coleman genealogy

8/9/2019 Coleman Genealogy

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Coleman Family Cemetery We travel a narrow and winding blacktop ribbon known as Mount Zion Roadoutside of McKenzie, TN. until we reach the isolated, but clearly marked dirt roadnext to the old Coleman home place. This gravel “path” wanders from the main

road to the family plot. (see photo “A”)

This is a secluded, rural, family cemetery on what was once the 5000 acreplantation of my Great-Great-Great-Great grandfather, David Coleman (seephoto “B”). The cemetery is situated in an level, isolated, grassy, one-acre clearing, surrounded by a green wall... 500 hundred acres of tall corn. Anold, but well kept fence encloses the gravesites. The gate is open. I can smell thenew-mown grass. I can hear the rustling cornstalks as a slight breeze "combs"their tassels. Overhead, a hawk glides without effort on the same breeze.

This family plot is still lovingly cared for by “cousins” who live nearby. Silky bluemorning glories, growing wild, climb the surrounding fence – like little satinguardian angels. Every soul buried here is kin to me. Their ash-gray tombstones jutting out of therocky soil out of which they had to carve their own destinies and to which they returned, as "dust to dust". Most all the stone markers are simple, plain, practical tributes to family members. The most "elaborate" of these monuments belongs the patriarch anmatriarch of our clan, my great-great-great-great grandparents. A single 3-foot x3-foot worn granite slab, with a 4-foot Celtic cross carved between and above theinscriptions on each side marks their final resting place. The center of the cross

portrays the hands of my grandparents clasping one another (see photo “C”).

DAVID COLEMAN SARAH COLEMAN BORN BORN

Jan. 25, 1798 Dec. 19, 1800 MURDERED DIEDJan. 28, 1870 Sept. 20, 1851(verse faded) (verse faded)

Great-great-great-great grandfather was murdered on the stairwell in his home by Union Loyalist bushwackers five years after the close of the Civil War. His son,

Thomas, also buried here in an unmarked grave, personally brought 5 of themurderers to justice with his pistol and a noose.



In all, there are 25 graves here. 16 of them marked by inscribed upright granitetombstones; 9 of them simply noted by small, un-inscribed, stone head and footmarkers. The tombstones with inscriptions include the following:

AMANDA L. COLEMANBorn Jan. 15, 1834 Died Aug. 30, 1848[verse faded]

ADALIZIA W. COLEMANBorn July 14, 1838 Died April 9, 1861

And now she dwells in fairer climes in mansions of the blest and who would callher back to earth from her sweet home of rest

JOHN S. COLEMANBorn Feb. 8, 1826 Died July 15, 1861

[verse faded]

ROBERT L. son of T. W. & L. A. COLEMANBorn Feb. 8, 1856 Died Dec. 18, 1857

Aged 1 year 10 ms 10 dsSleep on sweet babe and take thy rest in Jesus arms forever blest

SARAH E. wife of S. C. COLEMANBorn Dec. 11, 1832 Died Oct. 9, 1861

GREEN J. son of T. W. & L. A. COLEMANBorn Dec. 12, 1858 Died Aug. 31, 1862

aged 3 ys 8 ms 9 dsTake this little lamb said he and lay him on my breast, protection it shall find in

me and be forever blessed

The oldest grave is dated 1848; Amanda L. ColemanThe most recent grave is date 1920; M.M. Coleman, wife of E. Coleman

A number of children are buried here, testifying to the rigors and dangers of lifein what was then a frontier settlement. The youngest child in a marked grave isnoted by the inscription to have been only 8 months old at the time of death:

Grover A. Coleman.

The oldest family member to be buried here, died at age 80: Anna B. Coleman

coleman genealogy

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