Slave cemetery vs. waterfront access - Landowners ask judge permission to build road over old Wilsonia Neck Slave burial site

A cemetery site that is believed to be the burial grounds of slaves from the former colonial estate of John Custis III is the subject of legal action for the second time since 1999 as landowners try to access part of their property. A group of adjacent property owners filed an October lawsuit in Northampton Circuit Court against Douglas Maxwell, who owns the Wilsonia Neck property they believe they have a right to cross -- or build a road across -- to gain access to the waterfront and a "future boat landing" referred to in earlier deeds.  The parties filing the suit are Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ward Sr. of Machipongo, Charles Forest of Cheriton, and Virginia Beach residents John Weinbrecht and Catherine Meredith.  The complainants want permission to use Maxwell's 20-foot by 50-foot parcel to gain access to the waterfront tract they own. Now, if they do not trespass on Maxwell's property to gain access, they must access by way of neighboring property owned by Jerome Schaum, who is also opposed to any disruption of the historic slave site.  Though all complainants are adjacent property owners at Mattawoman Estates on Wilsonia Neck, only the Wards own a home on the property. The others own unimproved land.  "I think it is morally wrong to desecrate a cemetery for the purpose of economic gain," Maxwell said this week from New Jersey. He bought his home on the Shore eight years ago and said he and his wife are "more than part-time" residents here.  They hope soon to relocate permanently and were described by Schaum as "non-resident owners who are very interested in the integrity of the Shore." [more]