#1 Abernathy Cemetery

#1 Abernathy Cemetery

Readyville Quadrangle Located near a house in front of Kittrell School, Woodbury Pike in Readyville

Susie’s family has cleared and cleaned this cemetery as they have been photographing it for the future! 

Thanks so much for clearing and cleaning and for the images.  Now they are safe from the elements here. 

Photographed by Susie Tate Polman (see Susie’s history and transcriptions at the bottom of the blog for more information on this cemetery)

spolman@comcast.net

William Eastwood

08 Feb 1820

09 Mar 1895

Nancy A. Eastwood

18 May 1826

08 Mar 1893

Willis Sanford

23 Dec 1816

12 Aug 1888

H. H. Sanford

14 Oct 1880

11 Sep 1881

Infant of M. W. and M. L. Bowling

Born Oct 1889

Mary L. Bowling

Jan 1862

Apr 1850

Mary L. Bowling

Jan 1862

Apr 1850

Fannie A. Abernathy

22 Dec 1844

18 Jul 1912

Charles O. Abernathy

06 Nov 1843

12 Dec 1917

Thomas E. Tilford

1862

1906

Leila Ivie Tilford

1893

1895

M. J. Jones

Wife of P. G. Jones

Born looks like 1830 (not in cemeteries book)

Alvin Abernathy

Son of C. O. and J. A. Abernathy

29 Oct 1869

23 Jan 1870

Allie Abernathy

Son of C. O. And F. A. Abernathy (cemetery book says J. A.)

L. A. Sanford

18 Nov 1874

08 Aug 1888

Edgar E. Puryear

20 Sep 1869 (cemetery book 1974 says 1864)

15 Jan 1896

Phillip Ray Abernathy

1916

1920

Myrtle Speer Abernathy

1879

1920

Margaret Blackwood

Wife of A. C. Gunn

Ida Lee Puryear

27 Jul 1867

18 Aug 1892

(cemetery book has the same dates as P. M. Puryear below)

26 Nov 1839

30 Nov 1891)

P. M. Puryear Sr.

26 Nov 1839

30 Nov 1891

Infant son of L. D. and Fannie Bowling

28 Jun 1888

Infant Daug of L. D. and Fanie Bowling

01 Jun 1908

Lucinea Eastwood

Wife of J. D. Sanford

04 Sep 1856

22 Jun 1912

J. D. Sanford

29 Dec 1852

11 Feb 1913

Fannie Lucille Abernathy

19 Feb 1905

Feb 13 1914

Marsh Bowling

18 Feb ???
18 Sep 1888

Ella Bowling

23 Dec 1866

29 Aug 1914

ABERNATHY CEMETERY HISTORY

JULY 14,2008 The Abernathy Cemetery began 140 years ago when our Great Grandparents, Charles O. and Fannie A. Abernathy, buried their 3 month old infant son “Allie.” Charles and Fannie constructed a dwelling on their farm property known as “The Big House”. The original house was located to the right of the cemetery. Although it was completely destroyed by fire, one can still see stone remnants where the house once stood. Further research is needed to determine the date of the fire. In 1869, the burial of “M. J. Jones, wife of R.C. Jones” took place. Fannie’s maiden name was “Jones” and “M.J.” was most likely related. The 1880 census lists Fannie’s brother, “David Jones“, as living on the property. Further research is needed to identify M.J. more clearly and why she died at only 31 years old. In 1870, Charles and Fannie buried their 3 month old infant son “Alvan J.” He is buried beside his brother “Allie”. In 1875, “Francis Sullivan” was buried at the age of 44. Further research is needed to determine who Francis was and why he would be interred at our family cemetery. In 1881, “A.C. Gunn” was buried at the age of 76. Further research is needed. In 1882, “J.W. Gunn” was buried at the age of 13 months. Perhaps this is a grandchild of “A.C.” Further research is needed. In 1888, “L.A. Sanford” was buried at the age of 13. The 1880 census lists the Sanford’s as neighbors of the Abernathy’s. In 1888, “Willis Sanford” was buried at the age of 71. In 1888. “Ida Lee Puryear” was buried at the age of 21. The 1880 census lists the Puryear’s as neighbors of the Abernathy’s. In 1889, the infant of M.W. & M.L. Bowling was buried as a newborn. In 1889, “H.H. Sanford” was buried at the age of 8. In 1890, “Mary L. Bowling” was buried at the age of 27. The 1880 census lists the Bowling’s as neighbors of the Abernathy’s. In 1891, “P.M. Puryear” was buried at the age of 52. The 1880 census lists the Puryear’s as neighbors of the Abernathy’s. The census lists P.M. as “Porliuse”. In 1893, “Nancy A. Eastwood” was buried at the age 66. The 1880 census lists the Eastwood’s as neighbors of the Abernathy’s. In 1895, William Eastwood” was buried at the age of 75. In 1895, Leila Ivey Tilford” was buried at the age of 2. Further research is needed. In 1896, “Edgar E. Puryear” was buried at the age of 26. In 1898, the infant son of L.D. and Fannie Bowling was buried as a newborn. 1 In 1906, “Thomas E. Tilford” was buried at the age of 44. In 1908, the infant daughter of L. D. & Fannie Bowling was buried as a newborn. In 1912, “Lucine Eastwood” was buried at the age of 55. In 1912, “Fannie A. Abernathy” was buried at the age of 68. (Our Maternal Great-Great Grandmother.) In 1913, “J. D. Sanford” was buried at the age of 60. In 1914, “Ella Bowling” was buried at the age of 47. The Rutherford Co. TN Death Certificates website lists her name as “Francis Ella Gardner Bowling,” father, “David Gardner” and mother “Minervia Bloodsaw”. In 1914, “Fannie Lucile Abernathy” was buried at the age of 8. (Our Maternal Great Aunt.) In 1917, “Charles O. Abernathy” was buried at the age of 74. (Our Maternal Great-Great Grandfather.) In 1920, “Phillip Ray Abernathy” was buried at the age of 4. (Our Maternal Great Uncle.) Oral tradition states Phillip as being born a “water head”; medical term “Hydrocephalus”. In 1920, “Myrtle Speer Abernathy” was buried at the age of 40. (Our Maternal Great Grandmother.) The Rutherford Co. TN Death Certificates website lists Myrtle as dying the day after her son Phillip. In 1928, “Marsh Bowling” was buried at the age of 63. There is a tombstone for “Margaret Blackwood “that reads “died at age 65”, no dates, and another for “Louis Moore son of L.D. & Fannie Bowling”, dates can’t be read. The Rutherford Co. TN Death Certificates website lists two other bodies interred at Abernathy Cemetery: “Mary Vandergriff Leohen born October 16 1847 and died May 28 1918-daughter of Oheen Vandergriff and Lizzie Vermon. “Joseph Berryman Beahew” born January 18 1849 and died June 13 1918-son of Wm. L. Leahew and Delila Adams. (obvious clerical typing error on last name)…neighbors were “Brashear”…even the 1880 spells the name incorrectly as Brasbear………obvious clerical error. ——————————————————————————————————————– Rutherford County history states that the Civil War occurred 1861-1865; the Battle of Murfreesboro occurred 1862-1863; and Slavery ended in 1865; and a Yellow Fever and Influenza epidemic hit Tennesseans 1888-1889, Spanish/American War was in 1898. Research also concludes that the “Trail of Tears” Indian march, 1837-1838, traveled directly through Readyville, Tennessee on State Route 1 traveling Northwest, according to the Nat’l Park Service, Mr. Nance for the Dept. of the Interior.

Author: Susie Tate Polman 2045 Chesapeake Way Mt. Juliet, TN 37122 Email: Spolman@comcast.net

ABERNATHY CEMETERY ON THE BRANDON FARM PROPERTY, OLD WOODBURY PIKE
ACROSS FROM KITTRELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Ella Bowling            born December 23 1866            Marsh Bowling        born February 18 1865
(Francis Ella Gardner Bowling)        died August 29 1914                            died September 19 1928
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Infant daughter of LD & Fannie Bowling                                    June 1 1908
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Infant son of LD & Fannie Bowling                                    June 26 1898
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M. J. Jones wife of RC Jones        born August 28 1830                            died August 13 1869
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Louis Moore son of LD & Fannie Bowling                                  April 10 1897
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P. M. Puryear, Sr.            born November 26 1839            Ida Lee Puryear        born July 27 1867
                died November 30 1891                        died August 18 1888
“A loving husband, a father dear, a faithful friend lies buried here”          “Our darling one has gone before to greet us on the golden  shore”
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Margaret Blackwood wife of A.C. Gunn   
“Age about 65 Years…..she was kind and affectionate wife, a fond mother and a friend to all”
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A. C. Gunn            born July 31 1804                            died June 13 1881
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J. W. Gunn            born July  8  1881                            died August 8 1882
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
In Memory of  Francis Sullivan            born May 4th  A.D. 1831                    died August  2nd  1875
“Age 44 years, 2 months, and 28 days”
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Lucinea Eastwood            born September 4, 1856            J. D. Sanford        born December 29 1852
                died June 27 1912                            died April 11 1913
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Edgar E. Puryear            born September 20 1869                        died Jan 15 1896
“Sleep on brother they work is done.  Jesus has come and borne thee home”
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Fannie Lucile Abernathy        born February 19 1905                        died Feb 13 1914
“A little child shall lead them”
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Phillip Ray Abernathy        born January 9 1917    tombstone reads 1916-1920            died March 15 1920
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Myrtle Speer Abernathy        born July 30 1878        tombstone reads 1879-1920            died March 16 1920
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Charles O. Abernathy        born November 6 1843            Fannie A. Abernathy    born December 22 1844
                died December 12 1917                        died July 18 1912
“For as in Adam all die even so in Christ shall all be made alive”
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Leila Ivie Tilford            born 1893                                died 1895
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Thomas E. Tilford            born 1862                                died 1906
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Alvan J. Abernathy             born October 29 1869                        died January 23 1870
“Son of C.O. and F.A. Abernathy”
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Allie (.) Abernathy            born December 23, 1867                        died March 29 1868
“Son of C.O. and F.A. Abernathy”
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
L. A. Sanford            born November 18 1874                        died August 9 1888
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Mary L. Bowling            born January 1 1862                        died April 11 1890
“Remember friends as you pass by, as you are now so once was I, as I am now you soon shall be, prepare for death and follow me”
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
H. H. Sanford            born October 14 1880                        died September 11 1889
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Infant of M.W. and M.L. Bowling                                    October 1889
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
William Eastwood            born February 8 1820            Nancy A. Eastwood        born May 18 1826
                died March 9 1895                            died March 8 1893
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Willis Sanford            born December 23 1816                        died August 12 1888
RUTHERFORD CO. TN DEATH CERTIFICATES 1914-1919 A-L : 
LISTS THE FOLLOWING TWO PEOPLE AS BEING BURIED AT ABERNATHY CEMETERY

Beahew, Joseph Berryman        born January 18 1849    (no tombstone)        died June 13 1918
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Leohen (?), Mary Vandergriff        born October 16 1847    (no tombstone)        died May 28 1918
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There are many unmarked graves and large fieldstones throughout the cemetery.  Mr. Brandon is the present landowner and he knows there are several Slaves and at least one Indian buried on the sight.  The Indian is said to be buried just outside the back fence beneath a pile of large rocks.

Notes:  ABERNATHY CEMETERY IS LOCATED ON A FARM OWNED BY MR. BRANDON AND IS LOCATED ACROSS FROM KITTRELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ON OLD WOODBURY PIKE, RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TENNESSEE.  EASY ACCESS FROM THE ROAD.  TRAVEL DIRECTIONS:
From Nashville- Take Interstate 24 East to exit 81B, Church Street.  Turn right at the first traffic light, Rutherford Blvd.  Turn right at the fourth traffic light,  East Main Street, (the name changes to Woodbury Hwy).  Go about 6 miles.  Abernathy Cemetery will be on the right.

This list was compiled by descendants of the “Abernathy” family. 

    Our Maternal Great Grandparents were:

           I.    “MYRTLE SPEER ABERNATHY” and “JAMES ORVILLE ABERNATHY”.
            Myrtle is buried at Abernathy Cemetery and James O. is buried at Evergreen Cemetery.

    Our Maternal Great -Great Grandparents were:
         II.    “CHARLES ORVILLE ABERNATHY” and “FANNIE A. ABERNATHY”.
            Charles and Fannie are both buried at Abernathy Cemetery”.

Contact information:

Susie Tate Polman – Spolman@comcast.net

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