Genealogy question.

[archieclement]

Common pre 1900 East TN. Lots of "fieldstone" used as markers.

here big pieces of river rock or limestone was often used to mark slave graves, with no discernable markings.

Not sure if they were placed unmarked, or if crudely inscribed and it's weathered away.

 

[C. Cash]

Unmarked is the usual, I believe. Both ggGrands who died in 1900 in Warren Co. TN are unmarked. Many other folks of modest means seem to have not been properly marked.

 

[tomlamarcooughlin]

I can find headstones for all my g-grandparents (who lived during the Civel War) but before that it falls off a lot. I do find a g-grandfather (4x) who in 1812 was on a trip home to MD from his son's in KY when he got sick. He found a courthose in TN near the Cumberland Gap and wrote a new will. The will was probated there which proves that he died there but I have never found a headstone. I assume that since no family lived in the area, they felt no need for a headstone.

 

[Gus2015]

I'm in the 5 % range. What really makes me angry is I have two revolutionary war grandfathers that I know where the graveyards were but they were purposely destroyed. Poultry processing plant built on one and the other was apparently interfering with a pasture.

 

[Gus2015]

I was lucky enough with a third great grandfather who was in unmarked grave. His obit in the paper at the time actually stated he was buried next to his father. Sometimes you find a clue once in a while.