***** West Virginia did not become a state until 1863, after 50 northwestern counties of Virginia decided to break away from that Southern state in the Wheeling Conventions in 1861. Technically, he was born in Hampshire County, Virginia which is now in West Virginia.

James Larimore Jr. married Naomi Wolverton in 1810 in Romney, Virginia. They had 11 children together but only 6 survived to adulthood.

Branch Mountain Cemetery
Mt. Bethel Cemetery
Mt. Bethel Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery
Three Churches Cemetery

Location:
Jersey Mountain Road (Rt. 5) & 3 Churches Hollow Road Intersection
Three Churches, Hampshire County, West Virginia, USA

There are, not surprisingly, three churches found in Three Churches, WV. First is the historic "The Oldest House of Worship in Hampshire County" -- Mt. Bethel Church which was established by the Presbyterians in 1792. It is now on the official Historic Landmark Registry with an official metal marker out front.

Then there is the church just across the road that is surrounded on three sides by a very large cemetery. The church may have been originally built and used as the Branch Mountain United Methodist Church. They probably installed the sign over the entrance to the cemetery that currently says it is the Branch Mt. Cemetery. This building is now occupied by Mt. Bethel Primitive Baptist Church and they hold services there once a month. This is the oldest and largest cemetery in Three Churches, WV, and goes by all of the names in the title of this piece.

About a half mile south of there on Rt. 5 is the current Branch Mountain United Methodist Church. They have their own small cemetery on the side and in back of the church. This is a much newer and smaller cemetery.

Parents, James Sr. and Susannah Larimore are probably buried in the Mt. Bethel Primitive Baptist Cemetery. Like many old and primitive settler cemeteries in Hampshire County, lots of the graves are marked with large field stones with no engraving or identification on them. This is probably the case for James and Susannah.