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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