Found a lone gravestone in the middle of nowhere?

Question

My girlfriend lives way out in the country. We went for a walk and exploring around in the woods and by the creek across the field from her house and all of a sudden we stumbled on to this grave. It is all by itself under a tree next to the creek marked by a headstone. The headstone is for a 9 year old girl and the year isn't clear. Why do you think this grave would be out there in the middle of nowhere, all overgrown, and no old homes or cemeteries nearby or anything?

Answer 1

Not uncommon in the country.  A hundred years ago there was probably a farm in that section of property.  The fields have been abandoned and trees have grown up and taken over the fields.   Maybe the family lost the farm for one reason or another.  

Back in the 80s I did a survey of the graveyards in Grayson County in Virginia and found a lot of family graveyards there.  I turned my study over to the Grayson County Historical Society.

I mainly worked off of government topo maps which record graveyards with local people.

You might want to try to contact your local historical society.  Most counties have one.  And tell them what you found.  I'm sure they would love to know about it.

Answer 2

That land was most likely part of someone's property at one time (well.. still is, but you know what I mean).  People in the past, often buried family members on their property.

If you can get some clue as to the approx date.. it is very possible that she appears as a child living with her parents in the census.  It will only be in one census (if at all), since the census is taken every 10 yrs. Thus.. she has to fit "between".  You would thus be able to find her family.

I suspect someone somewhere would love to have this information.

Is it possible that you can post the name AND COUNTY, year as close as you can?  someone here will run a lookup.  

Answer 3

It's probably nothing suspicious.Either travellers/gypsies living in the woods buried her there or maybe there used to be a house or shack and they choose to lay her to rest in the garden.

Answer 4

There was probably a homestead there at some point....