The description of this burial lot is contained in a letter written on May 5, 1897, by James Allen Watkins, to his sister, Mrs. Robert Burett Oliver in Cape Girardeau, Mo. James was visiting the old home, Dover, and the burial ground of his paternal ancestors in Prince Edward County. In the letter he wrote, "This is the finest piece of masonry that I ever saw. The fence is made of blocks of granite, about 4 feet long by 18 inches thick, and 18 inches wide. These blocks are put together with cement, and are hammered and joined together on top with copper clasps sunk into the granite and then cemented with lead, so as to keep them together, and so well is it put together that not a single stone is displaced, although it has been built for 38 years. In this cemetery no one is buried but the family of Colonel Charles Allen. It is not a large cemetery, but simply a family lot, 40 feet x 60, enclosed with a granite fence 4 feet high, no gate, in the center of this lot is a family monument. The base is of blue granite, the shaft is of the best marble, and, although it has been standing for 38 years, is in a good state of preservation, except that it has been covered in some places with lichen and moss from the overhanging trees. I am having these trees cut out, the moss and lichen cleared off the monument, and the wall pointed up. This monument is about 11 feet high, base of blue granite 24 x 24 x 18, white marble obelisk 8 feet high from granite base. The inscription on this monument, on one side is viz:

"In memory of Col. Charles Allen,
Born 1746, died Feb. 8th, 1816."
"Mary Allen, wife of Col. Charles Allen,
Born 1750, died Feb. 4th, 1824."
"Wm. A. Allen."
"Elizabeth M. Allen."
"Ann A. Allen."
"Mary V. Allen."
"Frances R. Allen."
"Martha V. Redford."
"Children of Col. Allen."
"On another side of this obelisk is the following:
"Edward Redford, husband of M. V."
"Margaret Fabb, wife of S. V. Allen."
"Ann V. Allen, wife of Dr. Thos. Allen."
"Sarah Watts, sister of Charles."
"On another side of this obelisk is the following:
"Erected and enclosed by James R. Allen, son of Charles, 1859."