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From: "John McRae" <>
Subject: Re: [GA-CEMETERY-PRESERVATION] Clapp's Factory Cemetery graves
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 16:48:58 -0400
References: <054001c6cbd8$6160dbf0$3f3ce404@yourd56fa23e19><44F6ECFB.7020509@flash.net>


John,
John Wayne McRae here. I have a similar problem with Old McKinnon Cemetery
in China Hill, Telfair County, Ga. We found the cemetery in 1993 while doing
research for our family history book. It had been abandoned for 50-60 years.
I have spent 13 years clearing it. There are approx. 600 graves there. Only
25 or so are marked. Many are depressions in the ground or marked by bricks.
I also had to deal with one of the land owners encroachment by them planting
pine trees over most of the cemetery. That has stopped. Three sides of the
cemetery also have berms that have been pushed up and until I can clear the
berms, God knows what I will find under them. I installed chain link fence
across the front and pvc pipes along the three other sides. I have
personally paid for and performed most of the work , it can be a drain
financially. The oldest marker is 1835 , though we feel some of the graves
are much older. The cemetery is named after Charles McKinnon, a pioneer and
surveyor of Telfair County. My 3rd great Grand mother , along with many
other family members are buried there, she was the wife of a Revolutionary
War Solider. I have had no success in getting any of our very large family
interested in helping do the work. I used pvc pipe because of the cost of
chain link fence.
I have maybe a couple of more years before it is completely cleared, so I
can locate and mark all the graves. Living 3.5 hours away ,I make at least 3
trips a year just to mow to keep the brush down.
My 2nd Great Grand Father is buried there and he was a Georgia State
Senator, Legislator, Lawyer , Probate Judge , Planter among other things.
His brother is buried there and he was also a Judge ,Lawyer and Politician .
Good Luck with your project,
John Wayne McRae.

P.S. I have also located the slave cemetery.

----- Original Message -----
From: "John Mallory Land" <>
To: <>; <>;
<>
Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2006 10:06 AM
Subject: [GA-CEMETERY-PRESERVATION] Clapp's Factory Cemetery graves


> All,
>
> Our organization, the Clapp's Factory Cemetery Preservation League,
> hopes soon to have a formal archaeological survey of the cemetery site
> conducted. This is expected to tell us the locations of the estimated
> 300 to 500 graves, only one of which is still marked. After we place a
> fence around the cemetery to protect it, we will begin making
> improvements.
>
> One change we are considering is somehow marking each grave to show it
> is a grave. Some possiblities include framing each with wood, concrete
> or stone, and filling in with fine gravel. One member reported a
> restored cemetery where the graves were marked with PCV pipe. One
> alternative is marking each with a small, neutral headstone. Many of
> the graves are sinks and present a hazard if accidentally stepped into.
> For this reason, we have talked about filling these in to level them -
> this also might be necessary in order to mark them, depending on what
> method we choose. However, we wonder if this might be considered
> obtrusive, disrespectful of the deceased, or damaging to the cemetery as
> a historic site. We would not make any changes until a full survey has
> been carried out.
>
> Although we have discovered the names or identities of close to 80
> persons known or believed to be buried in the cemetery, we will probably
> never know who is buried in what grave in most cases (unless the formal
> survey reveals markers that have sunk down or been covered over). We
> plan to erect cenotaphs or other memorials, placed where we know there
> are not graves. But it's not clear how -or if -we should go about
> marking the graves themselves. If anyone has any suggestions or
> thoughts on the matter, I would be interested to know of it. Also, if
> there is a website or other resource that deals with this issue, I would
> like that reference as well.
>
> Thank you,
>
> John in TX
>
>
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