Linda,


The Polk family of antebellum period lived in central Tennessee around Mount Pleasant (SW of Columbia).  There were four Polk brothers (one being my great, great grandfather - George W. Polk) that had adjoining plantations totaling around 100,000 acres.  My great great grandfather's plantation, Rattle and Snap (built 1845), still survives and I think one other.  At what I believe is the juncture of the 4 plantations, the Polk family had a beautiful Episcopal chapel built, which also still stands (St. John's Episcopal).  Both sites are on the NRHP.  The family graveyard is located there where my great grandfather ((Confederate) Capt. James H. Polk) amongst others are buried.  Its been a long time since I've been there and I don't recall if any recognizably slave names are included.  The chapel and graveyard are well defined by a stone wall.  Rattle and Snap has a website - www.rattleandsnapplantation.com  
and both are on Wickipedia. I have a good reference at home on the chapel from the Tennessee Historical Quarterly from at least 30 years ago.  I'll get it and send it to you. 


Harding Polk II
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-----Original Message-----
From: Linda Derry <[log in to unmask]>
To: HISTARCH <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tue, Jan 8, 2013 10:22 am
Subject: Plantation Cemeteries


I would love to hear from others working in the old antebellum cotton belt in 
the U.S. about cemeteries on big plantations. 

Up to this point I've been working mainly with graveyards within the boundaries 
of former towns or villages, but am now turning my attention to some nearby 
plantations, and am repeatedly finding that logging, farming and/or road crews 
have "relocated" gravestones into ravines, separating them from their original 
graves.  After much thought, I toying with the idea of trying to help these 
relatively intact grave markers find their way back to their graves -- 
especially after reading some wills with heartfelt instructions about the 
construction and care of these same burial places).   

So, I am wondering if anyone on  HISTARC can recommend some literature  that 
contains discussions of a predictive model that speaks about the relationship of 
the family cemetery relative to the "Big House."

  Because of the task at hand I'm talking here mainly about the plantation 
owner's family burial ground  but I would also like to hear if there is some 
predictability in the location of the burials of enslaved inhabitants of these 
plantations)
 
Any incidental knowledge based on experience would also be appreciated.  Mostly, 
I am wondering if there a consistent relationship between the two (mansion and 
burial ground), or not?   

I know there are survey archaeologists out there in the South that that have 
noticed a pattern, and am hoping you will answer my question. 

Linda Derry
Site Director
Old Cahawba
719 Tremont St.
Selma, AL 36701
ph. 334/875-2529
fax. 334/877-4253
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