The Historic Cemetery
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For a brief introduction to the Polk Family Cemetery, its history, archaeology and preservation, check out this video tour with Assistant Site Manager, Amelia Zytka and Friends Group Board Member Frederick Murphy, founder of History Before Us
Also check out our award winning digital resource with videos, photographs, Archival materials and interactive features.
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Who's Who in Polk Cemetery?
Ezra and Mary Alexander
Ezra Alexander July 6, 1800
Mary Alexander September 8, 1814
Dimensions: 23” x 23”
Sacred Memory
EZRA ALEXANDER MARY ALEXANDE
who deceased on who deceased on
the 6th of July. 1800 Sepr 8th. 1814
Aged 60 Years. Aged 70 Years
farewell flesh with all its woe
more with you I’ll ________
______
____________________________________________________________________________
Clarissa Harlow Alexander and Peggy Henderson Alexander
First burial date: 1794 Last burial date: 1774
Dimensions: 42” x 15 ½”
In Memory of
Clarissa Harlow
Alexander
who died April 24,
1794 Aged 4 years
Also
Peggy Henderson
Alexander
who died May 9 1774
Aged 1 Year
Stonecutters : Attributed to Bigham
Located inside the museum
____________________________________________________________________________
Infant son of Ezekiel Polk
First Burial Date: 17 Last Burial date
Dimensions: 35” x 15 ½”
Beneath this Slab lies here Interr’d
An Innocent that never Err’d
A Mothers Hope in racking pain
A Sixth time blasted are again
April the 2d. 1793
Stillborn son of
EZEKIEL POLK
Transient sojourner thou wast
Born to travel to the sky
Just the Saviour’s cup to taste
Just to suffer and to die
Then the Spirit took its flight
Soaring to the plains of light.
O my happy Infant friend
Shall I thee again behold
Jesus now this warfare end
Come and take me to thy fold
Then shall I matured in love
Kiss my little friend above.
35” x 15 ½”
____________________________________________________________________________
Maria Polk
First Burial Date 1791 Last Burial Date
Dimensions: 74” x 30”
Virtus Nom Exem A Morte
Formosa ET.S MORTUA
[Translation: Virtue is not mine - You died a beautiful death]
Here unalarmed at Death’s last Stroke~~
Lies in this Tomb MARIA POLK~
A tender Mother virtuous Wife~~
Relign’d in every Scene of Life~~
Truly Pious, without parade~~~~
Where want appeared she lent her Aid
To heavenly Courts she did repair~~
May those she lov’d 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 last Exe_e
Of her feeble Voice was employed in singing
the 33rd Hymn of the 2nd Book of Doctr Watts
Composition in which anticipating the joys of
the blessed Society above, she exchanged the
earthly for the heavenly Melody.
“Raise thee my Soul and fly up and run” &Kc. V. XXXIII B11
THIS MONUMENT
(the last Offering and Token of Respect that
can be paid to 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 ERECTED
By the faithful and grateful Partner of her Life and
Affections~~~~~~~
Her mild and gentle Spirit was dismissed from
its earthly Mansion, on the 29th Day of Novr 1791
in the 45h Year of her Age; and left an affection
__e Family in particular; and all her Acquaintance
in general to deplore the Lots.~~
While the deer Dust the leaves behind,
sleeps in the Bosom sacred Tomb.
Soft be her Bed, her slumbers kind,
And all her Dreams of joys to come.
Farewel bright Soul a short Farewel,
Till we, that meet again above,
In the Sweet Groves where Pleasures dwell,
And Trees of Life bear Fruits of Love.
Attributed to Bigham stone cutters
____________________________________________________________________________
James Alexander
First Burial Date: 1804 Last Burial Date
Dimensions: 32” x 17”
In Memory of
JAMES ALEXANDER
who died Oct 15th 1
804 aged 39 years
Darcas as my beloved wife Adieu’
Some things required of you to do
Albartus, Clarissa, Clementina fair
Eliezar Pamelia James your care
Attributed to Bigham stone cutters
____________________________________________________________________________
Unknown
First burial date: Last burial date
Dimensions: 21 ½” x 23”
[love] and grace
[ab]ove the skies
To see my Father’s throne ~
____________________________________________________________________________
Eleazer Alexander
First burial date: 1842 Last burial date
Dimensions: 18 ½” x 19 ¼”
IN MEMORY
Of
ELEAZER ALEXANDER
Who died 8th November 1842
In the 43rd Year of his age
There is f__w have loved so l_____
____________________________________________________________________________
Unknown
First burial date: Last burial date
Dimensions: 34” x 19 ¼”
Epitaph weathered beyond readability, or possibly never had an inscription on this part of the stone. It is also possible that we are looking at the bottom half of the grave marker and missing the upper portion where an inscription previously existed.
____________________________________________________________________________
Margaret McCleary
First burial date: 1763 Last burial date
Dimensions: 33 ½” x 13 ½”
HERE LIES THE
BODY OF (SYMBOL)
MARGARET ~
McCLEARY, WHO
DEPARTED THIS
LIFE; JANy; Ye ; 1th9
1763; aged (symbols)
~ FIVE YEARS ~
____________________________________________________________________________
Samuel McCleary
First burial date: 1798 Last burial date
Dimensions: 58” x 20”
GARDEZ LA FOY
Sacred to the Memory of
SAMUEL McCLEARY
Who died Decr 11th AD 1798
In the 66th Year of his Age
This Monument is erected
by the faithful partner of his
life and affections.
____________________________________________________________________________
MA
First burial date: Last burial date
MA
MA on the stone could be partial initials for Margaret Alexander Polk. This is speculation only and should not be considered as factual. Records indicate the existence of her grave on site.
____________________________________________________________________________
Ezra Alexander July 6, 1800
Mary Alexander September 8, 1814
Dimensions: 23” x 23”
Sacred Memory
EZRA ALEXANDER MARY ALEXANDE
who deceased on who deceased on
the 6th of July. 1800 Sepr 8th. 1814
Aged 60 Years. Aged 70 Years
farewell flesh with all its woe
more with you I’ll ________
______
____________________________________________________________________________
Clarissa Harlow Alexander and Peggy Henderson Alexander
First burial date: 1794 Last burial date: 1774
Dimensions: 42” x 15 ½”
In Memory of
Clarissa Harlow
Alexander
who died April 24,
1794 Aged 4 years
Also
Peggy Henderson
Alexander
who died May 9 1774
Aged 1 Year
Stonecutters : Attributed to Bigham
Located inside the museum
____________________________________________________________________________
Infant son of Ezekiel Polk
First Burial Date: 17 Last Burial date
Dimensions: 35” x 15 ½”
Beneath this Slab lies here Interr’d
An Innocent that never Err’d
A Mothers Hope in racking pain
A Sixth time blasted are again
April the 2d. 1793
Stillborn son of
EZEKIEL POLK
Transient sojourner thou wast
Born to travel to the sky
Just the Saviour’s cup to taste
Just to suffer and to die
Then the Spirit took its flight
Soaring to the plains of light.
O my happy Infant friend
Shall I thee again behold
Jesus now this warfare end
Come and take me to thy fold
Then shall I matured in love
Kiss my little friend above.
35” x 15 ½”
____________________________________________________________________________
Maria Polk
First Burial Date 1791 Last Burial Date
Dimensions: 74” x 30”
Virtus Nom Exem A Morte
Formosa ET.S MORTUA
[Translation: Virtue is not mine - You died a beautiful death]
Here unalarmed at Death’s last Stroke~~
Lies in this Tomb MARIA POLK~
A tender Mother virtuous Wife~~
Relign’d in every Scene of Life~~
Truly Pious, without parade~~~~
Where want appeared she lent her Aid
To heavenly Courts she did repair~~
May those she lov’d 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 last Exe_e
Of her feeble Voice was employed in singing
the 33rd Hymn of the 2nd Book of Doctr Watts
Composition in which anticipating the joys of
the blessed Society above, she exchanged the
earthly for the heavenly Melody.
“Raise thee my Soul and fly up and run” &Kc. V. XXXIII B11
THIS MONUMENT
(the last Offering and Token of Respect that
can be paid to 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 ERECTED
By the faithful and grateful Partner of her Life and
Affections~~~~~~~
Her mild and gentle Spirit was dismissed from
its earthly Mansion, on the 29th Day of Novr 1791
in the 45h Year of her Age; and left an affection
__e Family in particular; and all her Acquaintance
in general to deplore the Lots.~~
While the deer Dust the leaves behind,
sleeps in the Bosom sacred Tomb.
Soft be her Bed, her slumbers kind,
And all her Dreams of joys to come.
Farewel bright Soul a short Farewel,
Till we, that meet again above,
In the Sweet Groves where Pleasures dwell,
And Trees of Life bear Fruits of Love.
Attributed to Bigham stone cutters
____________________________________________________________________________
James Alexander
First Burial Date: 1804 Last Burial Date
Dimensions: 32” x 17”
In Memory of
JAMES ALEXANDER
who died Oct 15th 1
804 aged 39 years
Darcas as my beloved wife Adieu’
Some things required of you to do
Albartus, Clarissa, Clementina fair
Eliezar Pamelia James your care
Attributed to Bigham stone cutters
____________________________________________________________________________
Unknown
First burial date: Last burial date
Dimensions: 21 ½” x 23”
[love] and grace
[ab]ove the skies
To see my Father’s throne ~
____________________________________________________________________________
Eleazer Alexander
First burial date: 1842 Last burial date
Dimensions: 18 ½” x 19 ¼”
IN MEMORY
Of
ELEAZER ALEXANDER
Who died 8th November 1842
In the 43rd Year of his age
There is f__w have loved so l_____
____________________________________________________________________________
Unknown
First burial date: Last burial date
Dimensions: 34” x 19 ¼”
Epitaph weathered beyond readability, or possibly never had an inscription on this part of the stone. It is also possible that we are looking at the bottom half of the grave marker and missing the upper portion where an inscription previously existed.
____________________________________________________________________________
Margaret McCleary
First burial date: 1763 Last burial date
Dimensions: 33 ½” x 13 ½”
HERE LIES THE
BODY OF (SYMBOL)
MARGARET ~
McCLEARY, WHO
DEPARTED THIS
LIFE; JANy; Ye ; 1th9
1763; aged (symbols)
~ FIVE YEARS ~
____________________________________________________________________________
Samuel McCleary
First burial date: 1798 Last burial date
Dimensions: 58” x 20”
GARDEZ LA FOY
Sacred to the Memory of
SAMUEL McCLEARY
Who died Decr 11th AD 1798
In the 66th Year of his Age
This Monument is erected
by the faithful partner of his
life and affections.
____________________________________________________________________________
MA
First burial date: Last burial date
MA
MA on the stone could be partial initials for Margaret Alexander Polk. This is speculation only and should not be considered as factual. Records indicate the existence of her grave on site.
____________________________________________________________________________
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.
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.
