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mcc-jrr_624-037

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Unnamed Cemetery, 62-4 Summary Report, page 37

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During the time between the 1850 and the 1860 censuses, it appears that some of the slaves either died or were sold or escaped, from the difference between the slave counts. IF the slaves died, then they could have been buried in the little site in the NW/4 of Section 25. However, that is doubtful, since these apparent graves have large rocks or boulders to cover the graves, and that practice has not been seen in other known slave cemeteries. Moreover, the Lipscomb Cemetery, 61-2, has plenty of room around the Lipscomb graves to hold their slaves as well. That would be more in keeping with a not common practice of the time - using a single cemetery to inter both the plantation owner's family members and the slaves. Of course, the slaves were typically put in a separate section, with the owner's family graves typically well marked and central to their cemetery, while slaves had no markers. That pattern pretty well fits the Lipscomb Cemetery, so it is considered more likely that the Unnamed 62-4 Cemetery was used for the white family members of the Boardman family. Perhaps even the “deaf and dumb” child of Elijah was buried there. Without any firm proofs found to date, only conjecture and deductions from small clues can point to any conclusions. However, if a name were to be selected for the cemetery in the absence of proof to the contrary, it would seem most appropriate to commemorate the name of Elijah Boardman here. While it is possible that Elijah himself is buried here, it is not likely. However, it is likely that one or more of the members of his family are there, so without any other monument in the county to commemorate the life of this pioneer who helped America to provide education for the deaf (and “dumb”), it would be good to call the site the “Boardman Cemetery, 62-4”. Prepared by John P. Rankin, September 9, 2005; Revised September 14, 2005 37 - (2335)    

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