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mcc-jrr_831-024
Unknown Cemetery, 83-1 Summary Report, page 24
The above 1880 census record shows George at age 10 in the household of his father Sydney, with his mother, Mary Dickson Lanier Darwin. The Darwin family always was enumerated in Huntsville, for both George and his father. However, George invested in land of historical family interest by his first wife (a Jamar). This land was in the southern portion of the county, near Leeman's Ferry and destined to become a part of Redstone Arsenal. Since the NE/4 of Section 32 in Township 5, Range 1 West included one of the highest points of elevation in the area, it is likely that it held the historical location of the Jamar family mansion, as well as the family cemetery. Normally, family cemeteries in the early 1800s were located within about 150 to 300 yards of the family house. If such is the case here, then the “Unknown” Cemetery of 83 - 1 is very likely the old Jamar family burying ground. It of course would be associated with the other Jamar Cemetery that is outside of the arsenal boundary on the west side, near the junction of Martin Road with Zierdt Road. Most of the data collected in research of the Jamar family in Madison County is filed under the Jamar - Owen Cemetery name (with no numerical designation, since it is not on the arsenal). That data is still in process, as it includes many “raw” digital camera images that have not yet been enhanced or trimmed. Most of those images are of old land records (deeds) that were photographed in hopes of finding clues to the cemetery in the NE/4 of S32-T5-R1W mentioned in the descriptions of lands. If such a reference is found in the future processing of these images, this Summary Report will be updated accordingly. For now, it seems quite logical that the Unknown Cemetery 83 - 1 is in fact the cemetery of the Owen and the Jamar family, and that the mansion would have been just up the hill to the northwest of the cemetery and behind the present site of Igloo 8309. It may be appropriate to consider renaming this cemetery to the Jamar - Owen Plantation Family Cemetery, 83 - 1. Prepared by John P. Rankin, September 7, 2005 24 - (2835)