Mystery Grave Found in South Carolina!

 

Last week, this blogger was visiting Columbia, South Carolina on a work trip.  Before leaving town, I decided to do a little impromptu sightseeing at the state capitol building, and that's where I found this mystery grave!

A little online research revealed that this is the final resting place of Swanson Lunsford, a Revolutionary War captain and local civic leader.  But what's his story and why is he buried here?

Lunsford was born in Virginia around 1759.  When the Revolutionary War broke out in 1775, he joined the Continental Army, serving under famed cavalry leader "Light-Horse Harry" Lee.  Lunsford died of yellow fever in 1799.

The unconfirmed theory is that local leaders were concerned about the spread of the disease, opting to bury Lunsford on city grounds rather than in a public cemetery.  The first marker was placed on site by his descendants in 1837.  The headstone that stands today was installed by his great-great granddaughter Mary Craig Baker almost 120 years later.

Rest in peace.

Trivia

• In 1927, Lunsford's original headstone was mistakenly reported as being stolen after his great-grandson had it removed for cleaning.
  
  
• Lunsford's grave survived the burning of the original capitol building (and much of the city itself) during the Civil War in 1865.
  
  
• The capitol grounds are also home to a memorial recognizing J. Marion Sims, a controversial figure widely known as the father of gynecology.  Sims perfected many of his techniques through experimental surgeries he performed on slaves.