The Old Fulton Grave Yard Contains Many Monuments from Early Itawamba County

During 1837 a seat of government was laid off in blocks and lots east of the Tombigbee River in Itawamba County, Mississippi, that had just been organized the year before. Shortly thereafter the county board of police began selling lots in the new town, named Fulton. As death visited the new town, the early citizens were buried south of the road heading east to Russellville, Alabama, known as the Fulton and Russellville Road on a grassy knoll adjacent to the Fulton Male Academy east of the village. However, it was not until 1850 that a formal deed was recorded for the village burial grounds although this had been a burial ground since the 1830s. The old Fulton Cemetery contains many ornate monuments to the early citizens of the village of Fulton. Many of these monuments are dedicated to early merchants, planters, lawyers and government officials. Just southeast of the main burial grounds in a wooded area are monuments dedicated to members of the early African American Community. This wooded area of the cemetery probably began as a burial grounds for slaves well before the Civil War. Below is an abstract from the old 1850 Fulton Grave Yard deed:

The State of Mississippi
Itawamba County

This Indenture made and entered into this 17th day of October 1850 between William P. Harrison of the first part and D.N. Cayce, president of the Trustees of the Fulton Male Academy of the second part. Witnesseth that the said party of the first part, for and in consideration of the sum of Five Dollars in hand paid by the said party of the second part, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged hath granted bargained and sold and by these presents do grant bargain sell and convey unto the said party of the second part as such president and to his successors in office forever all the right, title, claim and interest of the said party of the first party the following described land to wit: four acres of ground where the Male Academy is now situated east of the Town of Fulton to be laid off around said building so as to include the spring, and two acres including the grave yard including the most suitable ground for that purpose and to be dedicated to purposes of Burial alone on the NW 1/4 Sec. 30, Town 9, Range 9 East and south of the Russellville Road to have and to hold said land for the purposes aforesaid against the said party of the first part and his executors, administrators and all previous claims by through or under law. In Testimony whereof the said party of the first part hath hereunto set his hand and seal the day and date above written.

William P. Harrison

To view some of the old ornate monuments in the old Fulton Cemetery, visit the society’s Historic Fulton Cemetery Gallery.