Franklin in Williamson County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

James McGavock Family Cemetery

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, July 23, 2022

1. James McGavock Family Cemetery Marker

Inscription. Inside the fence is a family cemetery. Buried here are James McGavock, his wife Lucinda, family members and descendants. The cemetery was part of 900 acres the McGavocks assembled in the Harpeth River in the early 1800s. During their lifetimes, they distributed parts of the land to their children. James died in 1833. When Lucinda died in 1848, she still had 101 acres and owned 36 slaves valued at $12,945. Monuments of McGavock, Smith and Cotton graves remain. The slave cemetery is located across the street. Graves there are marked with a rock, if at all. These burial grounds are typical of about 800 cemeteries found in Williamson County. After the public cemeteries opened in Franklin, including Old City 1811, Rest Haven 1855, Mt. Hope 1875 and Toussaint L’Ouverture 1884, burial on farms was less frequent. A few old family cemeteries are lovingly maintained to this day.

James and Lucinda McGavock’s daughter Amanda married Turner Smith. He is buried here along with Amanda, who died in 1848. In 1865, their daughter Lucinda married Robert F. Cotton, one of the legendary Coleman Scouts, described as the eyes and ears of

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the Army of Tennessee during the Civil War. After giving birth to a daughter named Amanda after her grandmother, Lucinda died in 1869 and is also buried here. Robert's sister Margaret N. Cotton became Turner's second wife and helped raise Amanda. After Turner died in 1880, Robert and his second wife, Mary Owen raised their eight children on the land. Robert, a farmer, was active in politics and died in 1918. The land was sold at auction in 1920 then passed through several owners. Cottonwood and River Landing subdivisions are part of the original McGavock/Smith/Cotton farms.

Erected 2018 by Williamson County Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 35° 58.754′ N, 86° 54.648′ W. Marker is in Franklin, Tennessee, in Williamson County. It is on Highgrove Circle, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 824 Highgrove Cir, Franklin TN 37069, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Middle

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, July 23, 2022

2. James McGavock Family Cemetery Marker

Tennessee

and in Greater Nashville.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Meeting of the Waters (approx. 0.9 miles away); Forest Home (approx. 0.9 miles away); Natchez Trace Road (approx. one mile away); Montpier (approx. 1.1 miles away); The Old Natchez Trace / Old Town Historic Daffodil Project (approx. 1.2 miles away); Berry’s Chapel Church of Christ (approx. 1.2 miles away); Berry’s Chapel Stone Wall / Berry's Chapel Community (approx. 1.3 miles away); Leigh-Morgan Property at Grassland (approx. 1.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Franklin.

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, July 23, 2022

3. James McGavock Family Cemetery Marker

James McGavock Family Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, July 23, 2022

4. James McGavock Family Cemetery

Lucinda McGavock’s headstone image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, July 23, 2022

5. Lucinda McGavock’s headstone

Turner Smith’s headstone image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, July 23, 2022

6. Turner Smith’s headstone

McGavock, Smith and Cotton Slave Cemetery Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, July 23, 2022

7. McGavock, Smith and Cotton Slave Cemetery Marker

McGavock, Smith, Cotton Slave Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, July 23, 2022

8. McGavock, Smith, Cotton Slave Cemetery

Credits. This page was last revised on July 25, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 23, 2022, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 1,053 times since then and 107 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on July 23, 2022, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. 7, 8. submitted on July 24, 2022, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.