I am writing to you today to make you aware of a terrible event which has happened and is continuing to happen in Hanover County. During the month of February of this year, workers began digging up the human remains from one of two graveyards at what is now known as Pebble Creek subdivision in the Mechanicsville area of Hanover County. This area was formerly known as “Dungarvan” and was owned by Edward Garland Sydnor.

When this news was made public, I began making phone calls & writing letters regarding the disturbing manner in which these remains were being removed (by use of backhoes, shovels, and trashcans and without the Department of Historic Resources involvement) After researching this matter further, the deed showing the transfer of this particular property from Edward Garland Sydnor to Francis W. Johnson showed these two graveyards were never included in the sale of the property. They were excluded and noted as such on the 1855 deed (re-recorded in 1866).

I have been in contact with other Sydnor family members and obtained your name from these other members either through former correspondence or from the list of those who attended the Sydnor family reunion of 1987.

I would ask that if you have internet access, please visit the following website:

http://www.savinggraves.com/usa/va/pebblecreek/index.html

so that you can see all the information, documents, photos, media coverage, etc pertaining to this matter.  You can also find a list of those you may write to in regards to this matter.

If you do not have internet access, please contact me and I will print & mail this information to you.

I am sorry to have to write you with this news, but if this were my ancestors, I would want someone to notify me. That is why I am writing to you today. I thank you for taking time out to read my brief letter and please feel free to contact me if you have ANY questions or concerns.  I can be reached either by mail, phone, fax, or email. Please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Sheri Millikin