Research an abandoned burial ground
March 22, 2016 7:54 PM Subscribe
We may have found an abandoned "cemetery" just off our property in a rural area. Possibly from homesteaders or maybe earlier. How do we research this?
I work at a summer camp and a year or two ago one of the staff members mentioned that he stumbled upon a cemetery on Google that was supposedly on our property. This one in particular. We had never heard of it (thought it's possible some directors from before our time knew), so we decided to go check it out. The directions were oddly specific, but sure enough right at 300 yards we found it. Here is a picture of one of the graves and you can see another one in the background on the left. They are all varying sizes and are scattered about in the woods. Some are questionable whether it's a grave or just a few rocks, others are more obvious. The rocks themselves seem to be river rocks pulled from the nearby river (but not close that that many rocks could end up there naturally). We counted roughly seven graves, however they are next to a powerline corridor and it looked like one or two more may have been demolished.
I find all this really interesting and want to learn more, but it seems most of the information does not exist. Specifically what I'm looking for is where the supposed name of "Burns Cemetery" comes from. The graves are actually just over our property line (the description is mistaken), but it's all woods so whenever that was written it was understandably easy to make that mistake. The owner bought the land for farming pretty recently while we have owned our land since 1964. The owner was initially pretty spooked when we told him, but after he went out there he decided he doesn't think they are graves. To us they seem obviously man-made. While I can probably go back there if need be, I doubt the owner would be too keen on any archaeological stuff going on.
Here are the routes I have tried:
1) Email the author - Both email addresses listed on that website are dead.
2) Land Owners - BLM says the land was given out in 1956 as a Land Grant to someone of a different name than Burns. Graves seem older than that anyway.
3) Deeds - The county records are a mess when you try and go back that far. I know from experience that it's very hard to find anything in their vault and I'm not even sure where I would start looking because of the Land Grant. The records are also an hour away from the camp and about 4 hours away from where I live, so I don't want to go there unless I know I'll walk away with information.
4) I'm going to try contacting the local Historical Society. The area is not heavily populated and I've found out in past historical research that they don't have many resources, but it's at least worth a shot.
Any ideas on other avenues to research?
I work at a summer camp and a year or two ago one of the staff members mentioned that he stumbled upon a cemetery on Google that was supposedly on our property. This one in particular. We had never heard of it (thought it's possible some directors from before our time knew), so we decided to go check it out. The directions were oddly specific, but sure enough right at 300 yards we found it. Here is a picture of one of the graves and you can see another one in the background on the left. They are all varying sizes and are scattered about in the woods. Some are questionable whether it's a grave or just a few rocks, others are more obvious. The rocks themselves seem to be river rocks pulled from the nearby river (but not close that that many rocks could end up there naturally). We counted roughly seven graves, however they are next to a powerline corridor and it looked like one or two more may have been demolished.
I find all this really interesting and want to learn more, but it seems most of the information does not exist. Specifically what I'm looking for is where the supposed name of "Burns Cemetery" comes from. The graves are actually just over our property line (the description is mistaken), but it's all woods so whenever that was written it was understandably easy to make that mistake. The owner bought the land for farming pretty recently while we have owned our land since 1964. The owner was initially pretty spooked when we told him, but after he went out there he decided he doesn't think they are graves. To us they seem obviously man-made. While I can probably go back there if need be, I doubt the owner would be too keen on any archaeological stuff going on.
Here are the routes I have tried:
1) Email the author - Both email addresses listed on that website are dead.
2) Land Owners - BLM says the land was given out in 1956 as a Land Grant to someone of a different name than Burns. Graves seem older than that anyway.
3) Deeds - The county records are a mess when you try and go back that far. I know from experience that it's very hard to find anything in their vault and I'm not even sure where I would start looking because of the Land Grant. The records are also an hour away from the camp and about 4 hours away from where I live, so I don't want to go there unless I know I'll walk away with information.
4) I'm going to try contacting the local Historical Society. The area is not heavily populated and I've found out in past historical research that they don't have many resources, but it's at least worth a shot.
Any ideas on other avenues to research?
Fascinating. Definitely looks like unequivocally a set of burials.
Arkansas cemetery laws, which might impact the current landowner.
County resources might be helpful. It looks like you have county libraries and a county surveyor. It does seem like a reference librarian would be a great place to start.
posted by Miko at 8:27 PM on March 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
Arkansas cemetery laws, which might impact the current landowner.
County resources might be helpful. It looks like you have county libraries and a county surveyor. It does seem like a reference librarian would be a great place to start.
posted by Miko at 8:27 PM on March 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
I doubt the owner would be too keen on any archaeological stuff going on.
Oh, just a note, if they do seem likely to be graves it's not likely that anyone would propose digging into them. Archaeological resources are generally considered non-renewable and the professional practice is to leave resources untouched as long as they are not threatened. There may be agencies interested in documenting the site, but the owner should not fear any archaeological excavations unless he's planning on building there or otherwise disturbing the site.
Speaking of archaeology, that is another good contingent of professionals to engage. It would be a good idea to contact the AR Archaeological Survey (public agency, at which you can get advice and register a newly found site - it looks like this is your region's state archaeological officer) and/or Archaeological Society (voluntary association).
posted by Miko at 8:34 PM on March 22, 2016 [5 favorites]
Oh, just a note, if they do seem likely to be graves it's not likely that anyone would propose digging into them. Archaeological resources are generally considered non-renewable and the professional practice is to leave resources untouched as long as they are not threatened. There may be agencies interested in documenting the site, but the owner should not fear any archaeological excavations unless he's planning on building there or otherwise disturbing the site.
Speaking of archaeology, that is another good contingent of professionals to engage. It would be a good idea to contact the AR Archaeological Survey (public agency, at which you can get advice and register a newly found site - it looks like this is your region's state archaeological officer) and/or Archaeological Society (voluntary association).
posted by Miko at 8:34 PM on March 22, 2016 [5 favorites]
You actually have a state archaeologist group in each state that has a database of all known historical things and who's job it is to answer questions like this, albeit often mostly related to permitting. If you research "SHPO" for your state you get The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program. They even have a cemetery dept! You will be amazed at how much info they have stashed away in their computers. I would bet they know about this one. But if not they are always happy to get more info and may be able to give you a list of all sites nearby that you can establish familial info from.
This would ruin the plot of any number of movies and TV shows btw, so keep it a secret from any scriptwriters, kthx.
posted by fshgrl at 8:46 PM on March 22, 2016 [7 favorites]
This would ruin the plot of any number of movies and TV shows btw, so keep it a secret from any scriptwriters, kthx.
posted by fshgrl at 8:46 PM on March 22, 2016 [7 favorites]
The state historic preservation agency typically has legal authority over all cemetery permissions and old human remains; a call to them could start you in the right direction. They will have the best maps, lists, and resources for unlisted cemeteries. They can also put you in touch with the archaeologists, etc.
Old federal topography surveys (USGS) are gold mines for stuff like this and many are accessible online. Orphaned place names often appear on old federal surveys.
(Make sure the owner knows that it is a crime - sometimes a felony - to mess with graves to destroy them, move headstones, or build on top of them, unless he gets sign-off from the state historic preservation agency, even when those graves are on private property. EVEN IF he thinks they're not graves or not man-made; corporations all the time try to practice constructive ignorance so they can pave old graveyards and people go to jail for it. As long as he's leaving it alone it's fine, tho.)
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 8:46 PM on March 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
Old federal topography surveys (USGS) are gold mines for stuff like this and many are accessible online. Orphaned place names often appear on old federal surveys.
(Make sure the owner knows that it is a crime - sometimes a felony - to mess with graves to destroy them, move headstones, or build on top of them, unless he gets sign-off from the state historic preservation agency, even when those graves are on private property. EVEN IF he thinks they're not graves or not man-made; corporations all the time try to practice constructive ignorance so they can pave old graveyards and people go to jail for it. As long as he's leaving it alone it's fine, tho.)
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 8:46 PM on March 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Jessamyn, I forgot to mention this, but I'm actually meeting with a librarian/historian tomorrow. While he is based in the next state over, he has done a lot of research on this area in particular as he was a former staff member and I know he has been doing research on the camp's history recently. Hopefully he'll at least have some professional contacts at the State Library that I could try!
Miko, I'll definitely look into those archaeological links. Even if this site doesn't fit the bill, we have a few other sites on the property that they might be interested in.
Fshgrl, I've actually worked with the AHPP before and have a contact there. I'm not sure why I didn't think of contacting them! I sent off an email and will hopefully hear back soon.
Eyebrows McGee, I've tried USGS but unfortunately they do not list it. Interestingly enough, there is another Burns Cemetery that is not far from this one. It's technically in the next county and town over, but it's only about a 20 minute drive. Google Earth makes it look like it's next to someone's house on a large plot of land, but the specific spot is covered by trees.
I'll also try to pass along the information about the laws, but I don't have much contact with the owner.
posted by Deflagro at 9:28 PM on March 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
Miko, I'll definitely look into those archaeological links. Even if this site doesn't fit the bill, we have a few other sites on the property that they might be interested in.
Fshgrl, I've actually worked with the AHPP before and have a contact there. I'm not sure why I didn't think of contacting them! I sent off an email and will hopefully hear back soon.
Eyebrows McGee, I've tried USGS but unfortunately they do not list it. Interestingly enough, there is another Burns Cemetery that is not far from this one. It's technically in the next county and town over, but it's only about a 20 minute drive. Google Earth makes it look like it's next to someone's house on a large plot of land, but the specific spot is covered by trees.
I'll also try to pass along the information about the laws, but I don't have much contact with the owner.
posted by Deflagro at 9:28 PM on March 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
The State library (or a Federal Depository one in the right/nearby county) should have the WPA cemetery survey for the state. They were part of the WPA Historical Records project. While I can't easily find the Arkansas one, some of the compilers got a lot more into description and poking around than others.
posted by cobaltnine at 10:46 PM on March 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by cobaltnine at 10:46 PM on March 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
Are the piles in something resembling a line from one another? Because I have seen things exactly like this before and they weren't cairns, they were the remnants of an old stone fence that had been dismantled at some point.
Of course, they might be graves, I just wanted to present an alternative possibility to the people saying those definitely look like burial sites.
posted by 256 at 7:58 AM on March 23, 2016
Of course, they might be graves, I just wanted to present an alternative possibility to the people saying those definitely look like burial sites.
posted by 256 at 7:58 AM on March 23, 2016
Response by poster: 256, unfortunately they are not and there is no discernible pattern to them. Several are placed at the base of large trees while others seem to just be randomly scattered.
Thanks though and I would love to hear any other possible explanations that people might have!
posted by Deflagro at 8:07 AM on March 23, 2016
Thanks though and I would love to hear any other possible explanations that people might have!
posted by Deflagro at 8:07 AM on March 23, 2016
Response by poster: Small follow up: Spoke with the librarian/historian. While he didn't have any contacts for the AR State Library, he suggested I try looking in the Goodspeed Histories for any clues and his library has a copy of them. He also suggested census records if I can whittle down a timeframe.
posted by Deflagro at 1:38 PM on March 25, 2016
posted by Deflagro at 1:38 PM on March 25, 2016
Thanks for the update. Definitely try the SHPO/Archaeology extension next. Good luck!
posted by Miko at 5:24 PM on March 25, 2016
posted by Miko at 5:24 PM on March 25, 2016
Response by poster: Follow up: Finally heard back from the SHPO. They can't find it in any of their files, but they're going to put it out on their listserv to see if anyone has any information.
Going through census records, I found the names of a Burns family that lived in the area in 1860, but then are not listed in the 1870 census. They're listed with the Post Office that covered that general area, but it's all very rural and sparsely populated. Going off of my memory of visiting the cemetery, it seems like the number of family members could line up with the number of graves, but that's all speculation. The 1870 census does list a different Burns family living in the next town over (the same town that the second Burns Cemetery is in that shows up in the USGS database).
posted by Deflagro at 9:23 AM on March 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
Going through census records, I found the names of a Burns family that lived in the area in 1860, but then are not listed in the 1870 census. They're listed with the Post Office that covered that general area, but it's all very rural and sparsely populated. Going off of my memory of visiting the cemetery, it seems like the number of family members could line up with the number of graves, but that's all speculation. The 1870 census does list a different Burns family living in the next town over (the same town that the second Burns Cemetery is in that shows up in the USGS database).
posted by Deflagro at 9:23 AM on March 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Oh, and the Goodspeed book didn't have any useful information.
posted by Deflagro at 9:25 AM on March 30, 2016
posted by Deflagro at 9:25 AM on March 30, 2016
Response by poster: For anyone still interested, here's a follow up.
I got in touch with the Arkansas Gravestone Project, but they didn't have anymore information besides what was online. Their closest Coordinator isn't too familiar with the county.
I tried the State Library but they said they do not have the WPA cemetery survey.
No word from the SHPO and their listserv, but they said they'd add it to their list of places to check out next time they're in the area.
I checked the BLM Database and no luck there. In 1859 another man bought 80 acres in the area very close to the cemetery. He may have owned the cemetery, not sure. He bought more 120 more acres in the 1872 and then closer to the turn of the century some homesteaders started receiving land in the area from the Homestead Act. I did find the Burns listed on the census...they bought 40 acres in 1861, but they're on the other side of the Township from the cemetery. They bought land in Section 9 while the cemetery is in Section 35.
Looks like I may be at a dead end..
posted by Deflagro at 7:56 AM on April 8, 2016
I got in touch with the Arkansas Gravestone Project, but they didn't have anymore information besides what was online. Their closest Coordinator isn't too familiar with the county.
I tried the State Library but they said they do not have the WPA cemetery survey.
No word from the SHPO and their listserv, but they said they'd add it to their list of places to check out next time they're in the area.
I checked the BLM Database and no luck there. In 1859 another man bought 80 acres in the area very close to the cemetery. He may have owned the cemetery, not sure. He bought more 120 more acres in the 1872 and then closer to the turn of the century some homesteaders started receiving land in the area from the Homestead Act. I did find the Burns listed on the census...they bought 40 acres in 1861, but they're on the other side of the Township from the cemetery. They bought land in Section 9 while the cemetery is in Section 35.
Looks like I may be at a dead end..
posted by Deflagro at 7:56 AM on April 8, 2016
Frustrating. Just a long shot, what's the African-American history in your area? I just learned about a project documenting cemeteries of enslaved people - which are often unmarked - and put it in this FPP. I wonder if there's a chance it dates from slavery. If so, the best sources might actually be any knowledge keepers in the local African-American community. Possibly via churches. Maybe this is not a viable thread if there's no such local history, but just a thought.
posted by Miko at 10:49 AM on April 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Miko at 10:49 AM on April 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Interesting FPP! Hmm that could be a possibility. According to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas there were 88 slaves in the county in the 1860 census. However I'm not sure how I'd research that? The 2010 census lists only 40 African-Americans in the county (total population of the county is just over 12,000)...
posted by Deflagro at 11:07 AM on April 8, 2016
posted by Deflagro at 11:07 AM on April 8, 2016
Yeah, small population, and who knows if they are longtime Arkansans or transplants. One thought, maybe try the Afro-American Historical Genealogical Society - here's the AK chapter.
. Also googled up this Black History Commission of AK.
This one's a toughie, but really sounds like an interesting project. I hope something comes to light.
posted by Miko at 11:30 AM on April 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
. Also googled up this Black History Commission of AK.
This one's a toughie, but really sounds like an interesting project. I hope something comes to light.
posted by Miko at 11:30 AM on April 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
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posted by jessamyn at 7:58 PM on March 22, 2016 [3 favorites]