Perninar (Martha L.) Marker
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.
From the WCCL of cemeteries not found. V. 3, Page 324:
“PENINER—2 mi N Jonesboro. Mat Peniner is the only one buried there.”
“POLLARD”—2 mi N Jonesboro, 15th District. Established by Wm. Pollard. There is only one burial.”
GPS Location: +36 18.613N -82 29.817W
Location: On tax parcel 051-248.00 known as 1604 Rocky Hollow Road.
The marker found reads Martha L. wife of W. M. Perninar, Born Oct. 4, 1893 Died Feb. 9, 1902 – The gravesite is on property that had belonged to Isaac Morrell. Isaac was Martha’s father. Martha inherited a portion of her father’s holdings (Deed Book 46/Page 490) and subsequently was buried on her share. William and Thomas Perninar sold the property in 1904 (Deed book 95/Page 535 not recorded until 1907). Within the body of that deed, a conveyance exception was noted for the grave (21 feet square), as well as access to said grave.
There were several transfers of the property over the next few decades – a time of land speculation in the area. The deeds, in some cases referred to Deed Book 95/Page 535, others simply called out the metes and bounds. Specific reference to the burial ground did not reoccur until Deed Book 164/Page 231 in 1925. This deed is important for two reasons – it does mention the burial ground, and it was a conveyance to Robert C Keebler, who was the grandson of William Pollard. It is conjecture, but perhaps Robert Keebler requested such mention in that deed.
Also important to note, that William Pollard owned (Deed Book 51/Page 374 in 1884) the triangular piece of property immediately adjacent (west of) and within 10 feet of said grave. That property was held until 1914 (Deed Book 121/Page 106).
The WCCL was compiled during the 1930’s, and at that time, Robert Keebler was owner of subject property where the grave is located. It is believed for that reason, the William Pollard connection was made by his grandson. Also important to note, that although William Pollard owned adjacent properties, searches of deeds have produced no references to any other burial ground nor have any been physically found on his properties. The fact that both entries mention a single burial seems to also confirm that only one burial ground is correct.
Martha married first, Elbert Jones, and had a son, Robert. Martha married second, William Perninar, and they had a son, Thomas. After Martha’s death in 1902, William and Thomas Perninar moved to Kansas (ref census record 1930).
It is interesting to note that Martha was buried on her property, not at nearby Leesburg Presbyterian where her parents were buried, and that her husband, William and son, Thomas quickly sold her farm and moved to Kansas after her death.
Surveyed, transcribed and donated to the Washington County TNGen Web March 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.
Perninar (Martha L.) Greave
2015