Prince William County historians believe they have linked the remains of a historic grave site to a Manassas woman, Carolyn Lynn.
Lynn discovered her connection to the site this past Saturday via email. She told News4 she is disturbed, knowing the remains of her ancestors will be relocated.
“I was very surprised and very upset to see that this is my family and they’re being dug up,” she said.
The property, located along Va. 234 near Hoadly Road, is believed to contain Lynn’s great-great-great-grandfather, along with other relatives.
“They come from a line in Prince William County that dates back to the Revolutionary War,” Lynn said.
It also happens to be on the land where the Prince William County School Board is building the district’s 12th high school, which is slated to open September 2015.
In July, the school board announced the discovery of the remains and followed the proper procedure to transfer them to a proper cemetery.
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“They’ve really done everything they can do to make sure this process is done in a respectful manner,” Coles District supervisor Marty Nohe said. “But the concern we’ve heard is that people would have liked to have had a little more advanced public notice.”
Supervisor Nohe is pushing for the Prince William County Board of Supervisors to have the county’s historical commission review future projects, and give the public more of a say, before moving forward with procedures that affect historical remnants.
Lynn is still hoping for a compromise but doesn’t want her family’s remains moved.
“Leave these people where they were meant to rest in peace,” she said.
