John Wash, Sr. was born in Henry Co., Virginia on December 23, 1751 and married Nancy Frasier Gatewood August 2, 1779 in Henry Co., Virginia. Nancy was born 1765 in Virginia and died May 25 1818 in Cumberland Co., Kentucky. They raised a family of four children, Elizabeth, Thomas, Sarah & John, Jr.
John is listed in the 1782 Census, Henry Co., VA 1 poll, 8 slaves. He served in the American revolution. On June 3, 1780 he was commissioned Captain of North Carolina Militia, was in the battle of Ramsour's Mill and was discharged by Colonel James Brandon after three months service. In 1781 he guarded prisoners in Albemarle County, Virginia, under Colonel William Fontaine for one month. He and his wife, Nancy, lived in Henry Co., VA until 1800 and moved to Cumberland Valley, KY in 1805. After Nancy's death he moved to Marion Co. Missouri where he died March 16, 1839.
The grave of John Wash is located in a woods pasture by a farm lane, high on a bluff of the North Fabius river, north of Maywood.
The plot also has another stone believed to be for a son or grandson, and several native limestone markers. Also there may be unmarked graves here.
"It is the sort of place that would not have been found, had not an interested neighbor guided me to the spot", said Ben Plank, Canton, chairman of Lewis County Historical Society's Cemetery committee. The Society is attempting to find and record all known cemeteries in the county.
Mr. Plank goes on to say that "This grave site is of special interest. Recorded history tells us that John Wash, a Revolutionary war soldier, and his son John Wash Jr., together with several other settlers and their families came from Cumberland county, Ky., to this vicinity which is now Lewis county in the year 1829."
Records show a John Wash, Jr., land entry dated Jan. 4, 1830. The first elections in Union township were held in the home of John Wash, Jr.
"Is there an old cemetery on your farm, or the farm of a neighbor, that you can tell us about?" Mr. Plant asks. Tell any member of the historical society or leave word at The LaBelle Star.
Mr. Plank says his committee is now especially concerned with the western part
of Lewis county-
Thanks to G. E. Bagby for submitting this article.
