Livingston Cemetery - Photo taken by Bob Martin – Year unknown – presently much

more overgrown

July, 2003

Re: Cleaning, fencing and repair of Livingston Cemetery at Mendota, VA (Approx. 1778-1914), and perhaps erecting some kind of marker.

Information is based on “Livingston History” by Jane Bailey Miller and Mabel A. Bailey with help from Mrs. Carl (Virginia) Osborne, the book “Benge” by Lawrence J. Fleenor, and the web site of Linda Livingston Moore:

Listed below are a few ancestors reportedly buried in this cemetery, which has been open to cattle grazing and neglect. Head stones have been broken and general state is disgraceful.

About 1765, William Todd Livingston, his wife, Sarah (Ware) Livingston and some or all of their children settled on the North Fork of the Holston River near Mendota, Washington County, VA. When Scott County was formed in 1814, the Livingston farm fell in that area and remains in Scott County today. Two of William and Sarah’s sons were: Peter (wife, Elizabeth) and Henry (wife, Susannah).

William Todd Livingston died about the year 1778 and is believed to be buried in this cemetery. On April 6, 1794, his widow, Sarah, her two sons and their wives, and several grandchildren were living at the Livingston homestead. A renegade half-Cherokee Indian/half-white, named Benge, attacked the Livingston farm. Benge had killed more than 50 pioneer settlers in southwest Virginia. The men were some distance away at a barn when Benge and his party attacked. Sarah was tomahawked and died four days later. Elizabeth, Susannah and others were taken hostage. The husbands, Peter and Henry, with the help of the Lee County Militia tracked the Indian group for 3 days. Benge was killed in the rescue. Although Elizabeth was tomahawked during the rescue, she survived her injuries. Some of the above Livingstons are reportedly buried in this neglected cemetery.

After the above ancestors, there is a direct link to present day Livingstons. Nathan Livingston (1792-1865), son of Peter and Elizabeth Livingston, married Mary Fulkerson. One of their sons, Abraham Livingston (1816-1899) married Mary Byrde Ewing. One of their sons, Marion Livingston (1846-1906) married Ellen Lawson. They are our great-grandparents and lived at Blackwater, VA. in the area known as Flag Pond, and are buried in the old Flag Pond Cemetery. Their children were Charles, Henry W., Mary E., Benton or Benjamin F., Abraham J., George Raleigh, William Patrick, Myrtle L., Sarah C., James H., and Mattie C. You will recognize the name of a grandparent or great-grandparent. The younger generation may have heard parents speak of some of these people. The offspring of this group are numerous.

If we all take action by contributing towards the restoration of the Livingston Cemetery, we will be preserving the history of a courageous group of pioneers who settled and contributed to the growth of our country. What greater legacy can we leave our children than pride in family? (Continued on back)

We have other Livingston lines interested in this project, so hopefully if we all work together, we can accomplish our goal.

Please send contributions to: William Todd Livingston Cemetery Fund

c/o George Livingston

Rt. 1, Box 183

Duffield, VA 24244

(OR) if you prefer to send directly to the bank, please make check payable to “William Todd Livingston Cemetery Fund”, ask that deposit be made to Account #10013696, and mail to:

Farmers & Miners Bank

ATTN: Brenda K. Zion

403 W. Morgan Ave.

Pennington Gap, VA 24277

If you wish to be notified as progress is made and receive an accounting of funds received and expended, please furnish a mailing address or an e-mail address. After the project is completed, perhaps a Livingston reunion can then be planned.

Please add your name and send this flyer to other members of your family. If you have questions, please contact George Livingston at the above address, telephone number 276-546-2414, or e-mail address:

Sincerely,

Your Livingston Cousins,

George Livingston

Ruble (Livingston) McFall

Aileen Livingston

Carnelle (Livingston) Starnes

Joanne (Livingston) Vierkandt

Patty Lynn (Weatherly) Cooper

Carol (Bowling) Rivers

Carl Osborne

Alan Livingston

Belinda (Livingston) Napier