FAQ's

Where is James K. Polk buried?

James K. Polk is interred at the Tennessee State Capitol, in Nashville.

Was the cemetery always on the site?

The cemetery was moved to the current site in 1988 because it was in the path of construction for I-485. It was originally located near what is now Sterling Elementary and Crown Memorial Park.

​Can I bring my bike to the cemetery?

We ask that you please leave bikes outside of the cemetery to help us preserve the area for generations to come. Bike racks are available at the front of the visitor's center near the handicap parking spaces.

Who's Who in Polk Cemetery?​

Headstone 1:
            Inscription:
In memory of Clarissa Harlow Alexander who died April 24th 1794 Aged 2 Years
[Also]
Peggy Henderson Alexander who died May 9th 1774 Aged 1 year
            Bios:
                        Clarissa Harlow Alexander
                        Born: 1790
                        Died: April 24th, 1794 age 4 years
                        Married
                        Daughter of Peggy Henderson Alexander
                        Sister of Peggy Henderson Alexander (jr.)
                        Peggy Henderson Alexander
                        Born: 1773
                        Died: May 9th, 1774 age 1
                        Daughter of Peggy Henderson Alexander
                        Sister to Clarissa Harlow Alexander

Headstone 2:
            Inscription:
(Illegible due to bio-growth, update to come after headstone cleaning)
            Bio:
                        Ezekiel Polk
                        Infant 1793
                        Still born son of Ezekiel Polk, died April 2nd, 1793.                                      Unclear whether he was born of Bessie Davis or Polly                                Campbell, as Ezekiel Polk Sr’s second wife is contested.

                        Eliza Polk
                        Infant 1776
                        Eliza was 19 y/o [years old] at death. Implies she was                                  born in 1757.

​Headstone 3:
            Inscription:
                        Virtus Nom Exem ------ A Morte Formosa Ets mortua
                        Here unalarmed at Death [last] Stroke lies in this Tomb MARIA POLK A tender Mother virtuous Wife Relign’d [religioned?] in every scene of Life Truly pious, without parade Where want appeared, [she] lent her Aid To heavenly courts [she] did repair May [those] the [lord] all meet her there Supported by the Hope of a happy Death, and of a glorious [Resurrection] to eternal Life [she] bore a tedious and painful [illness] with a truly [Christian] [Fortitude] ----The lf[st] Exe---e of her feeble Voice was employed in [singing] the 33rd Hymn if the –nd Boo--- of Docl Walls [Composition] in which anticipating the tos of the [blessed] Society above [she] exchanged the earthly for the heavenly Melody. [Raise] thee my [soul would]  fly up and run v. XXXIII B II THIS MONUMENT (the [last] offering and Token of [Respect] that can be paid by the living) to continue her Memory on the Minds of her [surviving] Friends and to perpetuate to [Posterity] the Name and Character of [such] an excellent Woman IS ERRECTED By the faithful and grateful [Pursuer] of her Life [+? Or &?] [Affections] Her mild and gentle Spirit was [dismissed] from its earthly Mansion, on the 29th Day of Nov. 1791 in the 45th Year of her Age and left an affection ---e Family in particular, and all her Acquaintance in general to deplore the Lots. While the de--- Vurt[?] the leaves behind, sleeps in thy [Bosom] [sacred] Tomb. Soft be her Bed, her slumbers kind, And all her Dreams of joys to come Barewell bright [soul] a thorl Farewell, Will we, [shall] meet again above. In the [sweet] Groves where Pleasures dwell, and Trees of Life bear Fruits of Love
            Bio:
                        Maria Wilson Polk
                        Born 1746 (deduced)
                        Died November 29th, 1791, age 45
                        Married First Wife of Ezekiel Polk
                        Maternal grandmother to James K. Polk
                        Daughter of Samuel Wilson and first wife, Mary Winslow from the Hopewell area
                        Maria was 1 of six children born in this marriage, had at least 1 half-sister from her father’s second marriage, and 5 half-siblings from her father’s third marriage

Headstone 4:
            Inscription:
                        In Memory of JAMES ALEXANDER who died Oct 15th 1804 aged 9 years Darc as my beloved w--- --- Some things required do --- Albartus, Clari[l]sa, Clntetn ---- Eliezar Pamelia[?] --- James yow
            Bio:
                        James Alexander
                        Born: Unknown
                        Died: October 18th, 1804 age 39
                        Married to Dorcus Alexander
                        Father of Alburtus, Clarissa, Clementine, Eliezar, Pamelia and James
                        Received half of his father Ezra’s plantation(land) on Sugar Creek
                        Son of Ezra and Mary Alexander (their dual headstone is displayed in our museum and additional fragments are in storage)
                        Ezra served in the Continental Army and signed the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, fought against British Loyalists at Ramsour’s Mill and the Battle of Hanging Rock.
                        Ezra and Mary had a total of 7 children together
                        Ezra and Ezekiel were close fronds and brothers-in-law, they worked on legal issues and documentation with one another and were both part of the Deist library that many of the local Presbyterians raged against

Headstone 5:
            Inscription:
                        --- ore the skies to f[s]ee [see] my Fathers throne
            Bio:
                        FATHER

Headstone 6:
            Inscription:
                        IN MEMORY of ELEAZER ALEXANDER who died 8th November 1842 In the 43rd Year of his age There is few have lived --- ---
            Bio:
                        Eleazer Alexander
                        Born: Unknown
                        Died: November 8th, 1845, Age 45 [this contradicts information on the stone] 2011 report indicates he died on November 8th, 1842 but at age 45
                        Son of James H. Alexander and Grandson of Ezra Alexander

Headstone 7:
            Inscription:
                        BLANK [completely worn away]
            Bio:
                        No information available

Headstone 8:
            Inscription:
                        HERE LIES THE BODY OF MARGARET MCCLEARY, WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE JANY ---TH 1703 AGED FIVE YEARS
            Bio:
                        Margaret McCleary
                        Born: Unknown
                        Died: January 10th, 1763
                        Believed to be Samuel and Deborah McCleary’s daughter who died at a young age

Headstone 9:
            Inscription:
                        GARDEZ LA FOY
                        Sacred to the Memory of Samuel McCleary who died Decr th A.D. 1798 in the 66th Year of his Age. This Monument is erected by the faithful partner of his life and affections---
            Bio:
                        Samuel McCleary
                        Born 1732 (deduced)
                        Died December 11th, 1798, Age 66
                        Married Deborah Polk, headstone is not present in cemetery (2001 report)
                        Deborah Polk, Daughter of Margaret Taylor Polk
                        Samuel and Deborah were in Sugar Creek area by 1763 when Deborah’s mother Margaret Taylor Polk passed away
                        Wills indicate that neither Samuel or Deborah had any children at their time of death, made apparent from their wills
                        Samuel McCleary wills 100 acres in “Indian Territory” on Duck River in TN to his brother-in-law Ezekiel Polk Sr.
                        Both Samuel and Deborah McCleary mention an enslaved girl named Daphne/Daphny and her mother Hannah. Possible that Samuel was Daphne’s/Daphny’s father

Headstone 10:
            Inscription:
                      MA
            Bio:
                      No information available