The exact date of establishment is unknown, but presumably between 1784 and 1831. The parcel where is burial ground is located was owned by David Huffman as described in the “Deeds” section below. After reviewing several deeds to locate the general area, a physical walkdown was conducted and the property owner was aware of the specific location, but not the history described herein.
Additional information was recorded in Rich Without A Cent by Billy Hugh Campbell, Jr. Page 79, entry 119 and related map on page 83.
“Colored Cemetery – Arnold Agnes Jones Campbell remembered a colored cemetery being located here.”
LOCATION –
Huffman (David) Cemete
On the hillside above the house on 118 Hot Shot Ramsey Rd in the Lamar Community of Washington County, TN. The burial ground is not a separate tax parcel, however, it is situated on parcel 083-017.00 in Washington County. Access would be by permission only.
GPS Location: 36.230375, -82.465710
DEEDS –
The earliest reference in deeds that has been found is in Deed Book 23, Page 433 (1831). This deed is not for the subject property, but rather the adjoining parcel. One of the calls ends “…..near a graveyard, thence…..” The next conveyance with reference, for the same parcel is Deed Book 24, Page 192 (1842) and in this deed the call reads thus “…..near Huffman’s graveyard, thence…..” The following deeds all reference the same adjacent plot with the same noted call – DB26/59 (1845), DB26/61 (1845), and DB31/330 (1849).
The following deeds contain the specific burial ground footprint.
Deed Book 2, Page 121 – (1784) – North Carolina Land Grant #521 to David Huffman.
Deed Book 20, Page 68 – (1834) – David Huffman to Jacob Hartsell.
Deed Book 24, Page 47 – (1842) – Jacob Hartsell to Orvil P. Nelson
Deed Book 37. Page 194 – (1859) – Orvil P. Nelson to Henry Miller, Jr and Daniel Krouse.
Although some of the metes & bounds changed over several decades, the Miller family owned the subject graveyard parcel until 1922. This property did include the mill seat sometimes known as the Woolen Mill, then later as Nat Miller (Robert Nathaniel) or Cherokee Roller Mill.
Several other deeds were reviewed to assist in the location process. By using deeds with specific metes & bounds, sufficient detail was obtained to overlay on the Washington County tax map. None of these other deeds made any mention of a burial ground, and as such, will not be listed.
BURIALS –
Individual names are not known. Recollections from a few folks indicate that this was a burial ground for people of color.
In a letter from the daughter of James Fuller Miller (dated 1978), it is noted that his sister, Ann Rebecca Miller (Apr 23, 1862 – Sep 16, 1865), was buried somewhere on the family farm. It is unknown whether she is in the subject burial ground.
There are two very well defined adult sized depressions marked with fieldstones, and another adjacent fieldstone marker. These are clearly oriented facing east, as well. Without more clearing of debris, it cannot be determined how many more graves may be there. The spot is at the high point of what would have been the original David Huffman grant.
Researched, surveyed, transcribed, and donated to the Washington County TNGen Web March 2018 by Gordon M. Edwards, member of the Cemetery Survey Team of Northeast Tennessee.
Copyrighted 2018 by the Cemetery Survey Team of Northeast Tennessee. No part of this work may be copied without written permission from the Cemetery Survey Team.