Finally Finding the Jacocks Family Cemetery

Video of the Jacocks Family Cemetery

Since I transcribed and uploaded this letter (and then this letter) from John Hill Jacocks that I found on my 50th Birthday Genealogy Road Trip, I've been looking for the Haywood County, Tenn. cemetery in which he was buried.

It was supposed to be on Brantley Road but I couldn't find it. Thanks to my cousin Betsy's detective work, I discovered the part of Brantley Road where the cemetery is located was changed to Marbury Road and Betsy knew right where the cemetery was. She even cleared it with the current owner for me to check it out when I was back in Tennessee last weekend for the Lovelace Family Reunion.

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The Jacocks Family Cemetery

Although there are most likely many more individuals buried in the cemetery, below are photos of the headstones that can be found there now. A big shout out to the Hooper Family who have taken care of the cemetery and made sure it wasn't destroyed by loggers like many in the area.

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John Hill Jaocks Headstone

John Hill Jacocks was born 25 Nov 1831 in Haywood County. He married Sarah Catherine Carter on 14 April 1858. He was primarily a farmer and was very proud of his family and heritage. John's father, Jonathan Jacocks, followed his uncle, Colonel Richard Nixon, to Haywood County in 1823 and became one of the original founders. John farmed the same land his father settled.

As you can tell from his letters, John had taken the time to educate himself more than many others in his community and was able to read and write very well. From 1882 - 1894 he was also a Justice of the Peace. He and his wife had five children: William Thomas (1 Feb 1860 - 1938), Richard Alfonso (27 Aug 1861 - 11 Mar 1908), James Alonzo (22 Mar 1864 - 11 Aug 1941), Joseph Theodore (11 Oct 1867 - 23 Mar 1928) and Katie A. (11 Mar 1870 and died 27 Sept 1873).

John died 21 Dec 1902 and was buried there on his property. Two years later, his wife Sarah would be buried there as well.

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Richard Alfonso Jacocks; his wife, Mildred Watridge Jacocks;
their infant; and son, Carey H. Jacocks 

Richard Alfonso Jacocks was one of the sons of John Hill Jacocks. He was born 27 Aug 1861 in Haywood County. He married Mildrid Watridge on 18 Jan 1887 and they had several children together. First, they had an infant who was likely born dead in 1889. Then they had a son, Carey H. Jacocks, on 16 Oct 1891 but he died when he was two on 4 Jul 1893. They then had two daughters, Mildred who was born in 1895 and Lucille who was born in 1897. 

Mildred Watridge Jacocks died 22 Feb 1902 when she was just 34 leaving Richard a widower with two young daughters: a seven-year-old and five-year-old.

Richard himself died six years later on 11 Mar 1908 when he was just 46. He was buried along side his wife and two children in the cemetery.

Mildred was 13 and Lucille was 11. After their father died they went to live with the family of his brother, Joseph Thomas "Joe" Jacocks and Joe's wife, Myra L. Moody Jacocks and their three young sons: Arthur W., Robert T., and Floyd W.

Arthur was the father of my great uncle, J.T. Jacocks.

Joe and Myra are buried at Chestnut Grove Cemetery in Haywood County.

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Katie A. Jacocks

Katie A. Jacocks was an infant daughter of John Hill Jacocks and his wife Sarah. She was born 11 Mar 1870 and died 27 Sept 1873.

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James Clyde Jacocks and Marrie L. Jacocks

James Clyde and Marrie L. were was John Hill Jacocks grandchildren by his son, Joe and daughter-in-law, Myra.  James was born 8 Oct 1901 and died almost a year later on 27 Sept 1901. Marie was born on 1 Apr 1904 and died when she was two in 1906.

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Mattie Olivia Jacocks

Mattie Olivia was a daughter of "J.T. and M.S. Jacocks." Although her father could have been Joseph Theodore, the "M.S." on the headstone is confusing because the name of Joe's wife was Myra L. Moody.

Standing there in that cemetery, I was reminded of words John Hill Jacocks so eloquently wrote in his letter back in 1898:

"Ever and again the full destroyer death claimed as its victims some of our loved ones – a father, mother, brother, sister or some schoolmate or associate. Just then our gladness changed to sorrow, grief and sadness. 'Time files' and with it its light. 

We too pass, as have many of our loved ones, to the grave and but for the hope we have on meeting them on God’s blissful shore where we will live with them forever more, our heart of hearts would join and grieve us, our tears forever flow in sorrow and sadness."

For more blog entries, visit my Blog Home Page or to check out the genealogy research about my specific family lines, go to my Haywood County Line Genealogy Website.