This is one of the oldest and possibly one of the best preserved family graveyards in the United States, burials are in close family groups. There are six burials before 1700, and ten more before 1800. The progenitor of this family is Philemon Lloyd who died in 1685 and is near center of the cemetery. His grave marker, index #42, is a False Tomb , i.e. horizontal table on a low boxy enclosure that covers the full area of his grave, as are his wife, children and some of his grandchildren
The Lloyd family settled in Maryland in the 17th century when Edward Lloyd I (c.1620-c.1695) came to America and built the first Wye House on the Wye River. He married Alice Crouch and they had a son, Philemon (1646-1685). In 1668 Edward Lloyd I returned to London and left his Maryland assets to his son Philemon, who married Henrietta Maria Bennett. Their eldest son was Edward Lloyd II (1670-1718) who inherited the Lloyd fortune and married Sarah Covington. Their third son was Edward Lloyd III (1711-1770), who married Ann Rousby.
Beginning with the death of Philemon's grandson, Edward III Lloyd in 1771, pairs of large monuments were used to mark the graves of the succeeding Wye House owners and their wives. The monuments for Edward III and Ann Rousby, index numbers 52 and 53, have a foundation cube with inscription. On top of the cubes is a large stone urn with an upright flame.
Following generations also used monument pairs with a foundation cube and inscription, but added a large cylinder to hold high smaller urns. While husband and wife have matching monuments, each set of pairs is unique to each couple and only one instance of an infant son with monument very similar to his parents.
As we try to “untangle the briar patch” and help family and other visitors “navigate the thorns," the index now includes location, type of monument, parents, spouse, and reference photos. Several photos have been marked with the index number as seen on the layout drawing and an alternate overhead photo.
