Near Washington in Wilkes County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Smyrna Churchyard

Photographed By AGS Media, October 4, 2009

1. Smyrna Churchyard Marker

Inscription.
This burying ground was laid out in 1788 when Sir John Talbot gave two acres of his vast estate for use as a Presbyterian Church and churchyard. Sir John was descended from the Earl of Shrewsbury. His own son, Matthew Talbot, served as a Superior Court judge, President of the Georgia Senate in 1811, 1817-22, and as Governor of Georgia from Oct. 24 to Nov. 5, 1819. Both are buried here.

W. H. T. Walker, Confederate General killed in the Battle of Atlanta, was a descendant of Sir John Talbot.

The Presbyterians moved to a new building in Washington in 1825.

Erected 1953 by Georgia Historical Commission. (Marker Number 157-7.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Churches & Religion • Government & Politics • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Georgia Historical Society series list. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1866.

Location. 33° 42.895′ N, 82° 39.271′ W. Marker is near Washington, Georgia, in Wilkes County. Marker is at the intersection of South Smyrna Church Road and Lincolnton Road (U.S. 378) on South Smyrna Church Road. From US 78 and US 378 east of Washington, Georgia, follow US 378 (Lincolnton

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Road) 3.5 miles to Smyrna United Methodist Church on the right. Marker stands on east side of South Smyrna Church Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 South Smyrna Church Road, Washington GA 30673, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 10 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Smyrna Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Smyrna Methodist Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Grant's Meeting House (approx. 2.9 miles away); Wynne-Randall (approx. 4½ miles away); Washington-Wilkes Historical Museum (approx. 4.7 miles away); Historic Dugas Home (approx. 4.7 miles away); K.A. Wilheit House (approx. 4.7 miles away); Sims-Beggs House (approx. 4.8 miles away); Wisteria Hall (approx. 4.8 miles away); First Presbyterian Ordination in Georgia (approx. 4.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Washington.

More about this marker. Separate marker for the Smyrna Church is located on west side of South Smyrna Church Road.

Regarding Smyrna Churchyard. The Smyrna Churchyard and Smyrna Church (for which there is a separate historical marker) are located in rural Wilkes County and have been home to a Methodist congregation since around 1820. Prior to that, a Presbyterian congregation met here and began use of the churchyard behind the church as a cemetery.

After

Photographed By Brian Scott, September 13, 2015

2. Smyrna Churchyard Marker

more than two centuries, the cemetery remains in use and most of it is well maintained. There are some older graves which are collapsed or otherwise deteriorated. The churchyard is terraced, with a retaining wall and stairs separating the cemetery, which sits at a lower elevation, from the rest of the churchyard.

Also see . . . Smyrna Churchyard - Find-a-grave. (Submitted on November 14, 2015, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.)

Additional keywords. Cemetery

Photographed By Brian Scott, September 13, 2015

3. Smyrna Churchyard Marker

Smyrna Churchyard Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed By AGS Media, October 4, 2009

4. Smyrna Churchyard Cemetery

Photographed By AGS Media, October 4, 2009

5. Smyrna Churchyard Cemetery

This section is among the oldest in the churchyard. The graves shown here date from the early 1800's.

Western (Older) Portion of Smyna Churchyard image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, September 13, 2015

6. Western (Older) Portion of Smyna Churchyard

Eastern (Newer) Portion of Smyna Churchyard image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, September 13, 2015

7. Eastern (Newer) Portion of Smyna Churchyard

G.F. Florence Plot image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, September 13, 2015

8. G.F. Florence Plot

Burdette Family Plot image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, September 13, 2015

9. Burdette Family Plot

Stone Wall Surrounding the Talbot Family Plot image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, September 13, 2015

10. Stone Wall Surrounding the Talbot Family Plot

Talbot Family Plot image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, September 13, 2015

11. Talbot Family Plot

Sir John Williston Talbot (1735-1798)<br>Col. Va. Militia, Rev. War image. Click for more information.

Photographed By Brian Scott, September 13, 2015

12. Sir John Williston Talbot (1735-1798)
Col. Va. Militia, Rev. War

Thomas Talbot (1767-1853) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, September 13, 2015

13. Thomas Talbot (1767-1853)

Gov. Matthew Talbot (1795-1855) image. Click for more information.

Photographed By Brian Scott, September 13, 2015

14. Gov. Matthew Talbot (1795-1855)

While serving as a Georgia state senator (1799, 1801 - 1803, 1808 - 1822), Talbot was the President of the Georgia senate when he filled in as the governor of Georgia following the death of Governor Raburn. Talbot served as governor for less than a month. Talbot County, Georgia is named for him.
Click for more information.

Rev. James C. Talbot (1799-1849) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, September 13, 2015

15. Rev. James C. Talbot (1799-1849)

Henry Augustus Jones, M.D. (1821-1864) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, September 13, 2015

16. Henry Augustus Jones, M.D. (1821-1864)

The law of truth was in his
mouth, and iniquity was not
found in his lips; he walked
with me in peace and equity.

Mary Elizabeth Jones (1850-1852)<br>Daughter of Henry A. & Mary M. Jones image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, September 13, 2015

17. Mary Elizabeth Jones (1850-1852)
Daughter of Henry A. & Mary M. Jones

Fannie Bacon Jones (1852-1863)<br>Daughter of Henry A & Mary M. Jones image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, September 13, 2015

18. Fannie Bacon Jones (1852-1863)
Daughter of Henry A & Mary M. Jones

Henry Jones (1854-1855)<br>Son of Henry A. & Mary M. Jones image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, September 13, 2015

19. Henry Jones (1854-1855)
Son of Henry A. & Mary M. Jones

David Cresswell<br>Col. Continental Line, Rev. War image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, September 13, 2015

20. David Cresswell
Col. Continental Line, Rev. War

William Triplett (d. 1763)<br>Capt. Kees NC Co, Rev. War image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, September 13, 2015

21. William Triplett (d. 1763)
Capt. Kees NC Co, Rev. War

Col. William Jones<br>War of 1812 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, September 13, 2015

22. Col. William Jones
War of 1812

Mary L. Talbot (1838-1849)<br>Daughter of James C. & Sarah A. Talbot image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, September 13, 2015

23. Mary L. Talbot (1838-1849)
Daughter of James C. & Sarah A. Talbot

John Owens Colley (1820-1852) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, September 13, 2015

24. John Owens Colley (1820-1852)

Owens Colley (1851)<br>Son of John O. & Sara E. Colley image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, September 13, 2015

25. Owens Colley (1851)
Son of John O. & Sara E. Colley

Eliza J. Simpson (d. 1869)<br>Died in Her Sleep image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, September 13, 2015

26. Eliza J. Simpson (d. 1869)
Died in Her Sleep

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on May 2, 2010, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. This page has been viewed 968 times since then and 26 times this year. Last updated on June 22, 2010, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. Photos: 1. submitted on May 2, 2010, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. 2, 3. submitted on November 14, 2015, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 4. submitted on May 2, 2010, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. 5. submitted on May 4, 2010, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26. submitted on November 14, 2015, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.