Most People Don’t Know There’s A Historic Cemetery Hiding Deep In Mississippi’s Woods
By Daniella DiRienzo|Published January 05, 2022
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Daniella DiRienzo
Author
Though Daniella was born in New York and has lived in a couple of other states, Mississippi has been her home for more than 30 years. After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi, Daniella began to hone her writing skills through various internships. In the years since, she’s had the privilege of having her articles appear in several publications, such as the Mississippi-based Parents & Kids Magazine. She’s also had the honor of interviewing actress Sela Ward for The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience.
Unbeknownst to many, the final resting place of Newton Knight, one of the state’s most legendary residents, is nestled deep in the woods of rural Mississippi. The historic cemetery has been closed to the public for years. However, that’s no longer the case. Now, you can actually tour the cemetery and learn about all the secrets, legends, and memories it holds.
The Knight Family Cemetery is hidden within the Piney Woods, just outside of Jones County.
Because it’s located on private property, it’s been closed to the public for over 100 years! Luckily, though, that changed in 2016, when the Newt Knight Preservation Society began offering tours of the historic cemetery.
A former Jones County resident, Newton “Newt” Knight is most known for leading a revolt against the Confederacy.
Knight, a struggling farmer, who didn’t own slaves or grow cotton, felt as if the Civil War wasn’t his war to fight. For Knight, the final straw came in 1862, when the Confederacy passed a law that exempted men with 20 slaves or more from battle. Fed up, Knight and a group of about 125 men from Jones County formed the Knight Company and attempted to secede from the Confederacy. The story of Knight and his men was depicted on the big screen in the 2016 film, "The Free State of Jones."
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When Knight died of natural causes on February 16, 1922, he was laid to rest alongside his common-law wife, Rachel.
Knight being buried next to his wife might seem pretty standard; however, it was actually a defiant move – and that’s because Rachel was of African-American descent, and at the time of Knight’s death, it was illegal for whites and Blacks to be buried in the same cemetery.
According to local lore, the inhabitants are children who died of typhoid fever while their families were traveling through the area. Feeling empathy for them, Knight generously offered his family cemetery to the grieving parents.
It’s also been speculated that a few Confederate soldiers, who died after being captured by the Knight Company, occupy some of the graves in the cemetery.
The Knight Family Cemetery is an incredible piece of history that everyone should see for themselves – and luckily, you can!
The Newt Knight Preservation Society offers cemetery tours on select dates throughout the year. Tours last one hour and must be booked in advance.
Remember, the Knight Family Cemetery is on private property, so you can’t visit anytime you want. The only way to see the graveyard in person is by booking a tour, which you can do here.
So, did you know about this hidden and historic graveyard? Ever toured the Knight Family Cemetery? Know of another intriguing site hiding in the woods? If so, tell us!
This isn’t the only secluded cemetery in the state. Click here to read about a ghost town cemetery with a bone-chilling story.
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