*On this date in 1853, we celebrate the Stanton Family Cemetery.
In 1853, Nancy and Daniel Stanton headed the Stanton family of Buckingham County, Virginia. They purchased 46.5 acres of land, becoming one of the few free Black landholders in the region. Nancy Stanton, who purchased the original holdings on which the cemetery is located, became the first known individual interred in the Stanton Family Cemetery when she died on October 6, 1853.
The Stanton Family history, traced as free Blacks as early as 1820, represented the rural free black community of Buckingham County and the Commonwealth of Virginia. Family members included farmers, blacksmiths, carpenters, boatmen, soldiers, and quarrymen. The cemetery is a rare example of its kind. Free Blacks established it on their land. The substantial size of the cemetery reflects the economic and social standing of the Stanton family in the county. It is a resource that reveals important information about rural burial practices, local cemetery design, and a significant cultural and racial group.
The Stanton Family Cemetery symbolizes the notable contributions made by free blacks in Buckingham County and Virginia. The cemetery is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks.
The Virginia African American Heritage Program,
The Virginia Foundation for the Humanities
145 Ednam Drive,
Charlottesville, VA 22903-4629
Submitted by Renee Ingram,
