Wayne:

I know what you mean about destruction of cemeteries.  As weird as it may sound, IF I WERE RICH, I would spend a lot of my fortunes restoring old cemeteries.  I would love to be able to afford just to be able to fix and fence my direct ancestors. 

The Robertson Bryant (family) cemetery (also in Maury County) is almost gone now due to destruction by cattle.  Robertson Bryant and Nancy Amis are my g-g-g grandparents.  My mother and her sister remember this cemetery from their childhood (I would guess 1930's and 1940's) and remember the ornate fence that once surrounded the cemetery.  All of this is no longer around and the cattle are free to crush and knock over the stones.  Have you ever taken pictures of these stones????  The owners (at least - use to be owners) were willing to grant access to the cemetery.  It is a very small family cemetery.

Lucy Dunaway Zeier

Wayne:

Your Word file, along with the embedded topo map, came through just fine.  I would love for you to publish pictures of the (Robertson) Bryant Cemetery.  Let me see if I can help a little more with your ability to locate the cemetery.  

First let me recommend that you only try this in the winter months.  Being able to locate the cemetery when the plant foliage is so thick, makes it almost impossible to find (unless the owners take you there).

From Lewisburg, traveling northwest on Hwy 50 towards Columbia:

-  You will pass by Bryant Station and pass Interstate 65;

-  In about one or two miles, you will see a road (Fred White Road) that turns off to the right.  I believe there is a sign that says "Philadelphia;" but I can't remember for sure.  Turn right.

-  You will then (almost immediately) come to an intersecting road.  You will want to turn left.  This road, while (Called Rick Hight Rd or was the old hwy 50) paved for a while, will turn into an unimproved road (gravel -- deteriorated pavement?), as I remember.  You will pass several homes and trailers.

-  As you are traveling down this road (it is not far), you will see the home of Robertson Bryant off to your right.  It is a classic home of the early 1800s -- two stories with 4 stately columns.  It was painted white (with a green roof) the last time I saw it. 

-  Assuming you are now standing in front of the home, you would turn to your left and walk east for about 100 yards.

-  In front of you should be the edge of an open field, except for a grouping of trees and I believe a power pole (not the huge transmission lines).  There may also be a wire fence along the edge -- again I can't remember.

-  Once you get to this grouping of trees, you should be able to locate the (remnants of) stones. 

Other things of interest:

-  The current owner(s) have maintained a wooden fence in the front of the home.  As you walk outside the wooden gate, the yard starts to drop off.  At this drop off, you will notice a wall of stacked stones.  I was told this was built intentionally (with an elevation difference) so that carriages/wagons could pull up next to the wall and the visitor (presumably the woman) would only have to step across to level ground.  Pretty ingenious.

-  The owners were in 1991 the Reese's. They were attempting to restore the home.  They had found remnants of the detached kitchen off the back and had removed the interior walls to expose the yellow popular studs.   I have no idea the conditions of the home now since I have not been there.

Again, if I were rich, I would have this cemetery fenced and stones restored.  Robertson Bryant and Nancy Amis had 15 children and are the progenitors of (probably) thousands of current-day individuals.  It would be wonderful to preserve (and to remember) their resting place.  Their daughter, Ann (1826-1860), is buried there as well.  Ann died of consumption.  There are probably others buried there too.

 Let me know when you are thinking about making the trip.  If possible, I may try to make the trip at the same time.  Ronnie Erwin, past president of the Maury County Historical Society and a descendant of Robertson & Nancy Bryant, has also expressed an interest in visiting their homeplace.  Perhaps we could all go together.

I hope some of the above helps you in some way.  And, in the future, don't hesitate to call on me for help.  Your various contributions to Maury County have been so important and I certainly want to help you in any way I can.

(cc:  Ronnie Erwin)

Lucy Dunaway Zeier

Subj: More Directions 
Date:11/5/2004 10:01:54 AM Pacific Standard Time
From: Looswhl
To: WayneAL1

Wayne:

I just did a MapQuest search and found the following more specific instructions:

The road to Philadelphia is called Fred White Road; and intersecting road is called Rick Hight Road.

 Talk to you later,

 Lucy Dunaway Zeier

Wayne:

 You are correct -- the cemetery is not on any current-day topos that I am aware (my topo was photo revised in 1981).  Robertson Bryant's house and outbuildings are marked, however, with their symbol for buildings (rectangular & square blocks).

 I have written, and have mailed today, a short letter to Mrs. Reese.  This was just a preliminary letter -- just trying to reacquaint her to me as well as trying to verify her mailing address (I also found an address for her on Rick Hight Road).

 I will let you know what her response is.  If she shows any enthusiasm, I will ask her permission on several fronts, including the notification of GNIS of the coordinates of the cemetery.

Lucy Dunaway Zeier
Commentary by Wayne Austin: As of 9/1/2005 no one has been able to secure permission due to the land owners lack of public access. To visit the cemetery that is necessary in my mind though it really may not be needed since this cemetery belongs to the descendents and not the land owner. However, one must know the right-of-way in order to visit an old abandoned cemetery.