Early History
It is possibly the oldest cemetery in Kentucky still in use. The oldest marked grave is John Provine or John Province who was one of the organizers and elders of the Old Paint Lick Presbyterian Church and died in 1792 when he was kicked by a horse at the age of 41. The cemetery may contain unmarked graves of those who died shortly after Fort Paint Lick or Paint Lick Station was built in 1781 or possibly even earlier when Paint Lick was first settled by William Miller in 1776. One record shows that the cemetery was established in 1782 which is when construction began on the Old Paint Lick Presbyterian Church. That is 10 years before Kentucky became a state in 1792. Until that time, Kentucky was Fincastle County, Virginia. |
Church Cemetery
The cemetery was originally the church cemetery for the Old Paint Lick Presbyterian Church, known then as "The Log Meeting House" or "The Paint Lick Meeting House", that was once located where the Old Paint Lick Cemetery is today. The first 4 acres of land were donated by Pastor James Crawford and his wife, Rebecca, and construction on the church began in 1782. The original church also served as the community school. It had a cupulo where someone was stationed to lookout for Indian attacks when the building was in use. A replica of the Log Meeting House was built by Doc Hicks who was a caretaker for the cemetery. A smaller replica is kept at the Presbyterian Historical Society in Pittsburgh, PA. Their museum database shows the following catalog record: Model. Description: 1 rustic but well-constructed church model of Old Paint Lick Presbyterian Church (org. 1783). Approx. 16” H x 10” W x 14” D. Made of wood, dovetailed and filled to resemble plank construction, with shingle roof and clapboard. Church model lifts off its base to reveal 3 miniature pews and table. (Call number: 07 0430) |
Revolutionary War Soldiers
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Gen. Thomas Kennedy
Brigadier General Thomas Kennedy Sr., later bought from James Crawford a tract of land that included the 4 acres that James Crawford had already given to the church. A lawsuit followed concerning the ownership of the land. Mr. Kennedy, who was a Baptist, made an offer of $200 towards replacing the church with a "free" church open to all denominations but the church refused the offer and withdrew from the lawsuit and relocated to the other side of highway 52 in 1830. Kennedy enjoyed buying and selling slaves and racehorses. At his death, he owned more than 100 slaves. Kennedy's tombstone has reportedly been struck by lightening three times. |
Other notable burials
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Gates
The second entrance was the original entrance. The first entrance was added in the late 1940's when the city of Lancaster removed the iron fence surrounding the garden at the town square and donated a portion of the fence for the cemetery gate. "Burnside" is engraved on one of the pillars but I have been unable to find out the reason. |