Studio39Designs

Bonaventure Obelisks and Taller Headstones

In 1753, John Mullryne began acquiring land in Georgia.  By 1764, he had several thousand acres and 2 sawmills in operation.  During this time, he, his wife, 3 daughters and 2 son-in-law’s came to reside in this province.  From all their landholdings, they chose a parcel on St. Augustine Creek 3 ½ miles from Savannah, which they named Bonaventure, or Good Fortune.  From 1775 – 1782, Bonaventure was the site from which Royal Governor James Wright evaded his Revolutionary captors.  In 1779, the plantation became a hospital for the French troops in their attempt to capture Savannah from British control.  It is believed that many of the French troops lie buried at Bonaventure.  When Savannah was finally taken from British control, the Mullrynes were called traitors by the Revolutionary government, and they fled to New Providence, Nassau, where John Mullryne died in 1786.  The land changed hands, and in 1802, Harriet Tattnall, wife of the youngest grandson of the Mullrynes, died and was buried on the grounds.  She was the first identified adult to be buried in what was to become Bonaventure Cemetery.

Jacob Paulson Headstone

Altho I didn’t see Harriet’s gravesite, there were many others that we did see.  I especially liked this one because of the peaceful setting in which it sits.  Spanish moss can be found throughout the cemetery, and here it seems to be offering shade and protection, of sorts, to the grave.

Obelisk Monument

This obelisk monument seems the perfect ornamental accessory for the garden, which, of course, is not its purpose.  It just shows how beauty and grief seamlessly co-exist in this setting.

Cemetery Green

There doesn’t seem to be any logic to how the gravesites are located here, altho I imagine there is.  There are supposed to be numbers, but I couldn’t figure out any rhyme or reason to them, and not all gravesites reflect the numbers assigned to them.  If you didn’t know exactly where this gravesite was located, it’s easy to see how it would be sort of invisible amongst the green.

Cohen Monument

I found I had a few images of this monument from different angles. This one is the one that I think best shows off how it’s nestled in the garden surrounding it.  It also shows you how turned around you can get in here, as I didn’t realize I had a number of photos of this from different angles, all taken at different times!

Bonaventure Cemetery Monument

I especially like this monument because it seems to mirror the drapery feel of the Spanish moss trees surrounding it.  I feel like it’s practically dripping with beauty and charm – strange thing to say about a cemetery monument, but that is the nature of Bonaventure Cemetery.

Obelisk among the Flowers

I’m not certain what the pink blooms are called, but they were abundant throughout the cemetery.  I’m not sure how many graves are actually pictured in this image, because many are covered in blooms, but that seems like a nice way to have one’s gravesite naturally decorated.

In the Garden

Here’s another arched monument that looks like it’s more of a garden accessory than something that belongs in a cemetery.  I just love the lush colors that filled this magical place.

Enjoy!