Patrick Memorial Cemetery
Patrick Memorial Cemetery is located in Columbus, Georgia. Many different families are buried here, however, the cemetery is the resting place of Patrick family ancestors with a genealogical connection to John Walter Patrick. I, II, and III, Lewis Searman Patrick (b.1703 d. 1766), his son Paul Patrick (b.1730 d. 1799?) and Paul’s wife, Agnes Millikin Patrick (b. 1734 d. 1783). John Walter Patrick I was the first to cross the Atlantic from England, settling in Virginia Colony.
Two sets of graves with historical significance to genealogists are those of John M. Patrick Jr. (b.1812 d.1899) and his wife Annie C. Patrick (AkA Nancy Singleton) (b. 1816 d.1898), and James Hodge Patrick (b.1819 d.1899), and his wife, Nancy Johnson Patrick (b. 1816 d. 1891).
James Hodge (b.1819) was the younger brother of John M. Patrick Jr. (b.1812). They are both sons of John M. Patrick Sr. (b. 1775 d. c. 1850) and his wife Mary Polly Duke (b.1783 d.1854). Both are the grandson’s of Paul Patrick Sr. (b. 1730 d.1799) and Agnes Millikin Patrick (b.1734 d.1783).
The cemetery has one very unusual feature. There are rows of concrete grave markers of which only two are marked with names. The two that are marked are “Milligan Patrick” (1744-1832) and “Wife of Milligan Patrick (b. 1746 d. 1836.)” It is unknown whether these stones mark any actual graves. There is also some uncertainty as to who these graves represent as the dates on the markers seem to not coincide with any of the ancestors of the time period. Also interesting is the use of “Wife of Milligan Patrick” rather than her name, yet there is a birthdate. It would seem that if you knew the date of birth, you would also know the name of the person as well. There is a story here and perhaps we might find it one day as we continue our journey into Patrick Family history.
There are stories surrounding the unmarked concrete markers. Some have said that they were the graves of both revolutionary and confederate soldiers, and are unmarked because they were buried not knowing who they were. The most logical story is that someone laid them for future family members to be buried side by side, or as memorial markers for absent family members who passed. The cemetery has a number of memorial stones that are engraved with remembrances of family who passed away but are not buried at Patrick Cemetery.
The cemetery itself was at one time the Patrick family farm. The original farm well remains at the entrance of the cemetery. and is engraved at its base “A.M. Patrick” and “Erected 1936.” It is not clear when the well was capped as some have recalled seeing it open with a hanging bucket and rope as late as the early 1950s. Over the years this structure has begun to decay and eventually, unless restored, will crumble completely. There are also several concrete arches in the cemetery. These were constructed in the 1930’s. One of these has an inscription that reads founded 1779. The date inscribed here cannot be confirmed by any records that have been found thus far.
According to deeds located in Muscogee County, John M. Patrick Jr. purchased the land in 1856. The first known burial is in the Nix cemetery and was in 1860. The Nix family cemetery was once part of the Patrick Burial ground.
In 1936, Alfred Milligan Patrick III began selling plots at the cemetery to provide a resting place for people in the community. There are a number of burials that are not Patrick Family members but, in many cases are tied to the Patrick family through either blood or friendship. Some families were provided plots at a low cost or free that allowed their loved ones to have a resting place. In the early days of the United Colonies and later, during the Great Depression in the United States, families and friends stayed together more often for the purposes of security, obligation, and livelihood. They helped each other in ways that we seldom see in todays society.
It has always been speculated that John M. Patrick Sr. and Polly Duke are buried at Patrick. However, John M. Senior died sometimes between 1841 and 1850. Mary Polly Duke Patrick died in 1854. It is not known where they are interred. It is possible they are both buried at Linwood. The well is all that remains of the homestead. It is quite likely that there are other Patrick family members buried here whose graves have vanished over time. We are unlikely to ever know who they were or where they are located in the cemetery. We can only hope to preserve the burial sites of those we know.
Notes:
There is a map pf graves available in Find a Grave. The map is generated based on photos and other data.