Fairfax, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Willcoxon Family Cemetery
Who Is Buried Here?
Historic Blenheim
Rezin Samuel Willcoxon purchased this parcel of land c. 1806. He and his wife, Betsey DeNeale Willcoxon (1780-1845) lived here with their 10 children. Rezin's gravestone (far left) notes his service as a captain of cavalry unit in the 60th Virginia Militia during the War of 1812. In 2014, the Society for the War of 1812 in Virginia placed a marker at his gravesite. The open book on Betsey's gravestone (left) symbolizes the book of life and heaven's open door. The burial site of Rezin's second wife, Fanny Halley DeBell Willcoxon (1785-1867), is unknown.
In his 1889 will, Albert Willcoxon (Rezin's youngest son) directed the cemetery "be enlarged as a family burying ground." Despite his wishes, the cemetery fell into disuse. His wife, Mary Hunter, Eskridge Willcoxon (1839-1903), is buried in the Fairfax City Cemetery, reflecting the cultural shift away from family cemeteries.
The map below identifies the legible gravestones in this cemetery as viewed from the fence. The taller gravestones include Victorian symbols of mourning. The small footstones are carved with the deceased's initials and/or year of burial.
Richard Ratcliffe Farr (1804-1845)
husband and first cousin of Margaret Conn Willcoxon
married c. 1838
1b
Margaret Conn Willcoxon Farr (1820-1904)
daughter of Rezin and Betsey DeNeale Willcoxon
2a
Elizabeth "Betsey" DeNeale Willcoxon (1780-1845)
Rezin Willcoxon's first wife
married 1805
2b
Rezin Samuel Willcoxon (1771-1855)
3
Margaret Conn Willcoxon (1740-1832)
mother of Rezin Samuel Willcoxon
4
Albert Thomas Willcoxon (1829-1889)
- replaced headstone -
son of Rezin and Betsey and owner of c. 1859 Blenheim house and farm
and
Maude (c. 1861, age 6 months)
daughter of Albert and Mary Eskridge Willcoxon (1839-1903)
Are other Willcoxon family members or former property owners buried here? Could enslaved people or Union soldiers be buried here in unmarked graves?
To help answer those questions, specialists conducted a non-invasive Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) survey and a supplementary electromagnetic induction (EMI) data collection to assess the existence of burials in, around, and behind
The data summary "inferred the presence of a maximum of 52 possible and 25 suspicious" burial sites.
In the top image, the suspicious and possible gravesites are placed over to a 2019 aerial view of the Willcoxon Cemetery and aligned on top of the current known family gravestones.
Further investigation may yield more answers to: Who is Buried in the Willcoxon Cemetery?
[Captions:]
John H. Imlay (left) and William Hanna, Ph.D., (right) conducted a GPR survey in 2004 to detect the presence of gravesites.
Ovals on the GPR printout show possible marked burials.
Erected by City of Fairfax, Virginia. (Marker Number 4.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Cemeteries & Burial Sites. A significant historical year for this entry is 1806.
Location. 38° 51.312′ N, 77° 17.544′ W. Marker is in Fairfax, Virginia. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Old Lee Highway and Heritage Lane, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3610 Old Lee Hwy, Fairfax VA 22030, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Boxwood Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); Blenheim House (within shouting distance of this marker); Dairy Barn Complex (within shouting distance of this marker); Historic Blenheim (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Blenheim (Willcoxon Farm) (about 300 feet away); Grandma's Cottage (about 300 feet away); Historic Fairfax Elementary School (approx. 0.9 miles away); Fairfax (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fairfax.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 8, 2022. It was originally submitted on May 8, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 117 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 8, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.