Old Bear Creek Cumberland Presbyterian Church Cemetery

OLD BEAR CREEK CEMETERY, MAURY COUNTY 1807-1836, MARSHALL COUNTY Aft. 1836.

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This is a fieldstone but it is not clear that it marks a grave. We are near the center of the cemetery and there are many such stone in the center. Many of them clearly mark graves and others do not have the traits that show they mark graves.

This is a one of several slabs that appear to be tops of boxtombs with no inscription. I must say it is possible they are all face down with inscription on the other side but they are all still in alignment as if not to have been disturbed so I conclude there is no markings on them. This is consistent with how old grave yards spring up. They grow from the center out in both east & westerly directions with the center of the cemetery often times without much in the way of inscribed marked stones in the center. That is because marked stones did not come into use until about 1815 to 1820 and many of these old graveyards were used prior to then.

This is a one of several slabs that appear to a top of box tombs with no inscription. I must say it is possible they are all face down with inscription on the other side but they are all still in alignment as if not to have been disturbed so I conclude there is no markings on them. This is consistent with how old grave yards spring up. They grow from the center out in both east & westerly directions with the center of the cemetery often times without much in the way of inscribed marked stones. That is because marked stones did not come into use until about 1815 to 1820 and many of these old graveyards were used prior to then. Of course as everyone knows some of these marked graves belong to slaves of early times.