What was the procedure for purchasing a lot in Pleasant Hill? Did someone sell individual deeds or something?

As far as we know, there was no fee. I guess you or your family just picked out a spot. We know of one who buried his wife and then dug a grave next to her as if someone was buried there so he could be buried next to her. Guess that is why records are few and far between! Margie Goad

Jason
I suspect that there was a church at the same location and as is the case with most "country churches", the cemtery was filled with family members of the congregation. On a visit there earlier this year I noticed lots of large foundation stones and other debris which was far too large to have been moved by nature. I suspect that there was a Methodist church at the same spot;though I can not prove that at the moment. My family the Peery's were Methodist and active in the Methodist church. They worshiped at the Booths Point Methodist church . I have a photo or two of the Sunday school at that church . It was taken when my grandfather b.1896 was a small child.
I seem to remember seeing some Presley graves while I was "walking the cemetery" earlier this year? I was never able to find one Peery marker that is on the cemetery page for Pleasant Hill? I may have overlooked it in my trek. The cemtery is larger than I thought and all of us owe a great
debt of gratitude to the volunteers who cleaned and saved the cemetery.
regards,
J Green

Margie
Thats a good one ! ha! I wonder if that would work today?
James Green

I guess I'll have to head up to Nashville again some Saturday soon and start digging through Dyer County deed records and see if I can work out the history of that particular chunk of real estate. Should be a challenge, what with Tennessee using that completely arbitrary metes and bounds system.

Perhaps I should devote my time developing time travel, so I can just go back and introduce the county founders to the grid system.

Jason
Would the records not be in Dyer county at the library or courthouse? Perhaps another source would be the Methodist church conference dating back that far.They might have some records from when the church feel into activity. I think it was in the 1920's or 30's given my conversations with my older family members. They are all gone now..but I know that
I was always told that the cemetery was "inaccessible" and was all overgrown with brush and weeds. I do not know when the last burial was conducted in the cemtery? Perhaps Margie will know?
My suspicion is that as time rolled forward the area became more remote from Dyersburg and other more inhabited areas?
I have heard all the names of so many of the communities now consigned to history.Places like Ayres,Boothspoint,Heloise,Asbridge. There was a bridge somewhere near Lenox that collapsed years ago...can not remember the name.
At any rate... you probably have more experience than me at searching state records. I am curious as to where and what you would look for in your search? it seems that the Dyer county registrar should have a copy of any deeds related to that district?
regards,
James Green

The State Archives in Nashville are just a closer drive for me and they have all the microfilmed records for Dyer County on file. I know there are a lot of un-filmed tax records at the McIvers Grant Library, but it will be awhile before I get to Dyersburg again.

I have a deed for the Presley's land, but there really aren't any useful points of reference on it, it's all relative to the neighboring lands, no rivers or roads are mentioned. I'll probably need to find someone with experience in deciphering Tennessee deeds to know exactly where to start.

Jason
That makes sense...did not realize that you were far away from Dyer county.
JG

There was a church, probably in the Southwest corner of the cemetery as that is where the oldest stones are located. Margret Prichard, a one year old child, was buried there in 1852, as many of the Prichard and Spence famiilies are buried. This area was called Spences Chapel at one time. Mark Spence donated one acre of land in June, 1848 for a Methodist Church. We have a copy of a deed where the Spence and Prichard families donated the 'one acre to be kept and land used as a place of burial and for no other purpose.' They moved the church on closer to what is now Finley - this is not the church that is now located in Finley. An additional 4 acres was added in 1904. In 1910, 4 acres were sold to the Pleasant Hill Cemetery Trustees for a sum of $75. Other deeds cannot be found, but surveys show it to be a little over 14 acres. Of the 14 acres, only about 7 or 8 acres are left due to the erosion. We have records of over 1200 burials taking place there - from funeral home and family records. So much history is located there in that cemetery. This has been a pleasure (and lots of work!) to work on this cemetery and its history. Margie Goad

Margie
Thanks so much for the information! It is fascinating. I felt sure that it was a Methodist church burying ground.
I truly appreciate the information and all of your hard work.
best,
James Green