Greenbelt in Prince George's County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Methodist Preaching Place
1776-1803
Photographed By Tom Fuchs, February 18, 2006
1. Methodist Preaching Place Marker
Nearby is the Turner family graveyard, the only remains of "Wild Cat." In 1941 the property was deeded to the City of Greenbelt to be a part of the City Cemetery.
Erected by Prince George's County Historical Society.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Churches & Religion. In addition, it is included in the Francis Asbury, Traveling Methodist Preacher series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1941.
Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 39° 0.446′ N, 76° 53.539′ W. Marker was in Greenbelt, Maryland, in Prince George's County. Marker was on Kenilworth Avenue (Maryland Route 201) north of Crescent Road, on the right when traveling south. This is near the interchange with the Beltway (I-95). Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Greenbelt MD 20770, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 5 other markers are within walking distance of this location. Greenbelt Lake (approx. ¼ mile away); Anna Eleanor Roosevelt Memorial Tree (approx. 0.4 miles away); Toaping Castle
this page online
Regarding Methodist Preaching Place. The Turner Cemetery is located just off Kenilworth Avenue on Ivy Lane.
Also see . . . America's Bishop: The Life of Francis Asbury. by Dennis F. Kinlaw. This is the amazon.com page for this book. (Submitted on February 25, 2006.)
Additional commentary.
1. The Origins of the Greenbelt Cemetery
Text of the historical sketch posted at the cemetery to the right of the Turner headstone. It is not signed or dated.
On the 2,623 acres of land purchased in 1935 where President Roosevelt's first planned garden town was to be constructed, three old family cemeteries were known to exist. These cemeteries belonged to the Hamilton, Turner, and Walker Families. Remains from other burials and family cemeteries were uncovered when the land was cleared for construction, and these were relocated to the most accessible cemetery, that of the Turner family. When a construction worker died whose family was unknown, he was buried there and so were a few residents during Greenbelt's early years of existence. These are the origins of the
Photographed By Tom Fuchs
2. Methodist Preaching Place Marker
The Turners came to this site in 1759, when Shadrick Turner purchased a 125 acre farm known as "Wild Cat". Most of it lay to the east of this cemetery. Shadrick Turner later acquired additional farms, but he and his wife, Sarah, always lived on Wild Cat, where they raised nine children. At the time of the 1776 census, they ranged in age from 1 to 25 years. Shadrick turner was a devout Methodist. He and Bishop Francis Asbury are honored today as the principal founders of the First United Methodist Church of Hyattsville, one of the oldest Methodist churches in America. Bishop Asbury and various circuit riders always stayed with the Turners when they were in this area.
Regarding the Turner Cemetery, the Bible of Sarah Turner records 12 deaths, beginning with Shadrick on October 2, 1799 and ending with young Thomas Parker Turner on September 25, 1855, who died at the age of 15. His is the only legible headstone remaining, and is located next to this document. The Turners occupied the farm until 1935, when it was sold to the Federal Government. The cemetery was deeded to the City of Greenbelt in 1941.
— Submitted March 21, 2006, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.
Photographed By Tom Fuchs, March 18, 2006
3. Last Remaining Turner Gravestone and Posted History of the Turner Cemetery
Gravestone reads To the memory of Thomas P. Turner who departed this life September 25 in 1855, aged 15 years. The historical sketch is transcribed elsewhere on this page.
Photographed By Tom Fuchs, March 18, 2006
4. Entrance to the Turner Cemetery
Now the Greenbelt Cemetery, it is on Ivy Lane one block west of Kenilworth Avenue (Maryland Route 201).
Photographed By Tom Fuchs, March 18, 2006
5. The Greenbelt / Turner Cemetery
Photographed By Tom Fuchs, March 18, 2006
6. The Greenbelt / Turner Cemetery
Credits. This page was last revised on June 28, 2022. It was originally submitted on February 25, 2006, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland. This page has been viewed 2,017 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 25, 2006, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland. 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on March 21, 2006, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.
