Stanford Brothers Cemetery
In November 2023, Camp 91 Thomson Guards received permission from the landowner to restore a wilderness cemetery located on the original land grant of the historic Wrightsboro Quaker community near Thomson, Georgia. The forest on this property was logged this past fall and the grounds were a mess. There are two UDC marked Confederate soldier’s graves and eight other depressions we believe are graves. One has a brick surface and wall while three others have large rocks as supposed headstones. The first order of business was to cut seven very large trees growing within the confines of the graves. The stumps have been sprayed with Arsenal. This complete, camp members removed dead logs, limbs, briers and vines before raking leaf mulch off the entire area. It was also necessary to trim several nearby magnolia and oak trees. The stones have been washed along with crosses of honor and Confederate flags. Additionally, Compatriot Barrett Smith has signed the paperwork to be the Georgia Guardian for this cemetery. Six members worked the project including David Butler, Jimmy Crawley and Tom Holley. However, special mention should be made of three compatriots who worked tirelessly on this project. Thank you Sammy McCorkle, David Moore and Barrett Smith. Great work fulfilling the “Charge.” Research results are available on the two soldiers. They were sons of David Porter Stanford and Martha Hill Steed Stanford. The younger brother was born 12 February 1843. He was William Onlett Stanford who became a private in Company F, Thomson Guards,10th GA Infantry Volunteers, Semmes’ Brigade, McLaws’ Division, Longstreet’s Corps, ANV. He died 9 February 1862, of Typhoid Fever while at home on sick furlough. 5th Sergeant Jerome J. Stanford was in Captain Allen’s Company A, 12th Georgia Battalion Light Artillery. He was born in 1834, and died 27 June 1862, while at home in Columbia County (now McDuffie) on sick furlough. |
William O. Stanford
Jerome J. Stanford
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Article published in the March 2024 Dispatch.