(The following information was provided by Kecia Mapp in September, 2001.)

On my recent trip to Northampton County I went in search of the Mapp Family Plot (Thomas Webb Farm) per directions in Mihalyka’s Gravestone Inscriptions. I have included additional directions in bold print.

Northampton County: From US 13 head west on Rt. 183 (Occahannock Neck Road), Turn from Rt. 183 north on Rt. 676 (Sturgis House Drive) for (0.6 mile) to end, (there will be a 3 lane fork in the road; down the left lane is a seemingly endless winding road, down the right is Ed Cummings house, he is familiar with the gravesite) then (0.3) mile on dirt lane to creek (the middle lane ends up at an inlet off Kilman’s Cove where there is a small temporary floating dock owned by Ed Cummings) in thick woods to the west. (From the dock walk west down a car-width lane, in about 200 ft., there will be an opening in the woods. Turn right in between two sweet gum trees and head into the woods about 50 ft. To your right you will see the first set of tombstones. From the first set of tombstones, about 35ft to your left is the second set of tombstones. **Caution: be prepared, there is poison ivy, brambles, mosquitoes and TICKS!! **

PHOTOS: Inlet, Entrance 1, Entrance 2 (color), 1st set of tombs, 2nd set of tombs, reference site map.

On the site are the following tombstones:

Headstone reads: (it's in fair condition; eroded/hard to read)
In memory of
SEVERN E. MAPP.
Born
June 4. 1860.
Died
Sept. 19. 1882.
Footstone reads: (it's in good condition; chipped on top edge)
S.E.M.

PHOTOS: three; b/w, color, footstone
FAMILY CONNECTION: Severn Ernest Mapp, daughter of Alfred NH Mapp, Sr and Laura Susan Savage

Headstone reads: (it's in fair condition; faded & scarred)
MAGGIE J. MAPP.
Born
May 10, 1864.
Died
Sept 20, 1871.
Footstone reads: (it's in fair condition, scarred & chipped on top edge)
M.J.M.

PHOTOS: three; b/w, color, footstone
FAMILY CONNECTION: Margaret "Maggie" James Mapp, daughter of Alfred NH Mapp, Sr and Laura Susan Savage

Headstone reads: (it's in fair condition; faded) (has confederate flag next to it)
Father
ALFRED N. H. MAPP.
Born
Nov’r 17, 1815.
Died
July 17, 1875.
Footstone reads: (it's in good condition)
A.N.H.M.

PHOTOS: three: b/w, color, footstone
FAMILY CONNECTION: Alfred Nathaniel Hancock Mapp, Sr., son of John Custis Mapp, Sr and Cassandra James

Headstone reads: (it's in poor condition; faded, extremely hard to read)
Mother
LAURA S. MAPP
Wife of
Alfred N. H. Mapp
Born
Oct’r 17, 1825
Died
Sept. 19, 1877
Footstone reads: (it's in good condition; chipped on edges)
L.S.M.

PHOTOS: four; b/w, 2 color, footstone
FAMILY CONNECTION: Laura Susan Savage Mapp, wife of Alfred NH Mapp, Sr, daughter of Severn Savage and Malana W James

Headstone reads: (it's in poor condition; broken in half and resting against a tree, nearby there is an empty grave)
In Memory of
Carving: Sitting Lamb, Meaning: Christ; Redeemer; meekness; sacrifice; child; innocence;
NATILIA D.
Wife of A.N.H Mapp Jr.
Born Aug, 4. 1856.
---- ---‘- 28 189-
(Died Sep’t 28. 1890)
Inscription:
She was loved more by those
who knew her best.
No Footstone
PHOTOS: five; 3 b/w, color, excavated plot
FAMILY CONNECTION: Natilia Dunbar Trower Mapp, wife of Alfred NH Mapp, Jr, daughter of Robert Smith Trower and Sally (Sarah) James
BURIAL INFO: Natilia is also listed as being buried at Belle Haven Cemetery, which may be why the headstone is leaning up against a tree and there is an excavated gravesite nearby.

Headstone reads: (it's in fair condition; chipped on upper left corner & worn)
--ara H. Mapp
(Clara H. Mapp)
Daughter of
Wm H. & Margaret A. Mapp
died April 24th 1865,
In the 17 year
of her age.
Inscription: (very difficult to read)
To thee the child was only lent,
While mortal it was thine.
The child tho dead is yet alive,
And lies forever mine.
Footstone reads: (it's in fair condition; faded)
C.H.M.

PHOTOS: two; b/w, footstone
FAMILY CONNECTION: Clara H Mapp, daughter of William H Mapp and Margaret A Hallett Mapp. (Conflicting info: per The Mapp family on the Eastern Shore of Virginia by NP Eichelberger; William W [not H] is the son of John Custis Mapp, Sr., who married Margaret A Hallett. I may have misinterpreted the tombstone in its faded condition)

Headstone reads: (it's in new condition) (has confederate flag next to it)
FRANCIS BUSHROD MAPP
DEC. 27, 1832
JULY 25, 1893
No Footstone
PHOTOS: two; b/w, color
FAMILY CONNECTION: Francis Bushrod Mapp, Sr., son of John Custis Mapp, Sr and Cassandra James

Headstone reads: (it's in fair condition; worn/chipped at top)
EDMUND G,
Son of
Francis B. & Sarah
F. Mapp,
Born
Dec. 12th .1856,
Died
Nov. 5th .1857,
Inscription:
Weep not fond Parents
I’m at rest.
No Footstone
PHOTOS: one, b/w
FAMILY CONNECTION: Edmund G Mapp, son of Francis Bushrod Mapp, Sr., and Sarah Frances Hatton

Headstone reads: (it's in poor condition; broken in half, pitted, and piece missing)
Carving: Single Rose, Meaning: condolence, sorrow; the brevity of earthly existence
----TY H.
(BETTY H.)
-ife of
(Wife of)
-ohn C. Mapp
(John C. Mapp)
Born Mar. 17, 1871.
Died Apr. 10, 1893.
Inscription:
A precious on from us has gone,
A voice we loved is stilled,
A place is vacant in our home,
Which never can be filled.
Footstone reads: (it's in poor condition; cracked down center & upper left corner chipped)
B.H.M.

PHOTOS: four; 2 b/w, color, footstone
FAMILY CONNECTION: Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Hester Belote Mapp wife of John C Mapp (son of Francis Bushrod Mapp, Sr)

Headstone reads: (it's in good condition)
RICHARD BENJ. MAPP
JUNE 7, 1873
JAN. 27, 1933
Footstone reads: (it's in good condition; scarred)
R.B.M.

PHOTOS: three; b/w, color, footstone
FAMILY CONNECTION: Richard Benjamin Mapp, son of Francis Bushrod Mapp, Sr. and Alice Frances Dunton

Headstone reads: (it's in fair condition; faded, had vines removed in past)
Carving: Sitting Lamb, Meaning: Christ; Redeemer; meekness; sacrifice; child; innocence
ALEATHIA A
Wife of
Charles L. Killman
Born Feb. 2, 1872.
Died Dec. 31, 1900.
Inscription:
Sleep on dear wife and take thy rest
God called you home. He thought it best.
It was hard to part with thee,
But Christ’s strong arm supporteth me.
Footstone reads: (it's in good condition; top edge chipped, scarred on front)
A.A.K.

PHOTOS: three; b/w, color, footstone
FAMILY CONNECTION: Aleathia A and Charles L Killman may be the namesake for which Kilmans Cove is named. Pure speculation on my part.

Excavated gravesite(s)/no markers found:

PHOTOS: one

Speculation: Excavated site behind Clara H Mapp’s headstone. I believe I read Sarah Frances Hatton 1st wife of Francis Bushrod Mapp, Sr was buried at Mapp Plot. Is this her excavated grave?

Speculation: I couldn’t tell if there was a "grave" behind Richard Benjamin Mapp’s headstone. It looked like a depression of some type.

HISTORICAL NOTE: Ed Cummings moved to the area about three years ago. His sons stumbled on the gravesite while walking the property. About two years ago some Mapp descendants came down and cleared the area that was extremely overgrown. Ed doesn’t know what else they did. They returned again the following year and he noticed they had placed flags next to some tombstones. Ed also mentioned that there was an old homestead (possibly Sturgis House from which the road takes its name) back beyond the gravesite to the southwest around the inlet. He said that he wasn’t sure if there was anything left standing although there may be a partial foundation, he could never locate anything.*

PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE: The gravesite sits on land that juts out into a small cove. The trees in the area look young, so I imagine if the lot were cleared, it would have been a lovely, secluded spot where the evening sun would set over the water, an ideal eternal resting place.

* A correction from Bill Winstanley, Jr., Ed Cummings' cousin:  "I am the person who discovered the Mapp Family Gravesite at Killmans cove. It was Not Eds sons. I was visiting from New Jersey and I discovered the overgrown plot while on a naturewalk during the christmas/new year holiday 1999. It was special to me when I found it and it still is."  Thanks, Bill, for the correction.


Back to Mapp Family Plot



>>> Advertise Here <<<