About Us

The Official Code of Georgia (Ga. Code) section
36-72-2[5] (2001) defines a cemetery as “any
land dedicated to and used, or intended to be
used, for interment of human remains.” The same
code, section 36-72-2[3] (2001) also states “the
fact that the area was used for burial purposes
shall be evidence that it was set aside for burial
purposes.”

The Historic Preservation Division of the
Georgia Department of Natural Resources
defines historic as “a term used to describe a
cemetery that is older than 50 years but was
established after documented European contact
occurred in Georgia around A.D. 1540.” The
Coleman-Leigh-Warren cemetery falls under the
category of historic cemetery.

The cemetery sits atop the Savannah River valley in Augusta-Richmond County
between the Savannah River lock and dam (Columbia County) and the city of
Augusta. One can view the South Carolina side of the valley by climbing to the top
of one of the trees in the cemetery.

The land upon which the cemetery is located was inhabited by the Creek nation
before the arrival of the first English settlers.

Timothy Rickerson (a.k.a. Ricketson) of New Bedford, Mass. was the first English
settler to be granted a portion of this Creek nation land. The grant was approved in
1785 from His Majesty King George III. Soon after his acquisition, Rickerson
began a small village just off the road to Washington near what is today the
intersection of Washington and Berckmans Roads. According to a direct
descendant of Rickerson, most likely he named the village Bedford hearkening
back to his New Bedford, Mass. home. This tract of land has taken on many
shapes and forms since then.

An in depth written history of the property and those who have shared in its
stewardship is underway.

"I authorize my Executors, in their discretion, and without any order of any
Court, to sell either at public or private sale, and on such terms as they
consider advisable, any or all of my estate, real and personal, and I direct
such sale to be made, whenever it may be necessary for the purpose of a
final division of my estate Provided, that the Family Burying Ground at
Bedford and a right of way thereto from the public road, is to be reserved,
and exempted from any such Sale."
-Richmond County Superior Court
Solemn Will, Book D 1868-1881,
pp. 73-77

On April 14, 1887, the family burying ground referred to above was
specifically defined and reserved in Richmond County Superior Court Deeds &
Mortgages Book 3X 1888, p. 201, using a plat drawn from a survey by
Richmond County Surveyor, E.W. Brown. The text on the plat reads:

"The above plat represents the reservation made on the Bedford Tract of the
Est of B. H. Warren of the graveyard on the said tract the same containing
acre and one tenth acres as near as can be calculated but having the bounds
shown by the above plat."

The larger tract in which the cemetery rests was sold to James H. Alexander
on April 4, 1888. The reservation of the cemetery has been noted in every
deed of conveyance since that time. Here is the language used from the 1888
deed following a description of the larger tract:

"It is Hereby expressly understood however that the cemetery upon the said
'Bedford' tract indicated upon said plat as the 'Graveyard' with the right of
way to the Washington Road said cemetery and right of way containing acre
and one tenth acres more or less and having the metes and bounds
represented upon a plat of survey recorded in said office Book XXX folio 201
is hereby reserved and not intended to be conveyed the reservation of said
cemetery being expressly directed by said will."

-Richmond County Superior Court
Book 4A 1889-1890, pp. 89-92.

The cemetery property is best described as
severely vandalized. The box graves have been
broken open and their ledgers smashed into
pieces. Monuments that once stood 15-18' in the
air have been toppled, demolished or completely
disappeared.

The roots of large Hackberry trees have slowly
uprooted the foundations of the brick walls and
caused the walls to crumble. The brick walls,
once 5' in height, are practically leveled to the
ground. "Volunteer" shrubs have had the same
effect on several of the box graves and
monuments.

It is hoped that in cooperation with local citizens,
businesses, and other organizations, the
cemetery property can be restored as a place of
natural beauty.