Miller (Charley) Cemetery
2015
Washington County, Tennessee Tombstone Inscriptions by Charles M. Bennett and the Watauga Association of Genealogists. Information used with the permission of Lorraine Bennett Rae.
This burial ground was found on the topographic map notes of Mr. Charles M. Bennett. It shows up on some maps as “2-M”. It does not appear in Volume 2 of Mr. Bennett’s work. Notes indicate few markers, none of which can be read.
GPS Location: +36° 14.050, -82° 31.125
Location: All traces of this burial ground are now gone. Markers were destroyed several years ago, according to the neighboring property owner. The current resident of Charley Miller’s homeplace, at 433 Conklin Road Jonesborough, remembers seeing markers and a makeshift fence, and pointed out the location, at the site of a double wide at 120 King Road, which is a side road leading behind the Miller homeplace.
Deeds –
All deeds reviewed remain silent on the existence of a burial ground. Several deeds were reviewed, however, only one particularly gives a clue to the possible history. Deed Book 367/332 is a conveyance within the Miller Family. It covers a 19 acre parcel, that when plotted, clearly overlays the tax maps and includes the subject graveyard. Within the body of Deed Book 367/332, the following is mentioned “……..The above being known as the George W. Sprinkle place…….”
George W. Sprinkle was a preacher serving in the area, and was involved in the establishment of the New Victory Methodist Church – circa 1900. The subject burial ground is within eyesight of the church. Charley Miller, known also as Charles Sprinkle Miller, was the grandson of George W. Sprinkle. Charley Miller’s wife was Myrtle V. Barron. The Barrons had a presence in that immediate area also.
The property eventually ended up in the hands of Hubert Miller, son of Charley and Myrtle. This provides for four generations of continuous ownership of the graveyard by essentially the same family. Over the years the property was partitioned into smaller parcels.
Burials –
Based upon the size of the area described by the current owner, the graveyard covered roughly a 20’ X 30’ area – perhaps a dozen or two burials. No names are known, nor is the date of establishment. Perhaps Sprinkle/Miller family – perhaps parishioners of Rev. Sprinkle, or perhaps both. A visit to the site yielded no clues.
Surveyed, transcribed, researched and donated to the Washington County TNGen Web April 2015 by Gordon M. Edwards, member of the Cemetery Survey Team of Northeast Tennessee.
Copyrighted 2015 by the Cemetery Survey Team of Northeast Tennessee. No part of this work may be copied without written permission from the Cemetery Survey Team.