Union Wesley Methodist Church Cemetery
Site Brief:
Founded: 1873
Location: Potomac, MD
Additional name(s): N/A
Affiliate group(s): N/A
History:
In Piney Thicket (also called “The Glen”), Montgomery County, MD, a small tract of land was sold to the Trustees of the Methodist Church (Nelson Cooper Sr, Thomas Jenkins and Aaron Turner). From our records, the deed is dated September 11, 1873. It is presumed that Nelson Cooper was the pastor at the Wesley Union church or had an active role in the religious services of a church in the area due to the 1880 census listing his occupation as a Preacher. The first burial was of Nelson Cooper on January 28, 1910, according to the Montgomery County death records and the last burial was in 1953.
Sometime during the mid to late 70s, Montgomery County placed a tax on the family cemetery and sold the cemetery at a tax auction. Once purchased, the new owner did not know the land was a cemetery. He would find out, after the purchase, about the cemetery on the property. Now, his son owns the property and has been very cooperative in the descendants' pursuits to restore and preserve the cemetery. They have started their efforts in 2022. Since then, they are working to start a nonprofit (called Union Wesley Methodist Church Cemetery) and have started restoring the cemetery.
BCN Contact Information:
Cherisse Crawford
chrss_mllnr@yahoo.com