The Gunnell Family Cemetery is said to be located in the front yard of the family home, "Gunnells Run," which is not located at 600 Innsbruck Ave in great Falls. A 1971 Historic American Buildings Survey Inventory reports that according to famiy tradition the house was built in the 1760's by Henry Gunnell, a contemporary of Geo Washington and Geo Mason.
Per a 1970 telephone interview (notes on file in Va Room of Fairfax City Regional Lib) Rixey Smith who owned Gunnell's Run at that time, said that when he bought the place, there were old gravestones piled up in a corner of the front yard, and his caretaker... broke up all but two of the stones and used the rubble for a runoff guttere for the spring down the hill. some of the tombstones had dates as far back as 1730. To save the two remaining, Mr. Smith had them mortared into an interior chimney..."
As early as 1918, the family graveyard was neglected. Harry Shannon writing in "The Rambler" column in the 26 May 1918 issue of the Washington Star reported finding the graveyard "densely upgrown" and the gravestones "nearly swallowed" by soil. He recorded the inscriptions on the gravestones he found, but the condition of the markers made his survey difficult.
In more recent years, the gravestone for Doctor William Gunnell was found intat lying in the yard just east of the driveway. The gravestone was later re erected near that spot, according to Brian Conley, Information specialist in the Virginia Room of the Fairfax City Regional Library. He visited Gunnell's Run in 1994 and recorded the inscriptions on that gravestone and on five fragments found at the site.
The Rambler's survey is given below with Mr. Conley's version in brackets and additional information in parenthees below
Nancy Gunnell 13 Sept 1796 23 Sep 1822
"in the 27th year of her age" daughter of William & Sarah Gunnell (upright in 1918, gravestone now mission)
Lewis Mix or Mickx
"about the thirty fourth year of his age" 17 April 1824
(gravestone bears both spellings of surname; gravestone "prostrate and nearly covered with earth and vegetation" in 1918; two fragments were found at the site in 1994)
(Doctor) William Gunnell (5) July 1786 29 Sep 1834
"in the 49th year of his age"
(gravestone "prostrate" anc covered with earth and flowers in 1918; found intact in yard and erected near where found: carver; Jas Birth, Washington, D.C.)
Sarah Gunnell 27 Nov 1760 (1761) 5 Jun 1812
daughter of Col James & Jane Carter (Coleman)
(wife of William Gunnell the 3rd) ("under a tangle of iris" in 1918; a fragment of this gravestone has been mortared into an interior chimeny in the east wing of the house)
Jane Gunnell 17 May 1800
daughter of William & Sarah Gunnell (the death date was under ground in 1918)
(William Gunnell the 3rd. 30 Jan 1750
son of Henry & Catherine Gunnell) (gravestone fragment mortared into interior chimney in the east wing of the house)
(Mrs. Elizabeth ..... daughter .... Wm. & Sarah....(gravestone fragment found by Mr. Conley at the site in 1994.
A fifth fragment found by Mr. Conley reads:..".....pt. 1820... ear...ge."
Gunnell's Run Cemetry - update:
The Gunnell family which lived at Gunnell's Run for several generations through the 1700s and 1800s had a num er of slaves. A 1971 Historic American Buidings Survery Inventory of Gunnell's Run reports that there is a slave cemery on the property. Several land records mention a slave cemetery on the land, as in Deed Book H0-3, page 417 - 418, which uses the following as a landmark: "land occupied by said Binns at the old grave yard where William Gunnell buried his Negroes...."
The reference in Vol I to a McCarty Family Buriny ground in relations to the Gunnell's Run Slave Cemetery is in error. The McCarty Family Cemetery at Cedar Grove is across Accotink Bay from Gunston Hall.
________The Gunnell Family Cemetery is said to be located in the front yard of the family home, "Gunnells Run," which is not located at 600 Innsbruck Ave in great Falls. A 1971 Historic American Buildings Survey Inventory reports that according to famiy tradition the house was built in the 1760's by Henry Gunnell, a contemporary of Geo Washington and Geo Mason.
Per a 1970 telephone interview (notes on file in Va Room of Fairfax City Regional Lib) Rixey Smith who owned Gunnell's Run at that time, said that when he bought the place, there were old gravestones piled up in a corner of the front yard, and his caretaker... broke up all but two of the stones and used the rubble for a runoff guttere for the spring down the hill. some of the tombstones had dates as far back as 1730. To save the two remaining, Mr. Smith had them mortared into an interior chimney..."
As early as 1918, the family graveyard was neglected. Harry Shannon writing in "The Rambler" column in the 26 May 1918 issue of the Washington Star reported finding the graveyard "densely upgrown" and the gravestones "nearly swallowed" by soil. He recorded the inscriptions on the gravestones he found, but the condition of the markers made his survey difficult.
In more recent years, the gravestone for Doctor William Gunnell was found intat lying in the yard just east of the driveway. The gravestone was later re erected near that spot, according to Brian Conley, Information specialist in the Virginia Room of the Fairfax City Regional Library. He visited Gunnell's Run in 1994 and recorded the inscriptions on that gravestone and on five fragments found at the site.
The Rambler's survey is given below with Mr. Conley's version in brackets and additional information in parenthees below
Nancy Gunnell 13 Sept 1796 23 Sep 1822
"in the 27th year of her age" daughter of William & Sarah Gunnell (upright in 1918, gravestone now mission)
Lewis Mix or Mickx
"about the thirty fourth year of his age" 17 April 1824
(gravestone bears both spellings of surname; gravestone "prostrate and nearly covered with earth and vegetation" in 1918; two fragments were found at the site in 1994)
(Doctor) William Gunnell (5) July 1786 29 Sep 1834
"in the 49th year of his age"
(gravestone "prostrate" anc covered with earth and flowers in 1918; found intact in yard and erected near where found: carver; Jas Birth, Washington, D.C.)
Sarah Gunnell 27 Nov 1760 (1761) 5 Jun 1812
daughter of Col James & Jane Carter (Coleman)
(wife of William Gunnell the 3rd) ("under a tangle of iris" in 1918; a fragment of this gravestone has been mortared into an interior chimeny in the east wing of the house)
Jane Gunnell 17 May 1800
daughter of William & Sarah Gunnell (the death date was under ground in 1918)
(William Gunnell the 3rd. 30 Jan 1750
son of Henry & Catherine Gunnell) (gravestone fragment mortared into interior chimney in the east wing of the house)
(Mrs. Elizabeth ..... daughter .... Wm. & Sarah....(gravestone fragment found by Mr. Conley at the site in 1994.
A fifth fragment found by Mr. Conley reads:..".....pt. 1820... ear...ge."
Gunnell's Run Cemetry - update:
The Gunnell family which lived at Gunnell's Run for several generations through the 1700s and 1800s had a num er of slaves. A 1971 Historic American Buidings Survery Inventory of Gunnell's Run reports that there is a slave cemery on the property. Several land records mention a slave cemetery on the land, as in Deed Book H0-3, page 417 - 418, which uses the following as a landmark: "land occupied by said Binns at the old grave yard where William Gunnell buried his Negroes...."
The reference in Vol I to a McCarty Family Buriny ground in relations to the Gunnell's Run Slave Cemetery is in error. The McCarty Family Cemetery at Cedar Grove is across Accotink Bay from Gunston Hall.
Google is not affiliated with the authors of this page nor responsible for its content.
These search terms have been highlighted: william gunnell house
Gunnell Family Cemetery
"Gunnell's Run", 600 Innsbruck Ave., Great Falls, Va.
"Gunnell's Run" (formerly "Graceland") was built c. 1750's and features several later additions. Rixey Smith, a former owner, recounted that when he purchased the property in 1932 there were old gravestones piled in a corner of the front yard, and his caretaker "broke up all but two of the stones and used the rubble for a runoff gutter for the spring down the hill." One intact marker and six fragments are known to still exist. Two of the marker fragments (#2 and 3 below) were mortared into an interior chimney in the east wing by Rixey Smith. The remaining intact marker (#1 below) has been set upright just north of the driveway near the spot where it was found, and four fragments are stored in the garage.
The Rambler recorded a visit to this site in the May 26, 1918 Washington Star. He relates: "Near the house, but very much nearer the barn, is a plot of ground densely upgrown with that member of the iris family called the blue flag. In this thick and rank mass of vegetation are two old brown tombs that are upright, but the soil has nearly swallowed them..." The five inscriptions he recorded are given below (A - E). The house and grounds are clean and well maintained, but the exact location of the graveyard is unknown at this time.
NOTE: Notice that there are discrepancies between the Rambler's transcriptions and the inscriptions as they actually appear on the stones. This is a good illustration of why secondary source material must be verified by primary research whenever possible, especially when dealing with gravestones.
Sources:
Shannon, J. Harry "The Rambler", Washington Star, May 26, 1918.
Smith, Rixey. Oral interview by Nan Netherton, Aug. 6, 1970.
Gravestones as recorded by the Rambler, 1918:
(A)
"In Memory of Nancy Gunnell, daughter of William and Sarah Gunnell, who was born the 13th of September. 1796, and expired the 23d of September. 1822, in the 27th year of her age."
(B)
"In Memory of Lewis Mix or Mickx, who departed this life on the 27th of April, 1824, about the thirty-fourth year of his age."
(C)
"In Memory of William Gunnell, who was born the 15th of July, 1785, and expired the 29th of September. 1834, in the 49th year of his age."
(D)
"In Memory of Sarah Gunnell, daughter of Col. James and Jane Cater, who was born on the 27th of November, 1760, and expired the 5th of June, 1812."
(E)
"In memory of Jane Gunnell, daughter of William and Sarah Gunnell, who was born the 17th of May, 1800/..."
Transcription of surviving gravestones and fragments, 1994:
(1)
In memory of
Doctor WILLIAM GUNNELL
who was born
on the 5th. of July 1786
& expired
on the 29th. of Sept. 1834
in the 49th. year
of his age.
Jas. Birth Washington D. C.
(2)
In memory of
WILLIAM GUNNELL the 3rd.
son of
Henry & Catherine Gunnell
who was born on the 30th. of Jany. 1750
......
(Bottom half missing)
(3)
In memory of
SARAH GUNNELL,
Wife of
William Gunnell the 3rd.
& daughter of
Col. James and Jane Coleman
who was born
on the 27th. of Novr. 1761
......
(Bottom half missing)
(4)
In memory of
LEWIS MIX or MICKX
who depar--- ---- life
on the 27th ----
(Two fragments)
(5)
In memo...
Mrs. ELIZAB...
daughter...
Wm. & Sarah...
...ho w...
(Fragment)
(6)
...pt. 1820...ear
...ge.
(Fragment)
Cemeteries of Fairfax County, Virginia: 1994, Virginia Room, Fairfax County Public Library
Per a 1970 telephone interview (notes on file in Va Room of Fairfax City Regional Lib) Rixey Smith who owned Gunnell's Run at that time, said that when he bought the place, there were old gravestones piled up in a corner of the front yard, and his caretaker... broke up all but two of the stones and used the rubble for a runoff guttere for the spring down the hill. some of the tombstones had dates as far back as 1730. To save the two remaining, Mr. Smith had them mortared into an interior chimney..."
As early as 1918, the family graveyard was neglected. Harry Shannon writing in "The Rambler" column in the 26 May 1918 issue of the Washington Star reported finding the graveyard "densely upgrown" and the gravestones "nearly swallowed" by soil. He recorded the inscriptions on the gravestones he found, but the condition of the markers made his survey difficult.
In more recent years, the gravestone for Doctor William Gunnell was found intat lying in the yard just east of the driveway. The gravestone was later re erected near that spot, according to Brian Conley, Information specialist in the Virginia Room of the Fairfax City Regional Library. He visited Gunnell's Run in 1994 and recorded the inscriptions on that gravestone and on five fragments found at the site.
The Rambler's survey is given below with Mr. Conley's version in brackets and additional information in parenthees below
Nancy Gunnell 13 Sept 1796 23 Sep 1822
"in the 27th year of her age" daughter of William & Sarah Gunnell (upright in 1918, gravestone now mission)
Lewis Mix or Mickx
"about the thirty fourth year of his age" 17 April 1824
(gravestone bears both spellings of surname; gravestone "prostrate and nearly covered with earth and vegetation" in 1918; two fragments were found at the site in 1994)
(Doctor) William Gunnell (5) July 1786 29 Sep 1834
"in the 49th year of his age"
(gravestone "prostrate" anc covered with earth and flowers in 1918; found intact in yard and erected near where found: carver; Jas Birth, Washington, D.C.)
Sarah Gunnell 27 Nov 1760 (1761) 5 Jun 1812
daughter of Col James & Jane Carter (Coleman)
(wife of William Gunnell the 3rd) ("under a tangle of iris" in 1918; a fragment of this gravestone has been mortared into an interior chimeny in the east wing of the house)
Jane Gunnell 17 May 1800
daughter of William & Sarah Gunnell (the death date was under ground in 1918)
(William Gunnell the 3rd. 30 Jan 1750
son of Henry & Catherine Gunnell) (gravestone fragment mortared into interior chimney in the east wing of the house)
(Mrs. Elizabeth ..... daughter .... Wm. & Sarah....(gravestone fragment found by Mr. Conley at the site in 1994.
A fifth fragment found by Mr. Conley reads:..".....pt. 1820... ear...ge."
Gunnell's Run Cemetry - update:
The Gunnell family which lived at Gunnell's Run for several generations through the 1700s and 1800s had a num er of slaves. A 1971 Historic American Buidings Survery Inventory of Gunnell's Run reports that there is a slave cemery on the property. Several land records mention a slave cemetery on the land, as in Deed Book H0-3, page 417 - 418, which uses the following as a landmark: "land occupied by said Binns at the old grave yard where William Gunnell buried his Negroes...."
The reference in Vol I to a McCarty Family Buriny ground in relations to the Gunnell's Run Slave Cemetery is in error. The McCarty Family Cemetery at Cedar Grove is across Accotink Bay from Gunston Hall.
________The Gunnell Family Cemetery is said to be located in the front yard of the family home, "Gunnells Run," which is not located at 600 Innsbruck Ave in great Falls. A 1971 Historic American Buildings Survey Inventory reports that according to famiy tradition the house was built in the 1760's by Henry Gunnell, a contemporary of Geo Washington and Geo Mason.
Per a 1970 telephone interview (notes on file in Va Room of Fairfax City Regional Lib) Rixey Smith who owned Gunnell's Run at that time, said that when he bought the place, there were old gravestones piled up in a corner of the front yard, and his caretaker... broke up all but two of the stones and used the rubble for a runoff guttere for the spring down the hill. some of the tombstones had dates as far back as 1730. To save the two remaining, Mr. Smith had them mortared into an interior chimney..."
As early as 1918, the family graveyard was neglected. Harry Shannon writing in "The Rambler" column in the 26 May 1918 issue of the Washington Star reported finding the graveyard "densely upgrown" and the gravestones "nearly swallowed" by soil. He recorded the inscriptions on the gravestones he found, but the condition of the markers made his survey difficult.
In more recent years, the gravestone for Doctor William Gunnell was found intat lying in the yard just east of the driveway. The gravestone was later re erected near that spot, according to Brian Conley, Information specialist in the Virginia Room of the Fairfax City Regional Library. He visited Gunnell's Run in 1994 and recorded the inscriptions on that gravestone and on five fragments found at the site.
The Rambler's survey is given below with Mr. Conley's version in brackets and additional information in parenthees below
Nancy Gunnell 13 Sept 1796 23 Sep 1822
"in the 27th year of her age" daughter of William & Sarah Gunnell (upright in 1918, gravestone now mission)
Lewis Mix or Mickx
"about the thirty fourth year of his age" 17 April 1824
(gravestone bears both spellings of surname; gravestone "prostrate and nearly covered with earth and vegetation" in 1918; two fragments were found at the site in 1994)
(Doctor) William Gunnell (5) July 1786 29 Sep 1834
"in the 49th year of his age"
(gravestone "prostrate" anc covered with earth and flowers in 1918; found intact in yard and erected near where found: carver; Jas Birth, Washington, D.C.)
Sarah Gunnell 27 Nov 1760 (1761) 5 Jun 1812
daughter of Col James & Jane Carter (Coleman)
(wife of William Gunnell the 3rd) ("under a tangle of iris" in 1918; a fragment of this gravestone has been mortared into an interior chimeny in the east wing of the house)
Jane Gunnell 17 May 1800
daughter of William & Sarah Gunnell (the death date was under ground in 1918)
(William Gunnell the 3rd. 30 Jan 1750
son of Henry & Catherine Gunnell) (gravestone fragment mortared into interior chimney in the east wing of the house)
(Mrs. Elizabeth ..... daughter .... Wm. & Sarah....(gravestone fragment found by Mr. Conley at the site in 1994.
A fifth fragment found by Mr. Conley reads:..".....pt. 1820... ear...ge."
Gunnell's Run Cemetry - update:
The Gunnell family which lived at Gunnell's Run for several generations through the 1700s and 1800s had a num er of slaves. A 1971 Historic American Buidings Survery Inventory of Gunnell's Run reports that there is a slave cemery on the property. Several land records mention a slave cemetery on the land, as in Deed Book H0-3, page 417 - 418, which uses the following as a landmark: "land occupied by said Binns at the old grave yard where William Gunnell buried his Negroes...."
The reference in Vol I to a McCarty Family Buriny ground in relations to the Gunnell's Run Slave Cemetery is in error. The McCarty Family Cemetery at Cedar Grove is across Accotink Bay from Gunston Hall.
Google is not affiliated with the authors of this page nor responsible for its content.
These search terms have been highlighted: william gunnell house
Gunnell Family Cemetery
"Gunnell's Run", 600 Innsbruck Ave., Great Falls, Va.
"Gunnell's Run" (formerly "Graceland") was built c. 1750's and features several later additions. Rixey Smith, a former owner, recounted that when he purchased the property in 1932 there were old gravestones piled in a corner of the front yard, and his caretaker "broke up all but two of the stones and used the rubble for a runoff gutter for the spring down the hill." One intact marker and six fragments are known to still exist. Two of the marker fragments (#2 and 3 below) were mortared into an interior chimney in the east wing by Rixey Smith. The remaining intact marker (#1 below) has been set upright just north of the driveway near the spot where it was found, and four fragments are stored in the garage.
The Rambler recorded a visit to this site in the May 26, 1918 Washington Star. He relates: "Near the house, but very much nearer the barn, is a plot of ground densely upgrown with that member of the iris family called the blue flag. In this thick and rank mass of vegetation are two old brown tombs that are upright, but the soil has nearly swallowed them..." The five inscriptions he recorded are given below (A - E). The house and grounds are clean and well maintained, but the exact location of the graveyard is unknown at this time.
NOTE: Notice that there are discrepancies between the Rambler's transcriptions and the inscriptions as they actually appear on the stones. This is a good illustration of why secondary source material must be verified by primary research whenever possible, especially when dealing with gravestones.
Sources:
Shannon, J. Harry "The Rambler", Washington Star, May 26, 1918.
Smith, Rixey. Oral interview by Nan Netherton, Aug. 6, 1970.
Gravestones as recorded by the Rambler, 1918:
(A)
"In Memory of Nancy Gunnell, daughter of William and Sarah Gunnell, who was born the 13th of September. 1796, and expired the 23d of September. 1822, in the 27th year of her age."
(B)
"In Memory of Lewis Mix or Mickx, who departed this life on the 27th of April, 1824, about the thirty-fourth year of his age."
(C)
"In Memory of William Gunnell, who was born the 15th of July, 1785, and expired the 29th of September. 1834, in the 49th year of his age."
(D)
"In Memory of Sarah Gunnell, daughter of Col. James and Jane Cater, who was born on the 27th of November, 1760, and expired the 5th of June, 1812."
(E)
"In memory of Jane Gunnell, daughter of William and Sarah Gunnell, who was born the 17th of May, 1800/..."
Transcription of surviving gravestones and fragments, 1994:
(1)
In memory of
Doctor WILLIAM GUNNELL
who was born
on the 5th. of July 1786
& expired
on the 29th. of Sept. 1834
in the 49th. year
of his age.
Jas. Birth Washington D. C.
(2)
In memory of
WILLIAM GUNNELL the 3rd.
son of
Henry & Catherine Gunnell
who was born on the 30th. of Jany. 1750
......
(Bottom half missing)
(3)
In memory of
SARAH GUNNELL,
Wife of
William Gunnell the 3rd.
& daughter of
Col. James and Jane Coleman
who was born
on the 27th. of Novr. 1761
......
(Bottom half missing)
(4)
In memory of
LEWIS MIX or MICKX
who depar--- ---- life
on the 27th ----
(Two fragments)
(5)
In memo...
Mrs. ELIZAB...
daughter...
Wm. & Sarah...
...ho w...
(Fragment)
(6)
...pt. 1820...ear
...ge.
(Fragment)
Cemeteries of Fairfax County, Virginia: 1994, Virginia Room, Fairfax County Public Library
The Gunnell Family Cemetery is said to be located in the front yard of the family home, "Gunnells Run," which is not located at 600 Innsbruck Ave in great Falls. A 1971 Historic American Buildings Survey Inventory reports that according to famiy tradition the house was built in the 1760's by Henry Gunnell, a contemporary of Geo Washington and Geo Mason.
Per a 1970 telephone interview (notes on file in Va Room of Fairfax City Regional Lib) Rixey Smith who owned Gunnell's Run at that time, said that when he bought the place, there were old gravestones piled up in a corner of the front yard, and his caretaker... broke up all but two of the stones and used the rubble for a runoff guttere for the spring down the hill. some of the tombstones had dates as far back as 1730. To save the two remaining, Mr. Smith had them mortared into an interior chimney..."
As early as 1918, the family graveyard was neglected. Harry Shannon writing in "The Rambler" column in the 26 May 1918 issue of the Washington Star reported finding the graveyard "densely upgrown" and the gravestones "nearly swallowed" by soil. He recorded the inscriptions on the gravestones he found, but the condition of the markers made his survey difficult.
In more recent years, the gravestone for Doctor William Gunnell was found intat lying in the yard just east of the driveway. The gravestone was later re erected near that spot, according to Brian Conley, Information specialist in the Virginia Room of the Fairfax City Regional Library. He visited Gunnell's Run in 1994 and recorded the inscriptions on that gravestone and on five fragments found at the site.
The Rambler's survey is given below with Mr. Conley's version in brackets and additional information in parenthees below
Nancy Gunnell 13 Sept 1796 23 Sep 1822
"in the 27th year of her age" daughter of William & Sarah Gunnell (upright in 1918, gravestone now mission)
Lewis Mix or Mickx
"about the thirty fourth year of his age" 17 April 1824
(gravestone bears both spellings of surname; gravestone "prostrate and nearly covered with earth and vegetation" in 1918; two fragments were found at the site in 1994)
(Doctor) William Gunnell (5) July 1786 29 Sep 1834
"in the 49th year of his age"
(gravestone "prostrate" anc covered with earth and flowers in 1918; found intact in yard and erected near where found: carver; Jas Birth, Washington, D.C.)
Sarah Gunnell 27 Nov 1760 (1761) 5 Jun 1812
daughter of Col James & Jane Carter (Coleman)
(wife of William Gunnell the 3rd) ("under a tangle of iris" in 1918; a fragment of this gravestone has been mortared into an interior chimeny in the east wing of the house)
Jane Gunnell 17 May 1800
daughter of William & Sarah Gunnell (the death date was under ground in 1918)
(William Gunnell the 3rd. 30 Jan 1750
son of Henry & Catherine Gunnell) (gravestone fragment mortared into interior chimney in the east wing of the house)
(Mrs. Elizabeth ..... daughter .... Wm. & Sarah....(gravestone fragment found by Mr. Conley at the site in 1994.
A fifth fragment found by Mr. Conley reads:..".....pt. 1820... ear...ge."
Gunnell's Run Cemetry - update:
The Gunnell family which lived at Gunnell's Run for several generations through the 1700s and 1800s had a num er of slaves. A 1971 Historic American Buidings Survery Inventory of Gunnell's Run reports that there is a slave cemery on the property. Several land records mention a slave cemetery on the land, as in Deed Book H0-3, page 417 - 418, which uses the following as a landmark: "land occupied by said Binns at the old grave yard where William Gunnell buried his Negroes...."
The reference in Vol I to a McCarty Family Buriny ground in relations to the Gunnell's Run Slave Cemetery is in error. The McCarty Family Cemetery at Cedar Grove is across Accotink Bay from Gunston Hall.
________The Gunnell Family Cemetery is said to be located in the front yard of the family home, "Gunnells Run," which is not located at 600 Innsbruck Ave in great Falls. A 1971 Historic American Buildings Survey Inventory reports that according to famiy tradition the house was built in the 1760's by Henry Gunnell, a contemporary of Geo Washington and Geo Mason.
Per a 1970 telephone interview (notes on file in Va Room of Fairfax City Regional Lib) Rixey Smith who owned Gunnell's Run at that time, said that when he bought the place, there were old gravestones piled up in a corner of the front yard, and his caretaker... broke up all but two of the stones and used the rubble for a runoff guttere for the spring down the hill. some of the tombstones had dates as far back as 1730. To save the two remaining, Mr. Smith had them mortared into an interior chimney..."
As early as 1918, the family graveyard was neglected. Harry Shannon writing in "The Rambler" column in the 26 May 1918 issue of the Washington Star reported finding the graveyard "densely upgrown" and the gravestones "nearly swallowed" by soil. He recorded the inscriptions on the gravestones he found, but the condition of the markers made his survey difficult.
In more recent years, the gravestone for Doctor William Gunnell was found intat lying in the yard just east of the driveway. The gravestone was later re erected near that spot, according to Brian Conley, Information specialist in the Virginia Room of the Fairfax City Regional Library. He visited Gunnell's Run in 1994 and recorded the inscriptions on that gravestone and on five fragments found at the site.
The Rambler's survey is given below with Mr. Conley's version in brackets and additional information in parenthees below
Nancy Gunnell 13 Sept 1796 23 Sep 1822
"in the 27th year of her age" daughter of William & Sarah Gunnell (upright in 1918, gravestone now mission)
Lewis Mix or Mickx
"about the thirty fourth year of his age" 17 April 1824
(gravestone bears both spellings of surname; gravestone "prostrate and nearly covered with earth and vegetation" in 1918; two fragments were found at the site in 1994)
(Doctor) William Gunnell (5) July 1786 29 Sep 1834
"in the 49th year of his age"
(gravestone "prostrate" anc covered with earth and flowers in 1918; found intact in yard and erected near where found: carver; Jas Birth, Washington, D.C.)
Sarah Gunnell 27 Nov 1760 (1761) 5 Jun 1812
daughter of Col James & Jane Carter (Coleman)
(wife of William Gunnell the 3rd) ("under a tangle of iris" in 1918; a fragment of this gravestone has been mortared into an interior chimeny in the east wing of the house)
Jane Gunnell 17 May 1800
daughter of William & Sarah Gunnell (the death date was under ground in 1918)
(William Gunnell the 3rd. 30 Jan 1750
son of Henry & Catherine Gunnell) (gravestone fragment mortared into interior chimney in the east wing of the house)
(Mrs. Elizabeth ..... daughter .... Wm. & Sarah....(gravestone fragment found by Mr. Conley at the site in 1994.
A fifth fragment found by Mr. Conley reads:..".....pt. 1820... ear...ge."
Gunnell's Run Cemetry - update:
The Gunnell family which lived at Gunnell's Run for several generations through the 1700s and 1800s had a num er of slaves. A 1971 Historic American Buidings Survery Inventory of Gunnell's Run reports that there is a slave cemery on the property. Several land records mention a slave cemetery on the land, as in Deed Book H0-3, page 417 - 418, which uses the following as a landmark: "land occupied by said Binns at the old grave yard where William Gunnell buried his Negroes...."
The reference in Vol I to a McCarty Family Buriny ground in relations to the Gunnell's Run Slave Cemetery is in error. The McCarty Family Cemetery at Cedar Grove is across Accotink Bay from Gunston Hall.
Google is not affiliated with the authors of this page nor responsible for its content.
These search terms have been highlighted: william gunnell house
Gunnell Family Cemetery
"Gunnell's Run", 600 Innsbruck Ave., Great Falls, Va.
"Gunnell's Run" (formerly "Graceland") was built c. 1750's and features several later additions. Rixey Smith, a former owner, recounted that when he purchased the property in 1932 there were old gravestones piled in a corner of the front yard, and his caretaker "broke up all but two of the stones and used the rubble for a runoff gutter for the spring down the hill." One intact marker and six fragments are known to still exist. Two of the marker fragments (#2 and 3 below) were mortared into an interior chimney in the east wing by Rixey Smith. The remaining intact marker (#1 below) has been set upright just north of the driveway near the spot where it was found, and four fragments are stored in the garage.
The Rambler recorded a visit to this site in the May 26, 1918 Washington Star. He relates: "Near the house, but very much nearer the barn, is a plot of ground densely upgrown with that member of the iris family called the blue flag. In this thick and rank mass of vegetation are two old brown tombs that are upright, but the soil has nearly swallowed them..." The five inscriptions he recorded are given below (A - E). The house and grounds are clean and well maintained, but the exact location of the graveyard is unknown at this time.
NOTE: Notice that there are discrepancies between the Rambler's transcriptions and the inscriptions as they actually appear on the stones. This is a good illustration of why secondary source material must be verified by primary research whenever possible, especially when dealing with gravestones.
Sources:
Shannon, J. Harry "The Rambler", Washington Star, May 26, 1918.
Smith, Rixey. Oral interview by Nan Netherton, Aug. 6, 1970.
Gravestones as recorded by the Rambler, 1918:
(A)
"In Memory of Nancy Gunnell, daughter of William and Sarah Gunnell, who was born the 13th of September. 1796, and expired the 23d of September. 1822, in the 27th year of her age."
(B)
"In Memory of Lewis Mix or Mickx, who departed this life on the 27th of April, 1824, about the thirty-fourth year of his age."
(C)
"In Memory of William Gunnell, who was born the 15th of July, 1785, and expired the 29th of September. 1834, in the 49th year of his age."
(D)
"In Memory of Sarah Gunnell, daughter of Col. James and Jane Cater, who was born on the 27th of November, 1760, and expired the 5th of June, 1812."
(E)
"In memory of Jane Gunnell, daughter of William and Sarah Gunnell, who was born the 17th of May, 1800/..."
Transcription of surviving gravestones and fragments, 1994:
(1)
In memory of
Doctor WILLIAM GUNNELL
who was born
on the 5th. of July 1786
& expired
on the 29th. of Sept. 1834
in the 49th. year
of his age.
Jas. Birth Washington D. C.
(2)
In memory of
WILLIAM GUNNELL the 3rd.
son of
Henry & Catherine Gunnell
who was born on the 30th. of Jany. 1750
......
(Bottom half missing)
(3)
In memory of
SARAH GUNNELL,
Wife of
William Gunnell the 3rd.
& daughter of
Col. James and Jane Coleman
who was born
on the 27th. of Novr. 1761
......
(Bottom half missing)
(4)
In memory of
LEWIS MIX or MICKX
who depar--- ---- life
on the 27th ----
(Two fragments)
(5)
In memo...
Mrs. ELIZAB...
daughter...
Wm. & Sarah...
...ho w...
(Fragment)
(6)
...pt. 1820...ear
...ge.
(Fragment)
Cemeteries of Fairfax County, Virginia: 1994, Virginia Room, Fairfax County Public Library
Per a 1970 telephone interview (notes on file in Va Room of Fairfax City Regional Lib) Rixey Smith who owned Gunnell's Run at that time, said that when he bought the place, there were old gravestones piled up in a corner of the front yard, and his caretaker... broke up all but two of the stones and used the rubble for a runoff guttere for the spring down the hill. some of the tombstones had dates as far back as 1730. To save the two remaining, Mr. Smith had them mortared into an interior chimney..."
As early as 1918, the family graveyard was neglected. Harry Shannon writing in "The Rambler" column in the 26 May 1918 issue of the Washington Star reported finding the graveyard "densely upgrown" and the gravestones "nearly swallowed" by soil. He recorded the inscriptions on the gravestones he found, but the condition of the markers made his survey difficult.
In more recent years, the gravestone for Doctor William Gunnell was found intat lying in the yard just east of the driveway. The gravestone was later re erected near that spot, according to Brian Conley, Information specialist in the Virginia Room of the Fairfax City Regional Library. He visited Gunnell's Run in 1994 and recorded the inscriptions on that gravestone and on five fragments found at the site.
The Rambler's survey is given below with Mr. Conley's version in brackets and additional information in parenthees below
Nancy Gunnell 13 Sept 1796 23 Sep 1822
"in the 27th year of her age" daughter of William & Sarah Gunnell (upright in 1918, gravestone now mission)
Lewis Mix or Mickx
"about the thirty fourth year of his age" 17 April 1824
(gravestone bears both spellings of surname; gravestone "prostrate and nearly covered with earth and vegetation" in 1918; two fragments were found at the site in 1994)
(Doctor) William Gunnell (5) July 1786 29 Sep 1834
"in the 49th year of his age"
(gravestone "prostrate" anc covered with earth and flowers in 1918; found intact in yard and erected near where found: carver; Jas Birth, Washington, D.C.)
Sarah Gunnell 27 Nov 1760 (1761) 5 Jun 1812
daughter of Col James & Jane Carter (Coleman)
(wife of William Gunnell the 3rd) ("under a tangle of iris" in 1918; a fragment of this gravestone has been mortared into an interior chimeny in the east wing of the house)
Jane Gunnell 17 May 1800
daughter of William & Sarah Gunnell (the death date was under ground in 1918)
(William Gunnell the 3rd. 30 Jan 1750
son of Henry & Catherine Gunnell) (gravestone fragment mortared into interior chimney in the east wing of the house)
(Mrs. Elizabeth ..... daughter .... Wm. & Sarah....(gravestone fragment found by Mr. Conley at the site in 1994.
A fifth fragment found by Mr. Conley reads:..".....pt. 1820... ear...ge."
Gunnell's Run Cemetry - update:
The Gunnell family which lived at Gunnell's Run for several generations through the 1700s and 1800s had a num er of slaves. A 1971 Historic American Buidings Survery Inventory of Gunnell's Run reports that there is a slave cemery on the property. Several land records mention a slave cemetery on the land, as in Deed Book H0-3, page 417 - 418, which uses the following as a landmark: "land occupied by said Binns at the old grave yard where William Gunnell buried his Negroes...."
The reference in Vol I to a McCarty Family Buriny ground in relations to the Gunnell's Run Slave Cemetery is in error. The McCarty Family Cemetery at Cedar Grove is across Accotink Bay from Gunston Hall.
________The Gunnell Family Cemetery is said to be located in the front yard of the family home, "Gunnells Run," which is not located at 600 Innsbruck Ave in great Falls. A 1971 Historic American Buildings Survey Inventory reports that according to famiy tradition the house was built in the 1760's by Henry Gunnell, a contemporary of Geo Washington and Geo Mason.
Per a 1970 telephone interview (notes on file in Va Room of Fairfax City Regional Lib) Rixey Smith who owned Gunnell's Run at that time, said that when he bought the place, there were old gravestones piled up in a corner of the front yard, and his caretaker... broke up all but two of the stones and used the rubble for a runoff guttere for the spring down the hill. some of the tombstones had dates as far back as 1730. To save the two remaining, Mr. Smith had them mortared into an interior chimney..."
As early as 1918, the family graveyard was neglected. Harry Shannon writing in "The Rambler" column in the 26 May 1918 issue of the Washington Star reported finding the graveyard "densely upgrown" and the gravestones "nearly swallowed" by soil. He recorded the inscriptions on the gravestones he found, but the condition of the markers made his survey difficult.
In more recent years, the gravestone for Doctor William Gunnell was found intat lying in the yard just east of the driveway. The gravestone was later re erected near that spot, according to Brian Conley, Information specialist in the Virginia Room of the Fairfax City Regional Library. He visited Gunnell's Run in 1994 and recorded the inscriptions on that gravestone and on five fragments found at the site.
The Rambler's survey is given below with Mr. Conley's version in brackets and additional information in parenthees below
Nancy Gunnell 13 Sept 1796 23 Sep 1822
"in the 27th year of her age" daughter of William & Sarah Gunnell (upright in 1918, gravestone now mission)
Lewis Mix or Mickx
"about the thirty fourth year of his age" 17 April 1824
(gravestone bears both spellings of surname; gravestone "prostrate and nearly covered with earth and vegetation" in 1918; two fragments were found at the site in 1994)
(Doctor) William Gunnell (5) July 1786 29 Sep 1834
"in the 49th year of his age"
(gravestone "prostrate" anc covered with earth and flowers in 1918; found intact in yard and erected near where found: carver; Jas Birth, Washington, D.C.)
Sarah Gunnell 27 Nov 1760 (1761) 5 Jun 1812
daughter of Col James & Jane Carter (Coleman)
(wife of William Gunnell the 3rd) ("under a tangle of iris" in 1918; a fragment of this gravestone has been mortared into an interior chimeny in the east wing of the house)
Jane Gunnell 17 May 1800
daughter of William & Sarah Gunnell (the death date was under ground in 1918)
(William Gunnell the 3rd. 30 Jan 1750
son of Henry & Catherine Gunnell) (gravestone fragment mortared into interior chimney in the east wing of the house)
(Mrs. Elizabeth ..... daughter .... Wm. & Sarah....(gravestone fragment found by Mr. Conley at the site in 1994.
A fifth fragment found by Mr. Conley reads:..".....pt. 1820... ear...ge."
Gunnell's Run Cemetry - update:
The Gunnell family which lived at Gunnell's Run for several generations through the 1700s and 1800s had a num er of slaves. A 1971 Historic American Buidings Survery Inventory of Gunnell's Run reports that there is a slave cemery on the property. Several land records mention a slave cemetery on the land, as in Deed Book H0-3, page 417 - 418, which uses the following as a landmark: "land occupied by said Binns at the old grave yard where William Gunnell buried his Negroes...."
The reference in Vol I to a McCarty Family Buriny ground in relations to the Gunnell's Run Slave Cemetery is in error. The McCarty Family Cemetery at Cedar Grove is across Accotink Bay from Gunston Hall.
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Gunnell Family Cemetery
"Gunnell's Run", 600 Innsbruck Ave., Great Falls, Va.
"Gunnell's Run" (formerly "Graceland") was built c. 1750's and features several later additions. Rixey Smith, a former owner, recounted that when he purchased the property in 1932 there were old gravestones piled in a corner of the front yard, and his caretaker "broke up all but two of the stones and used the rubble for a runoff gutter for the spring down the hill." One intact marker and six fragments are known to still exist. Two of the marker fragments (#2 and 3 below) were mortared into an interior chimney in the east wing by Rixey Smith. The remaining intact marker (#1 below) has been set upright just north of the driveway near the spot where it was found, and four fragments are stored in the garage.
The Rambler recorded a visit to this site in the May 26, 1918 Washington Star. He relates: "Near the house, but very much nearer the barn, is a plot of ground densely upgrown with that member of the iris family called the blue flag. In this thick and rank mass of vegetation are two old brown tombs that are upright, but the soil has nearly swallowed them..." The five inscriptions he recorded are given below (A - E). The house and grounds are clean and well maintained, but the exact location of the graveyard is unknown at this time.
NOTE: Notice that there are discrepancies between the Rambler's transcriptions and the inscriptions as they actually appear on the stones. This is a good illustration of why secondary source material must be verified by primary research whenever possible, especially when dealing with gravestones.
Sources:
Shannon, J. Harry "The Rambler", Washington Star, May 26, 1918.
Smith, Rixey. Oral interview by Nan Netherton, Aug. 6, 1970.
Gravestones as recorded by the Rambler, 1918:
(A)
"In Memory of Nancy Gunnell, daughter of William and Sarah Gunnell, who was born the 13th of September. 1796, and expired the 23d of September. 1822, in the 27th year of her age."
(B)
"In Memory of Lewis Mix or Mickx, who departed this life on the 27th of April, 1824, about the thirty-fourth year of his age."
(C)
"In Memory of William Gunnell, who was born the 15th of July, 1785, and expired the 29th of September. 1834, in the 49th year of his age."
(D)
"In Memory of Sarah Gunnell, daughter of Col. James and Jane Cater, who was born on the 27th of November, 1760, and expired the 5th of June, 1812."
(E)
"In memory of Jane Gunnell, daughter of William and Sarah Gunnell, who was born the 17th of May, 1800/..."
Transcription of surviving gravestones and fragments, 1994:
(1)
In memory of
Doctor WILLIAM GUNNELL
who was born
on the 5th. of July 1786
& expired
on the 29th. of Sept. 1834
in the 49th. year
of his age.
Jas. Birth Washington D. C.
(2)
In memory of
WILLIAM GUNNELL the 3rd.
son of
Henry & Catherine Gunnell
who was born on the 30th. of Jany. 1750
......
(Bottom half missing)
(3)
In memory of
SARAH GUNNELL,
Wife of
William Gunnell the 3rd.
& daughter of
Col. James and Jane Coleman
who was born
on the 27th. of Novr. 1761
......
(Bottom half missing)
(4)
In memory of
LEWIS MIX or MICKX
who depar--- ---- life
on the 27th ----
(Two fragments)
(5)
In memo...
Mrs. ELIZAB...
daughter...
Wm. & Sarah...
...ho w...
(Fragment)
(6)
...pt. 1820...ear
...ge.
(Fragment)
Cemeteries of Fairfax County, Virginia: 1994, Virginia Room, Fairfax County Public Library
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