Richardson Cemetery

Santee Cooper Country

One of the most historic and earliest graveyards in St. Marks Parish, Richardson Cemetery was founded prior to the Revolutionary War. In an attempt to force information concerning Francis Marion's whereabouts from the widow of Gen. Richard Richardson, Banastre Tarleton, a British general, compelled the widow to dig up the body of her husband laid to rest six weeks earlier. Buried here also are governors James Burchell Richardson and John Peter Richardson (founder of the Citadel). The most governors to ever be elected from one family were from the Manning/Richardson family of Clarendon County. Ground penetrating radar found "Snowdrop", sometimes called Corn Crib, the horse, buried here. Partial Inscriptions on two stones: "Sacred to the memory of General Richard Richardson who departed this life September 1780 Aged 76 years He died while a prisoner and under the parole of the British who permitted him in his illness to leave John's Island where he was confined to close the last moments of his life in the bosom of his numerous family … "Sacred to the memory of Mrs. Dorothy Sinkler Richardson Relict of General Richard Richardson who died 6th of July 1793 Aged 56 years She was pious and exemplary, distinguished in mind and manners and eminently discirnable in the highest societies in which she associated …

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