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Cockburn Family Cemetery

GPS Coordinates: 38.6700923, -77.1787934
Closest Address: 10644 Gunston Road, Lorton, VA 22079

Cockburn Family Cemetery

These coordinates mark the exact site where the cemetery once stood. The exact cemetery location is confirmed by the Evening Star newspaper out of Washington, District of Columbia on Sunday, August 29, 1920 on Page 29. The graves were later moved to nearby Pohick Church.


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Here follows an excerpt from the Fairfax Genealogical Society website:

COCKBURN FAMILY CEMETERY (REMOVED)
Likely near Springfield Drive on Mason Neck which intersects Gunston Road (Route 242)
Mason Neck, Viurginia USA

Original Information from Volume 5 of the Gravestone Books

Martin Cockburn’s home “Springfield” was still standing when Kate Mason Rowland wrote about it in 1892 in her account of The Life of George Mason. According to notes by historian Edith M. Sprouse on file in the Virginia Room of the Fairfax City Regional Library, Martin Cockburn married Anne Bronaugh in about 1763, and built Springfield soon after.

Rowland described Springfield as “a long, low frame building.” Cockburn, she said, had lived in the West Indies, and built his home all on one floor in a style like those found there. “In the little graveyard at ‘Springfield,’” Rowland wrote, “are two unmarked mounds which tradition points out as the last resting-places of Martin Cockburn and his wife. On the death of the childless pair ‘Springfield’ was left to Mrs. Cockburn’s relatives, the Masseys; and Mrs. Nancy Triplett, a daughter of the Rev. Lee Massey, was the last one of the family to live at ‘Springfield.’”

Mrs. Sprouse says that the Cockburns “were buried, as was the custom, in their garden. Until 1851, when the house was sold out of the family, the bodies undoubtedly remained there.” Edith Sprouse reports that the owner of Springfield in 1964 said that the Cockburn graves had been removed to Pohick Church (q.v.).

Although the exact location of Springfield is not known, it is very likely near Springfield Drive on Mason Neck which intersects Gunston Road (Route 242) just west of Gunston Hall (q.v.).

No Updates from Volume 6 of the Gravestone Books

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Nathaniel Lee

c/o Franconia Museum

6121 Franconia Road

Alexandria, VA 22310

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