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 volume 1, page 130 – entry 36 – shown as Tipton Cemetery
“Located on property included in the Heritage Park Trailer subdivision off State Highway 23, near the Washington-Carter County line. The plot is surrounded by an eight foot chain link fence. The area contains quite a bit of underbrush and garbage. There were 12 graves, 8 marked with fieldstones and 4 unmarked. There were no inscriptions. Information sources state that a CRAWFORD is supposed to be buried here, as is Abraham TIPTON.”
During a thorough review of several deeds and also some death certificates (DC), it has been determined that the actual name of this burial ground would be the Isaac Vaught Cemetery. This burial ground has been shown to be a burial ground of color, primarily confirmed by deed review.
An unproven reference to the “Cole” burial ground is discussed in the BURIALS section below. If that connection is correct, this subject burial ground could date earlier than when Alice Vaught died in 1929. The “Vaught Cemetery” name will be used, as it is what was proven through the deed trail.
It is believed, but undocumented, that Abraham Tipton most likely would have been buried with other Tiptons at the Tipton-Haynes location. That burial ground is approximately ½ mile directly west of the Vaught Cemetery on Arroyo Drive.
The Crawford, also undocumented, may have been a referral to Nancy Crawford or another Crawford family member who had been buried at the Henson Hunt Cemetery. Those buried at Henson Hunt were moved to Snyder’s during the I-26 highway project. The Henson Hunt burial ground was just several hundred feet east of Vaught.
Those buried at the Vaught Cemetery were moved to West Lawn and buried there on the east side of what is now defined as section C during the I-26 highway project. A couple of those were identified and marked with named granite markers. The others are unmarked.
Vaught (Isaac) Cemetery
2015
LOCATION – Within the I-26 right of way, just southwest of Vance Drive in Johnson City, Tennessee.
GPS Location: +36° 17.810, -82° 19.635 (approximate)
DEEDS – Both Carter County and Washington County deeds were reviewed. The Washington/Carter boundary was changed and recording was done in both counties. All these deeds reviewed together, not all mentioning a burial ground, go to establishing location, Isaac Vaught’s ownership, and his establishment of the burial ground. Washington County deed at Deed Book 610, Page 142 is probably the most informative, and would lead the researcher through the sequence of the other deeds mentioned below.
Carter County –
Deed Book, 24, Page 338 (1908) – Robert C & Martha Cole to J. W. Wagoner “…..lots 5, 6, & 7 of the Range land…..” This deed needs to be read with Washington County record in Deed Book 293, Page102. Isaac Vaught and J. W. Wagoner shared ½ interests in this 9 acre parcel.
Several other deeds were reviewed and plotted. These helped to locate the property but did not directly mention a burial ground. Deed Book, 72, Page 520; Deed Book 68, Page 511; Deed Book 116, Page 223; Deed Book 129, Page 272; Deed Book 144, Page 376; Deed Book 149, Page 449; and Deed Book 150, Page 239.
Washington County –
Deed Book 293, Page 102 (1951) – Isaac Vaught to N.E. & W.M. Clark. Mentions “…..cemetery located on this tract and owned by Vendee and where his wife is buried…..”. The parcel is described as “…..lots 5, 6, & 7 of the Range land…..”
Deed Book 431, Page 329 (1970) – Heirs of N.E. & W.M. Clark to Harmony Homes. Mentions “…..graveyard 40 feet by 25 feet, together with a 12 foot right of way to same…..”.
Deed Book 433, Pages 297 & 300 (1970) – Harmony Homes to Heritage Park.
Deed Book 435, Page 275 (1970) – Clerk and Master to Heritage – this vests the graveyard to Heritage in fee simple absolute.
Deed Book 610, Page 142 (1984) – This is a rather lengthy document that won’t be completely presented here. It essentially is the condemnation of the burial ground. It established that the graveyard was vested in (defendant) Heritage Mobile Home Park. And then….. “…..It is ordered, adjudged, and decreed that…..vested in the Plaintiff, the State of Tennessee, its successors and assigns, in fee simple, forever.” It is within the body of this document (Page 153) that the burial ground was “…..used to bury persons of the Negro race therein…..”
Also reviewed were Deed Book 432, Pages 613 & 615 (1970) – Heirs of Isaac Vaught – partial interests.
BURIALS –
Isaac Vaught’s wife, Alice (TN Death Cert 16743 – died 31 May 1929 aged 71 years). DC states “Home Cem”, however Deed Book 293, Page 102 clarified this.
Isaac Vaught (TN Death Cert 55-19260 – born 26 August 1860 and died 8 August 1955). DC states “Vaught” in cemetery block.
Five markers were found at West Lawn, known to have been moved from when the highway was built. These markers have the old location sequence noted in the upper left corner. Based upon current location and the West Lawn burial sequencing, it appears that these were moved about 1981.
Infant Girl Young #6 (W.L. C/4/11) – Is believed to be the child of Will Young and Ethel Cole. Ethel Cole was the daughter of Robert and Martha Cole (see Deed Book 24, Page 338 above). A death certificate was not found for a female, but one was found for a male (TN DC Wash Co 186). Born and died 10 November 1922. The cemetery is listed as “Cole”. No proof has been found, however, based upon property ownership, this may represent the same subject burial ground. No other “Cole” burial ground has been found. Robert Cole’s sister, Dora Belle, was married to James Vaught. The connection between James Vaught and Isaac Vaught is unproven.
Ellek Pearson #7 (W.L. C/4/12) – Died 15 August 1916. Ellek, also known as Alexander A. Pearson. (TN DC Carter 171). Burial location is “Buffalo”. Another marker has been found on the Pearson farm, about 1 mile southeast with the same death date. Both locations could be considered “Buffalo”, in the general sense. It is unknown whether grave #7 at Vaught is that of Ellek/Alex, or an unnamed person. No connection between Ellek/Alex to the Coles/Vaughts has been established.
Infant Boy Vaught #8 (W.L. C/4/14) – No supporting death certificate has been found.
Lucille Gray #9 (W.L. C/4/15) – No supporting death certificate has been found. No familial connection has been established.
Carl Vaught #10 (W.L. C/4/16) – No supporting death certificate has been found. Carl Vaught was a son of Isaac and Alice.
Markers #1 through #5 have not been located, nor even known to have existed. This does seem to indicate that at least 10 graves were moved.
Researched, surveyed, transcribed, and donated to the Washington County TNGen Web October 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.