Huntsville in Madison County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Slave Cemetery

1800s

By Lee Hattabaugh, June 5, 2010

1. Slave Cemetery Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

This cemetery site was used as a burial ground for slaves who lived on both the Peter Blow and Job Key plantations from 1811 to 1865. Dred Scott's first wife and their two children are believed to have been buried here. The cemetery continued to be used through the early 1900s.

Erected by Oakwood Historical Site.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Cemeteries & Burial Sites. A significant historical year for this entry is 1811.

Location. 34° 44.667′ N, 86° 39.449′ W. Marker is in Huntsville, Alabama, in Madison County. Marker is on Liberty Lane near H.L. Cleveland Way, in the median. Marker and cemetery are located adjacent to the Oakwood Memorial Gardens west of Wynn Drive. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Huntsville AL 35806, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Oakwood College (approx. 0.6 miles away); a different marker also named Oakwood College (approx. ¾ mile away); Superconductivity Discovery (approx. 1.4 miles away); Ms. Baker: Monkeynaut (approx. 2.3 miles

Slave Cemetery Entrance image. Click for full size.

By Lee Hattabaugh, June 5, 2010

2. Slave Cemetery Entrance

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this page online

away); U.S. Army PGM-19 Jupiter (approx. 2.3 miles away); Grissom • White • Chaffee (approx. 2.3 miles away); Schirra • Eisele • Cunningham / Borman • Lovell • Anders (approx. 2.3 miles away); McDivitt • Scott • Schweickart / Stafford • Young • Cernan (approx. 2.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Huntsville.

Slave Cemetery image. Click for full size.

By Lee Hattabaugh, June 5, 2010

3. Slave Cemetery

By Lee Hattabaugh, June 5, 2010

4. Slave Cemetery Marker

In Dedication April 4, 1999In the annals of history simple things often illustrate great things. Sacrifice, courage, bravery, great deeds or exploits. So it is with this cemetery. Established more than one hundred years age - slaves - black men and women, caught up in the inextricable chains of bondage, buried their loved ones on this site from the Job Key and Peter Blow plantations (the latter where Dred Scott hailed) not the site of Oakwood College; from other plantations and homesteads they buried them - slaves and former slaves we remember them. We honor them.
Delbert W. Baker, President, Oakwood College

By Lee Hattabaugh, June 5, 2010

5. Slave Cemetery Marker

Central stone, north face.

By Lee Hattabaugh, June 5, 2010

6. Slave Cemetery Marker

If they believe on
Him, His cleansing
blood is applied to
them. The black
man's name is
written in the book
of life beside the
white man's. All are
one in Christ.
Birth, station,
nationality, or color
cannot elevate or
degrade men. The
character makes
the man.

Ellen White,
Southern Work, 1891

By Lee Hattabaugh, June 5, 2010

7. Slave Cemetery Marker

South-side marker stone

By Lee Hattabaugh, June 5, 2010

8. Slave Cemetery Marker

And when this transient life shall end, oh, may some kind, eternal friend bid me from servitude ascend, forever!
The Slave's Complaint

By Lee Hattabaugh, June 5, 2010

9. Slave Cemetery Marker

Some o'dese mornin's bright and fair, I thank God I'm free at las', gwineter meet my Jesus in de middle of de air, I thank God I'm free at las'

By Lee Hattabaugh, June 5, 2010

10. Slave Cemetery Marker

Dedication plaque on back side of the large stone sign at the entrance (photo #

Credits. This page was last revised on November 3, 2019. It was originally submitted on June 5, 2010, by Lee Hattabaugh of Capshaw, Alabama. This page has been viewed 3,079 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on June 5, 2010, by Lee Hattabaugh of Capshaw, Alabama. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. submitted on June 7, 2010, by Lee Hattabaugh of Capshaw, Alabama. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.