp.64-69), which indicates that his widow Luranah was deceased by then. The home Charles built in the Knob Creek Community is still standing and is marked as a pioneer homestead. The original house is contained within the present home of John Sherfey; now owned by John’s daughter, Margaret and husband, George Holley. The log house was restored in 1995.

More information about this pioneer family can be found in Some Duncan Families of Eastern Tennessee Before 1800, 1991 Revision by Mary Ann Dobson.