Home โ†’ Nancy Ann "Nance Dude" Kerley
โš  FLAGGED
This is the documented grave of a convicted criminal. Information below comes from public records.

Nancy Ann "Nance Dude" Kerley

1848 โ€“ 1952-09-12 Convicted 1913
Buried at: Bumgarner Cemetery , Jackson County, NC ยท Bumgarner Cemetery (public historic)

Criminal History (Public Record)

Convicted of second-degree murder. Served approximately 15 years of hard labor. Paroled around 1929. Lived freely until death at age 104.

Background

Nancy Ann "Nance Dude" Kerley (1848โ€“1952) was convicted of second-degree murder in the early 1910s for the killing of her 2-year-old granddaughter Roberta Putnam (by burying her in a cave). She pleaded guilty, served approximately 15 years of hard labor, was paroled in 1929 at around age 80โ€“81, and lived freely in the community until her death at age 104. Her story is the subject of the book "The Legend of Nance Dude" by Maurice Stanley.

Sources & Verification

  • https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7877434/nancy_ann-kerley
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nance_Dude (or local NC historical accounts)
  • "The Legend of Nance Dude" by Maurice Stanley (detailed biography on memorial and book)
  • North Carolina court records (second-degree murder conviction, early 1910s; ~15 years hard labor; paroled 1929)

All information on this site is drawn from publicly available records. We strongly recommend verifying directly with the cemetery and primary sources before making any decisions.

โš  Proximity Warning within ~5 miles

The following other flagged graves were found near this location:

Nancy Ann "Nance Dude" Kerley
Bumgarner Cemetery ยท ~0 miles away

Distances are approximate using the Haversine formula. Always confirm exact plot locations with the cemetery office.

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