Photograph as originally submitted to this page in the Historical Marker Database www.HMdb.org. Click on photo to resize in browser. Scroll down to see metadata.

Photographer: Bernard Fisher
Taken: July 18, 2009
Caption: Rutland African American Cemetery
Additional Description: Here lie the remains of 57 people, relocated from an African American burial ground associated with the Rutland house site (44HN0356). The original burial ground was located approximately 667 yards to the south of the new cemetery area. The unmarked burial ground was used by enslaved bondsmen and later, following the Civil War, by freed African Americans. While some graves may date to the early 19th century, the majority postdate 1850. The most recent interment was that of Easter Claiborne, a Timberlake family servant, who passed away between 1907 and 1911 at the age of 65. The only person of known identity, “Aunt Easter” was eulogized as “capable, trustworthy, and faithful, friend as well as servant”. She was most likely interred in the plot marked “Burial 49”.

The layout and use of any cemetery reflects both history and kinship. Children and infants -as well as older adults- comprise a large percentage of those buried here. High rates of infant mortality are commonly observed for cemetery sites of this period, regardless of ethnicity. Post-war use of the cemetery by former bondsmen may reflect the desire to be with long-deceased loved ones and family members. This new cemetery area preserves many of the spatial relationships documented within the original burial ground and between individual graves. This effort was undertaken to accurately represent the relationship formed during life and memorialized following death.

May they now all rest in peace.
Submitted: July 20, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.
Database Locator Identification Number: p71279
File Size: 0.824 Megabytes

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