Given Cemetery

The original deed for the cemetery dated October 4, 1880, between Samuel & Alice Moore and trustees of the cemetery, tells us that Andrew Moore, son of Levi and Nancy (Sharp) Moore, is buried there.  According to Charles Ray Harper in his “Moore Family History”, Andrew Moore was born in 1804 and died in 1879.  His wife Rebecca Waugh, daughter of Samuel and Ann (McGuire) Waugh, is said to also be buried in the cemetery. She was born in 1802 and died in 1888. 

There are eight burials in the cemetery with markers predating 1900 or assumed to be pre-1900 burials.

The original deed for the cemetery does not state a name for the cemetery.  The post office at Given was not established until 1885.   An obituary in the early 1900’s lists it as the Parchment Chapel Cemetery, however, the church was not in existence until 1889.  Names recorded on early death certificates include the Moore Cemetery and the Parsons Cemetery.

Original trustees included one son of Andrew Moore: Levi Moore;  two sons-in-law of Andrew Moore: R. M. Duffield and Charles Parsons;  Lemuel Winget who had purchased land from John Moore in 1877; and John F. Bennett who purchased land from Charles & Alice Parsons in 1883.

The Given Cemetery Association, Inc. was formed in 1978 to establish an endowment for the upkeep of the cemetery. The association has officers elected each year.  The offices are president, vice president, secretary and treasurer.  The Board of Directors is made up of five members who are elected for three year terms. The annual meeting of the Association is held the first Sunday in May at 2 p.m. at the Parchment Chapel United Methodist Church at Given. 

November 29, 1995, Chester O. and Lucille E. Parsons, his wife, deeded additional property for the cemetery which now contains 1.72 acres.

In addition to Andrew and Rebecca Moore’s unmarked graves there are no doubt other unmarked graves in this old cemetery.

Maxine Landfried,
January 7, 2008,
Kenna, West Virginia