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Classification: Query
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/yBYBAEB/243
Message Board Post:
Hello,
Today, in my quest to find the graves of William and Lewis Rawlinson,
immigrants to Autauga Co from S.C. back in 1820s, I went to a small graveyard marked
"Confederate Veteran's Cemetery" on the Autauga Co., Al. map. It is on Co.
Rd. 45 more or less across from Shiloh Church.Going north towards Selma about a mile or so
past Autaugaville turn right on Co. Rd. 45. In this cemetery were several Halls, Jones,
Wittlesworths, Zeiglers, etc.. Some of these graves were very old. One of the Halls for
example was dated 1808. I don't know why it is referred to as a Confederate
Veteran's cemetery. Because only one of the graves were marked as a C.S. Soldier, I
think it was Samual Hall. He was a Pvt. in Co. "G", 6th Alabama Infantry Regt.,
C.S.A.. His company was the "Autauga Rifles". This was once a pretty little
family cemetery, with an ornate wrought iron fence around it, with some nice looking
tombstones, etc.. Now it is all over grown with trees, vines, briars, cacti, a!
nd there is even a large tree or two that has fallen onto it, knocking over a tombstone or
two and the fence in places. For the life of me I don't understand why or how a
family, families, or descendents could let their old family gravyards go to crap like
that! A couple of the graves were the type that are upraised sort of like what they have
in Louisiana. A couple were semi collapsed. There were some bones there too, either some
animals or small human bones. A couple of the people in this cemetery were doctors too.
From the looks of the fence, the stones, etc, they must have been an infuential
family/families at one time, perhaps "Landed Gentry". I just thought I would
post this in case a descendant might be interested in checking it our or even cleaning the
place up.
Take care,
David Middleton Edelen II