Direct descendants of Peter and Elizabeth Livingston presented the Bible to Garnett Gilliam, School Room project founder and Lonesome Pine School and Heritage Center vice president, in brief ceremonies at the Tolliver House Feb. 25. When construction of the center is completed next door to the Tolliver House, the Bible will likely be moved to the new facility, Gilliam said.

One important component of the center will be genealogy, said Patty Lynn Cooper, society treasurer and also a Livingston descendant. Visitors will be able to research family backgrounds, and the center's volunteers will encourage the sharing of genealogies to expand the information available to all. The information and photographs in the family Bible will be a valuable addition to the collection.

The history of the Livingston family begins with William Todd Livingston and his wife Sarah, coming to the region in the mid 1700s, and goes on to include a brutal Indian attack described by local author and historian Dr. Lawrence Fleenor's book, "Benge!," Cooper said.

"Sarah Livingston, mother of Peter and Henry Livingston of Scott County, was massacred by Benge and his Indian followers. Elizabeth and the wife of Henry were captured by the Indians, which subsequently led to the killing of Benge, near what is now Norton," she continued.

Livingston descendant and Norton resident Pauline Hagy told Cooper and Gilliam how she ended up with custody of the fragile old Bible.

"My mother brought it up here when she moved from her childhood home at Dot, and we found it among her things. I guess you could say custody of the Bible passed to me," she said. Hagy said her father was an Anderson, and his mother was Sarah Livingston.

Joining her for the presentation were her son and daughter-in-law, Marty and Martha Hagy, her sister, Margaret "Peggy" Blair, all of Norton, and Betty and George Livingston, of Stickleyville.

Brittle pages chart the Livingston family history, and in the back of the book, album pages hold 16 small photographs. "We have no idea who they are," Cooper said as she thumbed through the pages of men and women, most dressed in black. "The photos look like they were all taken in the 1800s," she said.

The Bible will likely be placed in a glass or plastic case, so that it can be viewed, but not handled by others, Gilliam said.

"Hopefully we can copy the pictures and the pages that have hand-written information on them and put them in a notebook beside the Bible, so that people have access to what they need to see," Gilliam said. "We will have a copy machine at the center, so people can copy whatever they want."

Preserving the Bible and sharing it with others is only one element of the Livingston family's current effort.

Cooper said she joined about 55 Hagy and Livingston family members who gathered at Mendota last summer for a family reunion and cleaning, fencing and repair project at the cemetery, which contains graves from about 1778 through 1914.

The event was organized by George and Betty Livingston of Stickleyville, Carol Rivers of Jonesville and Virginia and Carl Osborne of Blackwater.

The old cemetery, which was in a cow pasture, had fallen into neglect. Head stones had been broken and the area was overgrown. Much has been restored by the family, but much work remains.

A stone which had been presented to Peter Livingston by the Veterans Administration in honor of his service to his country was dedicated by the Over Mountain Men's Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. Elizabeth Livingston, who received a metal for service during the War of 1812, was also recognized by the Daughters of the American Revolution. The stone and medal were uncovered in the debris of the cemetery at the beginning of the restoration work at the site, Cooper noted.

A LITTLE FAMILY HISTORY

According to a family newsletter sent out prior to the reunion, William Todd Livingston, his wife, Sarah Ware Livingston, and some or all of their children settled on the North Fork of the Holston River near Mendota about 1765. William died about 1778 and is believed to be buried in the cemetery at Mendota.

On April 7, 1794, his widow, Sara, her two sons, their wives and several grandchildren were living at the homestead. Benge attacked the farm. Sarah was tomahawked and died four days later. Two daughters-in-law were taken hostage, and the husbands, with the help of the Lee County Militia, tracked the group. Benge was killed in the rescue. The above Livingstons are reportedly buried in the cemetery, the newsletter states.

"If we all take action towards the restoration of the Livingston Cemetery, we will be preserving the history of a courageous group of pioneers who settled and contributed to the growth of our country. What greater legacy can we leave our children than pride in family?" the family newsletter continues.

Those who wish to send contributions to help with the cemetery preservation project should make out checks to the William Todd Livingston Cemetery Fund, and ask that the deposit be made to Acct. 10013696 and send them to Farmers & Miners Bank, Attn: Brenda K. Zion, 403 W. Morgan Ave., Pennington Gap, Va. 24277, or contact George Livingston at 276/546-2414 or email bbl@optidynamic.com.

Those who have questions about the Bible or its contents may contact Gilliam at 523-2866 or Cooper at 523-0450.

Donations for the Lonesome Pine School and Heritage Center project may be directed to Patty Lynn Cooper, 316 E. 2nd St. N, Big Stone Gap, Va. 24219, or the society at P.O. Box 581, Big Stone Gap, Va. 24219.