Stafford Cemetery at Cumberland Island National Seashore

Robert Stafford was born poor on Cumberland Island in 1790 but grew up to become the largest and wealthiest landholder on the island by the time of the Civil War. He died in 1877 and was buried at his family cemetery located near Grand Avenue about four miles north of Sea Camp. His mother and sister are also buried here. Stafford never married, which explains the absence of a grave for a wife. He did, however, have eight children, six with one of his slaves and two with another.

Day trippers with a bike can easily get to the cemetery, though I would assume that anyone traveling this way is heading to Plum Orchard Mansion, also a feasible trip for those with bikes. There is no reason to come this way just for the cemetery unless you are a cemetery fanatic.

Grave of Robert Stafford on Cumberland Island

The most interesting of the graves is that of Thomas Hutchison, a famous pro golfer from Scotland. He came to America to play in the 1900 U. S. Open, which was held the first week in October. William Carnegie, Thomas and Lucy Carnegie’s oldest son, was an avid golfer, and he invited Hutchison for a visit to Cumberland Island. During this time he fell off a horse and was killed; he was 23-years old. For some unknown reason, he was buried on Cumberland Island and not sent back to Scotland. Since he was not a Carnegie, he was not buried in the Carnegie family cemetery but instead here at the Stafford cemetery. The Stafford family was long gone and had sold their land to the Carnegies by the time of his death.

Grave of Thomas Hutchison, buried on Cumberland Island

The mansion near the cemetery is known as the Stafford House. The Carnegies purchased the home and land from the descendants of Stafford as a wedding present for William. Unfortunately, the original house burned down in January 1901. William built a new house and retained the name Stafford House. The home is still in private hands but will one day become part of Cumberland Island National Seashore per an agreement with the National Park Service.