Joseph Blount Littlejohn was born 4 Oct 1776 in Edenton, Chowan, North Carolina. He was well educated, having graduated with honors from Princeton University in 1796. He was fluent in French and around 1800 served as secretary to William Richardson Davie to negotiate a Treaty with France. Later Joseph obtained a license to practice law. On 17 May 1804 he married Ann Maria daughter of Willie Jones of Halifax County, NC, statesman and uncle to the wife of William R Davie. 

   Joseph's and Ann Maria's daughter Mary Elizabeth married 15 Jan 1824 Lewis Pugh Williamson from Northampton County, North Carolina who was also well educated, having graduated from Yale University in 1821, and who served in the North Carolina Legislature and later in the Tennessee Legislature, representing Fayette County 1839-1841.

    On 22 Nov 1826 while living in Granville County, North Carolina, Joseph B Littlejohn purchased 1197 acres in Fayette County, Tennessee, (deed Book C, pp 245-6 recorded 13 Dec 1832.) In 1828 the Littlejohns and Williamsons settled in the northwest part (later Civil District #5) of Fayette County, Tennessee which had been established only 4 year prior. On 25 Mar 1834 for $2094 Joseph sold the eastern part (598.5 acres) of the original parcel to Lewis P Williamson (Deed Bk D, p 351-3.)  The Littlejohns were from Inverness, Scotland so the Williamson's plantation home was called "Inverness"; an old lane off the north side of "the avenue" (current Wagon Wheel Drive) led up to the home on a hill in the vicinity of 35.347635°, -89.448890°.

    . Joseph B. Littlejohn purchased other parcels including in 1831 320 acres south of the original tract and on which this cemetery was established. 

    Both men had prominent positions in the Methodist Church of Tennessee.

    This cemetery was the burial site for Joseph B Littlejohn, his wife, some of their sons-in-law (Robert Lawrence & Henry Peyton spouses of Sarah Littlejohn), grandchildren (Anna Maria Cherry, Edward Williamson, Lewis P Williamson, Martha M Williamson, & Mary Williamson, children of Mary E Littlejohn & Lewis P Williamson; Mary Lawrence daughter of Sarah Littlejohn) and great grandchildren (Ida Cherry, Sallie Cherry), with known burials from 1833- 1850s.

     In 1874 heirs of Joseph B Littlejohn sold outside of the family the lot containing about 328 acres "after reserving one (1) acre for the family burial place" (Fayette County Deed Book 4, p. 551).

Sources:

Honorable John Marshall, Local Historian, with permission;

Fayette County Historical Society Bulletins;

State Library of North Carolina