Nimblewill Gap Old Methodist Cemetery
Nimblewill, Lumpkin Co. GA

In February 2004, I visited the Nimblewill Gap area of far western Lumpkin County, GA to inspect and survey an unnamed cemetery (I will call Nimblewill Gap Old Methodist Cemetery) which can be located on both Georgia Topographic and Aerial Photo Maps. This particular cemetery lies at the top of a hill either on the line between Lumpkin County 5th District Land Lot #249 & 250 or just west of #249 on Land Lot #250.

The purpose of this webpage is to document that visit, provide a survey of the cemetery, express my thoughts as to its origin and request help in regard to a better understanding of its history.

Nimblewill Gap Old Methodist Cemetery

Background

In 1836 the Methodist minister, Rev. David Jay Sr., his wife and extended family moved into far western Lumpkin Co. GA and settled on and around Land Lot #249. The Nimblewill Creek cut across this lot and the family undoubtedly farmed the flat bottom land. The extended family members who relocated with the Rev. Jay were as follows:

      David Jay Jr. ... son
      Wesley Jay ... son, marries Anna Waters while living in the valley
      John S. Lusk ... son-in-law, married to daughter Elizabeth Jay
      Martha Harris ... daughter, widowed, with a large family
      Reuben W. Gamblin ... son-in-law, married to daughter Jane Jay
      William B. Rutherford ... son-in-law, married to daughter Anna Jay

The Rev. Jay was an early pioneer preacher in the Methodist Church movement and an associate of Bishop Francis Asbury, "the father of American Methodism". He migrated out of SC to Warren Co. TN where he founded the Hopewell Methodist Meeting House there in 1818, donating land for the Meeting House and a cemetery. From TN he migrated to Hall Co. GA in 1822. In 1836 just prior to the Lumpkin Co. move, he donated 3 acres of land to the Hopewell Methodist Meeting House which he had "organized" prior to that date. That congregation is still quite active today just south of Murrayville, GA. As can be seen, David Jay Sr. was very active in organizing and nurturing Methodist congregations everywhere he lived.

In March 1837 his son-in-law, John S. Lusk, died in the valley. In the fall of 1838 another son-in-law, Reuben W. Gamblin, died in the valley and in February 1839 the Rev. David Jay Sr. died in the valley. A few years later, Wesley Jay dies in the valley in June 1845.

Most of the remaining family members live there for a time, however by 1855 most have migrated out to various other counties in Georgia. I concluded that if I could find evidence of any of the above people buried at the site, then it would stand to reason that all were buried there.

The Site

After analyzing the location of this cemetery and understanding Rev. David Jay's previous penchant for forming congregations and establishing churches, I concluded that these deceased family members might be buried at the site. Below is a map showing its location about a mile west of Nimblewill Baptist Church on Nimblewill Gap road.

General Location Map
Nimblewill Gap Methodist Cemetery

The cemetery rests atop a high hill, is approximately 90' x 135', with most gravestones facing east. The site contains approximately 130 graves of which only 10 are marked. ALL of the unmarked stones (~120) are of small square or rectangular white marble gently stuck in the ground. They all appear to be the same color and age. It's as if someone at one time had gone in and replaced unmarked field stones (hopefully unmarked) with these "newer versions".....an "upgrade" so to speak. It obviously is being maintained to some degree as the young saplings look no older than one or two years old.

General Cemetery Overview Photo

Site Layout

General Cemetery Layout

Inventory of Marked Graves

John S. Lusk (son-in-law of David Jay Sr.) who died March 1837, the only native fieldstone in the cemetery
George L. Howell 1876-1887
Infant Howell 1889-1889
Jeptha Cochran
Margaret Ann Cronan 1838-1905
James K. Polk Cronan 1838-1905
Jesse Chester 1826-1906
John J. Grizzle 1805-1912
Mary C. (Chester) Grizzle 1834-1902
Elizabeth Cronan 1925-1925

Photo Images of Marked Graves

JSL 1837
John S. Lusk died March 1837

          
Children of Mr. & Mrs. John P. Howell

What I Want to Know

What do you know about this cemetery?????

I would like to have more information and history on this now defunct Methodist congregation, church and cemetery. Who maintains the cemetery.....it seems to be somewhat maintained?

Anyone with information concerning this cemetery is encouraged to email the address below.

Special Thank you

A big thanks to my cousin Jerry Spencer of Grapevine, TX who accompanied me on this mission and provided much needed help in cataloging, headstone cleaning, moral support, covering my backside, etc.

I Can Be Reached At

Vince King
entech.design@verizon.net

©2004 by VINCE KING, all rights reserved. This information may be used by libraries and genealogical societies, however, commercial use of this information is strictly prohibited without prior permission. If copied, this copyright notice must appear with the information. This page is not associated with USGenweb or Rootsweb and the information on these pages is not to be used or copied by them.