Franklin in Johnson County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Nancy Kerlin Barnett

Born May 14, 1793 - Died Dec. 1, 1831

Photographed by Craig Baker

1. Nancy Kerlin Barnett Marker

The original marker is now inside the Johnson County Museum of History.

Inscription.
Married to William Barnett, Feb. 29, 1808. He was born Sept. 27, 1786, drowned in Ohio River Sept. 24, 1854. William was the great, great, great grandson of Pocahontas and John Rolfe. Daniel G. Doty, 1846 - 1934, protected his grandmother's grave by staying here with his gun, while the county relocated the cemetery in order to build the road. A concrete slab was placed over the grave, to protect the marker, Aug. 8, 1912.

Erected 1982 by Kenneth F. & Richard Blackwell.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1808.

Location. 39° 28.92′ N, 86° 3.296′ W. Marker is in Franklin, Indiana, in Johnson County. It is on North Main Street just north of East Madison Street, on the right when traveling north. The marker is inside the Johnson County Museum of History. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 135 N Main St, Franklin IN 46131, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Indiana

and specifically in Greater

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Indianapolis.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

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

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Johnson County Museum of History (a few steps from this marker); Hendricks Cabin (within shouting distance of this marker); Province Hospital (within shouting distance of this marker); Johnson County Civil War Memorial (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Johnson County War Memorial Honor Rolls (about 600 feet away); Johnson County Revolutionary War Memorial (about 600 feet away); Johnson County Spanish American War Honor Roll (about 600 feet away); Johnson County Court Houses (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Franklin.

More about this marker. In 2016 the marker was removed from the median where it was originally installed, to allow for safety improvements on County Road E400S. After discovering

Photographed by Marc Tobolski, April 2, 2009

2. Nancy Kerlin Barnett Marker

more than one grave at this site, a new “Barnett Cemetery” marker was installed next to the highway, and a small plaque embedded in the concrete median. The original “Nancy Kerlin Barnett” marker is now inside the Johnson County Museum of History.

Also see . . .
1. Remains of 7 found in Grave in the Middle of the Road. 2016 article by Vic Ryckaert in The Indianapolis Star. This article indicates that the grave and marker will be moved. Excerpt:

… Barnett, a farmer’s wife, died in 1831. Her last request was to be buried on this site, which was then a grassy hill near Sugar Creek. The area soon became a cemetery. Years passed and the county decided to move the cemetery to make way for a road. As crews moved other graves, Barnett’s grandson armed himself and stood vigil until the crews decided to just build the road on either side. It’s been that way ever since …

(Submitted on July 23, 2016.)

2. Indiana’s Revamped Grave in the Middle of the Road. Cult of Weird website entry (Submitted on November 19, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Additional commentary.
1. Unknown Photo
Since the first

Nancy Kerlin Barnett? image. Click for full size.

3. Nancy Kerlin Barnett?

known photo of a person was taken in 1838, and Nancy Kerlin Barnett died in 1831, the photograph shown on this page could not be a photo of her.

— Submitted January 20, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.

Additional keywords. Multiracial Americans

Nancy Kerlin Barnett Grave and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Marc Tobolski, April 2, 2009

4. Nancy Kerlin Barnett Grave and Marker

The historical marker was originally placed in the roadway median.

The Baptism of Pocahontas image. Click for full size.

Oil by John Gadsby Chapman

5. The Baptism of Pocahontas

This 12-by-17 foot mural in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda was commissioned in 1836. Photo contributor Kern Butler is the fourth grandchild of Nancy Kerlin Barnett and the ninth grandchild of Pocahontas.

Nancy Kerlin Barnett Gravesite - 2017 image. Click for full size.

via Cult of Weird, 2017

6. Nancy Kerlin Barnett Gravesite - 2017

Nancy Kerlin Barnett plaque embedded in concrete image. Click for full size.

via Cult of Weird, 2017

7. Nancy Kerlin Barnett plaque embedded in concrete

Credits. This page was last revised on June 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 19, 2009, by Marc Tobolski of Franklin, Indiana. This page has been viewed 6,337 times since then and 74 times this year. Last updated on April 14, 2024, by Trevor L Whited of Kokomo, Indiana. Photos: 1. submitted on December 13, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 2. submitted on April 19, 2009, by Marc Tobolski of Franklin, Indiana. 3. submitted on September 15, 2012, by Kern Butler of Auburn, Indiana. 4. submitted on April 19, 2009, by Marc Tobolski of Franklin, Indiana. 5. submitted on September 22, 2012, by Kern Butler of Auburn, Indiana. 6, 7. submitted on November 19, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.