Oldest son of Revolutionary War Veteran, James Pinnell (1740-1821) & Elizabeth Wright (1749-1813).

"ALLEGHANY COUNTY, VA CEMETERIES – Pinnell Cemetery

----¤¤¤----

Cemetery Location: 22 miles southwest of Covington, Virginia and 2 miles southeast on the old pike. From Covington, go 22 miles southwest on Route #18 to Sizers; thence 2 miles on the old pike towards Fincastle.

Account of the Death of Joseph Pinnell as it was published soon after his death by John W. Stark:

Rev. Joseph Pinnell departed this life at his residence in Alleghany County on Sunday the 14th. of January 1849, at 2 O'Clock, A.M. in the 82nd year of his age.

Father Pinnell was born in Culpeper County in this state April 10th. 1767, born again (of God) in 1790, entered the itineracy January 1795, traveled Contentrer, Farriner, Portsmouth, Haw River, Bertic, Cumberland, Camden, and Caswell circuits, after which he was stationed at Wilmington. At the close of his time there he was appointed to Orange as Superanuary, thence to Bedford and Amherst.

From these last circuits he was called by Brother Stith Mead to fill his place on Richmond District, while he attended to some temporal business in Georgia. He presided the first year, three months; and the second year, nine months; the next two years following, filled the place of presiding elder on James River and Meherrin Districts, by appointment of Bishop Asbury. Located February 1810, he
traveled for two years thereafter by appointment of presiding elders, William Wright and Joseph C. Fry.

Married November 18, 1819 to Harriet Rayhill (1800-1874), daughter of Matthew and Esther (Stull) Rayhill, by whom he had one child, who with her mother, still live to mourn their unparalleled loss. From the dates above given you will perceive that the deceased was among the earliest Methodist preachers, a real pioneer in the cause of God.

His travels were extensive, embracing the larger part of the territory now embraced in the Baltimore, Virginia, and North Carolina Conferences, from the mountains to the seaboard. They were not only extensive but severe.

Methodism was then a novelty, its friends few, its foes many. Hunger and thirst followed in its train. Those who preached its holy doctrines, did so at the risk of their reputation and ease, if not at the risk of their lives. Among this number stood Father Pinnell, who with a holy zeal for the cause of God, regardless of suffering and toil, went up and down preaching the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

For the last twenty-five years, though sustaining a superanuated relation to the church, he had been traveling up and down our valleys and across our mountains through Greenbrier, Monroe, and Alleghany Counties, preaching with most happy success, and it was not until last fall that he could be induced to relinquish the work. When he could no longer preach in the congregation, he would preach around the fireside by holy converse, and by holy living. A life thus spent in the service of God, is generally crowned with a triumphant death, and so it was with Father Pinnell. He lived the life of a Christian and died a Christian death.

The last time I was permitted to see him was on New Years Day. He was then feeble and low, yet his skies were clear. I inquired respecting his future prospect, his reply was, "What to choose. I wot not, for I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.".

Such was his dying experience, in it there was no ecstacy, no joy, but peace, sweet peace, crowned the whole scene and gave it its peculiar triumph.

In all the relations of life as husband, father, citizen and friend, he won the confidence and esteem of those who knew him. He was universally beloved, is universally lamented. Thus let me live and thus let me die.

John W. Stark."

Source: Library of Virginia Digital Collection LVA Titled Files: Survey Report, Pinnell cemetery: 15 NOV 1936.

Research by Leila Blanche Bess.