There are three burials listed in Hunter Cemetery located in Maury County, Tennessee. They are all of the Gilchrist family interred in this cemetery. During 2004 the three box tombs were removed 70 miles south and across the Tennessee River to the Old Courtland Cemetery, Courtland, Lawrence County, Alabama. The Gilchrist lived at least the latter part of their lives in Maury County Tennessee and are interred there. Only the tops of the box tombs were moved to Courtland Alabama. The graves were left undisturbed.
Malcolm and Catherine Gilchrist were the "parents" of the Tennessee and North Alabama Gilchrist. They were listed in Maury County, Tennessee, Hunter Cemetery in the following books: LUMBER RIVER SCOTS" published in 1942 by John Purcell; THEY PASSED THIS WAY, by Marise P. Lightfoot & Evelyn B. Shackelford, published in 1964; MAURY COUNTY TENNESSEE CEMETERIES, by Fred Hawkins Jr., published in 1989; HISTORY OF HUNTER MEETING HOUSE AND ITS CEMETERY RECORDS, _ _? Mack, published in 1983. The Gilchrist are also mentioned on the web site., Steves world of genealogy chapter 3: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~steve/robertwg/carolina.html. Today 2007 the bodies, history and new memorials are in place in Hunter Cemetery. The original table top Markers remain 70 miles south. That southern location is in Courtland Alabama near the home of one of the Gilchrist sons whose family is interred there. Our thanks go to Nelda Stephenson for all her hard work in uncovering the details of what is where related to the three Gilchrist memorials in Hunter Cemetery.
Older grave markers found in this cemetery represent a variety of styles and types common in the 1800s, and early 1900s. They include simple upright stone slabs as well as "table" "box" tombs. Tall granite Obelisks and Victorian - era Statuary. Some family plots are enclosed with ornamental cast-iron fences. Older graves lie mostly in the southern part of the cemetery. After the Civil War an African - American burial ground was established just east of the main cemetery. Oldest marked graves in this section date from the early 1900s. (over)
Marker reading: COURTLAND CEMETERY - 1819 - One of Alabama's oldest and most picturesque town cemeteries, this site was set aside as a burying ground by the Courtland Land Company in the original survey made prior to the incorporation of the town in 1819. Many of the area's earliest settlers and prominent leaders are buried here, including three Revolutionary War Veterans. There are a number of unmarked graves of Confederate Soldiers. Three Union Soldiers were interred here following an 1863 skirmish at the nearby railroad trestle. Their graves were later enclosed behind a rock wall erected by the townspeople.
Stepping forward in time to May 2007 one finds that new markers have been charitably placed in Hunter Cemetery Mt Pleasant Tennessee consistent with where the Gilchrist are interred. We post both memorials below in hopes of keeping the history correctly portrayed on this matter in the future.
COURTLAND CEMETERY, COURTLAND AL where original box tomb tops lye:
GILCHRIST, Malcolm, St., 8 Feb 1744 - 12 Apr 1821, 77-2-4, Son of Angus Gilchrist; b. Cantire, Scotland; came to U.S. of America , 1770; (Revolutionary War).
GILCHRIST, Catherine, 30 Jun 1752 - 5 Oct 1839. 87-03-05. "Wife Malcolm Gilchrist; b. Cumberland Co., N.C."
GILCHRIST, Archibald, 6 Jun 1794 - 11 Jan 1852. 57-07-06. (These three markers are flat slab markers.)
HUNTER CEMETERY MT PLEASANT TN where the bodies and (new) memorials reside:
GILCHRIST, Malcolm, St., 8 Feb 1744 - 12 Apr 1821, 77-2-4, Son of Angus Gilchrist; b. Cantire, Scotland; came to U.S. of America , 1770; (Revolutionary War).
GILCHRIST, Catherine, 30 Jun 1752 - 5 Oct 1839. 87-03-05. "Wife Malcolm Gilchrist; b. Cumberland Co., N.C."
GILCHRIST, Archibald, 6 Jun 1794 - 11 Jan 1852. 57-07-06. (These three markers are flat slab markers.)
Information and photos by Nelda Stephenson, 6/30/2006. Also information was condensed from other records mentioned above and do not reflect the exact Tombstone inscriptions.
