GPS Coordinates: 32°51’15” N
79°54’19” W
TEXT OF SIMMONS CEMETERY HISTORIC MARKER
Sign Script: (written by Lee Ann Bain, Daniel Island Historical Society, Board Member – Community Outreach, and historical review by Michael K. Dahlman, Daniel Island Historical Society – Co-founder and Board Member, co-author of the book, Daniel Island)
“Simmons Cemetery is an African American burial ground that has served as a resting place for generations. It is believed that the cemetery’s name comes from its association with plantation owner Maurice Simmons, who owned the land prior to the Civil War. Local residents started calling this burial ground the “Village Cemetery” in the 1900s. Approximately 65-70 individuals are interred here, and grave markers from the years 1905-1973 still survive.
Simmons Cemetery is the final resting place of Private David Sparkman, an African American soldier who fought for the Union as part of the 33rd Regiment, United States Colored Infantry and G.C. Coxswain who served in the 103rd Regiment, United States Colored Infantry. These men were two of the approximately 179,000 black men who served in the U.S Army and 19,000 who would serve in the Navy during the Civil War. John Bellinger, a soldier in the black 371st Infantry Regiment who fought alongside the French in the Verdun area during World War I, is also buried here.”
MORE ON SIMMONS CEMETERY
Private David Sparkman, an African-American soldier who fought for the Union as part of the 33rd US Colored Infantry Regiment is one of the approximately 65- 70 individuals buried in Simmons Cemetery. The 33rd was established in April of 1862 when President Lincoln authorized the raising of African American troops. General Rufus Saxton of Massachusetts was permitted to “arm, equip and receive into the service of the United States such volunteers of African descent as you may deem expedient, not exceeding five thousand.” By November of 1862, Saxton had enough men to assemble a regiment which was called the 1st South Carolina Volunteer Infantry. Their first mission was to destroy Confederate salt works along the coast of South Carolina and Georgia while taking prisoners and carrying off slaves and confederate property. Their commander was Colonel Thomas Wentworth Higginson, an abolitionist from Massachusetts.
In March of 1863, the infantry was sent to Jacksonville Florida with a mission to “carry the proclamation of freedom to the enslaved: to call all loyal men into the service of the United States; to occupy as much of the state of Florida as possible with the forces under your command; and to neglect no means consistent with the usages of civilized warfare to weaken, harass, and annoy those who are in rebellion against the Government of the United States.” The mission was a success. For the remainder of 1863 and part of 1864, the regiment would spend time in South Carolina and in Florida.
On February 8, 1864, the 1st South Carolina Volunteer Infantry would be renamed the 33rd United States Colored Troops. They would fight in the Battle of Honey Hill and capture a fort on James Island. After the war, the regiment was employed in provost and picket duty. They would be mustered out on January 31, 1866.
C. Coxswain who is also buried at Simmons Cemetery would serve with the 103rd Regiment, United States Colored Infantry. This group of black soldiers was organized on March 10, 1865 in Hilton Head. They would serve in the garrison and as a guard duty unit in areas of Georgia and South Carolina. The regiment would be mustered out by April 20, 1866.
After Lincoln’s decree to allow blacks to serve in the Union Army over 5,000 formerly enslaved men would enlist in the United States Colored Troops. By the end of the war approximately 179,000 black men served in the U.S. Army and 19,000 would serve in the Navy. South Carolina would establish six regiments: 21st, 33rd, 103rd, 104th and 128th USCT.
Also buried in Simmons Cemetery is John Bellinger, who served with the 371st Infantry Regiment, which fought in WWI. This regiment was formed in August 1917 and consisted of black draftees who were mostly from South Carolina but would also have members from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland and Pennsylvania. Training for the new enlistees was held at Camp Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina under the command of white offices. In April of 1918, the regiment arrived at the Western Front where they were placed under French command. The French were in desperate need of troops and it was also thought they could better integrate the unit than the American troops could because of the racial tensions between whites and blacks that existed during this time. Lt. John B. Smith an officer of the 371st would say that “the French people could not grasp the idea of social discrimination on account of color. They said the colored men were soldiers, wearing the American uniform, and fighting in the common cause and they could not see why they should be discriminated against. They received the men in their churches and homes and places of entertainment….”
On June 12, 1918, after French training, the unit went into the trenches with the veteran 157th “Red Hand” division. For over three months, they held the lines at Avocourt and later the Verrieres subsectors northwest of Verdun. In September of 1918, the regiment was pulled out of the line and was transferred to the Champagne region to help defend against the last major German offense on the Western Front. The 371st was one of the forward units of the attacks and would lose 1,065 of their men during an eight day period. For their extraordinary service at Champagne, the entire regiment would be awarded the Croix de Guerre with Palm. In addition, 146 individuals of the 371st were awarded merits such as the French Legion of Honor, the American Distinguished Service Cross and the Medal of Honor.
The 371st would arrive on U.S. soil on February 11, 1919 and would be back in Columbia by February 28, 1919, where the regiment would be dissolved.
Below is a partial list of who is buried at Simmons Cemetery. This is very much a work in progress. Many of the listings include a link to a photo of the gravesite.
BENJAMIN BELLINGER
1878 (estimated) – March 13, 1927
Stone inscription: 49 years, May Thy Resurrection Find Thee on the Bosom of Thy God
Photo of stone/marker: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/36547966/benjamin-bellinger
JANE BELLINGER
March 23, 1872 – April 23, 1942
Stone inscription: Mother
Photo of stone/marker: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/41533706/jane-bellinger
JOHN BELLINGER
MAY 6, 1892 – September 15, 1956
Stone inscription: PVT, Company A, 57th BN WWI Infantry
Photo of stone/marker: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/41533921/john-bellinger
PETER CAMPBELL
April 20, 1876 – December 31, 1938
Stone inscription: Father
Photo of stone/marker: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/41533790/peter-campbell
WILLIAM CAMPBELL
1888 – 1955
Stone inscription:
Photo of stone/marker: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/36548291/william-campbell
G.C. COXSWAIN
Unknown birthdate – Unknown death date
Stone inscription: Corporal Company K, 103 USCI (United States Colored Infantry)
Photo of stone/marker: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/36548730/g.-c.-coxswain
REBECCA DRAYTON
April 15, 1919 – December3, 1955
Stone inscription: The Lord is my Shepherd
Photo of stone/marker: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/41533551/rebecca-drayton
BENJAMIN FORDHAM
Unknown birthdate – January 3, 1968
Stone inscription: None (metal plate)
Photo of stone/marker: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/41533580/benjamin-fordham
CLARANCE FORDHAM
August 31, 1921 – January 14, 1941
Stone inscription: He lived the life, and kept the faith
Photo of stone/marker: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/41533834/clarance-fordham
ELIJAH FORDHAM
Unknown birthdate – October 7, 1963
Stone inscription: None (metal plate)
Photo of stone/marker: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/41533633/elijah-fordham
IRENE P. FORDHAM
October 26, 1883 – February 23, 1952
Stone inscription: Sleep on Mother and take your rest
Photo of stone/marker: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/41533863/irene-p.-fordham
LORRINDA B. GIBBS
November 19, 1900 – January 18, 1971
Stone inscription: Rest in peace
Photo of stone/marker: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/36548755/lorrinda-b.-gibbs
THOMAS GLOVER
May 28, 1889 – August 13, 1940
Stone inscription: PVT South Carolina, 156th Depot Brigade March 13, 1940
Photo of stone/marker: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/36548058/thomas-glover
CARRY HAYWOOD
Unknown birthdate – Unknown death date
Stone inscription: None
Photo of stone/marker: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/41533660/carrie-heyward
ALBERTHA P. JENKINS
Unknown birthdate – Unknown death date
Stone inscription: None
Photo of stone/marker: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/41533604/albertha-p.-jenkins
RECER G. JENKINS
April 27, 1877 – February 4, 1956
Stone inscription: Loving Mother
Photo of stone/marker: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/36546626/recer-g.-jenkins
ISAAC MCCOY
Unknown birthdate – January 21, 1959
Stone inscription: None (metal plate)
Photo of stone/marker: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/36548105/isaac-mccoy
JOHN PICKENS
November 20, 1833 – June 2, 1905
Stone inscription: The Lord is my Sheppard, I shall now want
Photo of stone/metal marker: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/36547936/john-pickens
EVELINA GILLIARD ROBINSON
October 27, 1907 – January 9, 1965
Stone inscription: Your loving children, Oscar, Lilly, Mary, Florence, Eva, Evelina, Benjamin
Photo of stone/marker: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/41533755/evelina-robinson
ARTHUR SMALLS
February 4, 1912 – December 23, 1954
Stone inscription: None
Photo of stone/marker: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/36547994/arthur-smalls
PVT DAVID SPARKMAN
1839 – 1909
Stone inscription: PVT CO K 33 USCI (United States Colored Infantry)
Photo of stone/marker: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/63905631/david-sparkman
ERNESTINE VENNING
Unknown birthdate – September 13, 1973
Stone inscription: None (metal plate)
Photo of stone/marker:
YOU MIGHT ALSO WANT TO LOOK AT OUR PAGE ‘DANIEL ISLAND CEMETERIES’ CLICK HERE