Mercer County should also be included in some of our research since it is definitely in Southern West Virginia. Looking at the earliest Find-a-grave entries, I see many familiar names. All of these cemeteries are in Mercer County. The settlers on this list were born 1696 to 1763.
Fannie Moody Lilly, 1696 – 1806, Flat Top Cemetery. There is a tombstone.
____Thompson, 16 Jan 1720 – Dec 1818, Thompson Cemetery, Elgood. No additional information.
Robert Lilly, 1726 – 1810, Flat Top Cemetery. Lists wife and six children. Has a tombstone.
Mary Frances “Fanny” Moody Lilly, Nov 1732 – 1818, Flat Top Cemetery. Names parents, siblings, spouse, and children. Has memorial marker and a few notes.
Richard Bailey Sr., VETERAN Memorial, 22 Aug 1735 – 1818, Bailey Cemetery, Lamar. Has tombstone and a short biography. Names parents, spouse, and children.
Johan Peter Dingess, 4 Dec 1738 – 1809, Oakvale Cemetery. Veteran’s marker and lengthy biography. Parents, spouse, and children are named.
Elizabeth Anne Belcher Bailey, 1742 – 1820, Bailey Cemetery, Lamar. Names parents, numerous siblings, many children, and has a marker with several names.
Mary Anderson Dingess, 1750 – 1828, Oakvale Cemetery. Short bio with names of spouse and children.
Jeremiah Shrewsbury, 17 Apr 1755 – 1809, Maxey-Ferguson Cemetery, Spanishburg. Names of spouse and children are included.
Mary Elizabeth “Polly” Clay Shrewsbury, 17 Apr 1755 – 1810, Maxey-Ferguson Cemetery, Spanishburg. Short bio. Several family members are listed.
CPT James O Thompson, 1756 – 1826, Powell-Thompson Cemetery, Elgood. Biographical information and several names of family members are included.
Martin Pettry, 19 Jan 1757 – 1838, Old Pettry Cemetery. Spouse and two children are named.
Elizabeth Ann Raines Pettry, 1757 – 29 Dec 1840, Old Pettry Cemetery. Has a photo. Spouse and children are named.
Isaac Cole, 1760 – 18 Aug 1860, Oakvale Cemetery. Has photo, tombstone, death record. Lengthy bio with spouse and children.
William Tracy, 1761 – 7 May 1841, Oakvale Cemetery. Revolutionary soldier. Tombstone. No other information.
John Bailey Sr., 1763 – 30 Mar 1836, John Bailey Gravesite. Lots of biographical information, including a photo of his house and a military tombstone document. Many family members are named.
Tabitha Clay, 1763 – 1783, Clay Cemetery, Lake Shawnee. Her name is included on a cenotaph with many other names.
Lilly Records at West Virginia Archives