Old Cemeteries at Cherry Point, N.C.

---

ARC STUDY 1985 : Cemeteries and their engraved stones proved to be the most informative historic sites at MCAS Cherry Point. This section presents information transcribed from each of the gravestones and photographs of representative examples. In 1941, when these cemeteries were first recorded and some were moved, surveyors recorded locations, inscriptions (in abbreviated form), and information supplied by residents about unmarked cemeteries (Dept. of the Navy 1941).

The gravestones tend to provide a biased sample of information, however. Most of the graves recorded in 1941 lacked markers, and it is likely that slaves and less wealthy white residents had only wooden markers, if anything. Many of the residents of the black community around the Little Witness Church in the 1920s and 1930s (see Cemetery One) were buried with small metal and paper markers that have not survived the last 40 years.

Although this group of gravestones is relatively small in number, we can see some changes through time, and comparisons can be made with the Burying Ground of Beaufort, about twenty miles away. The earliest markers at MCAS Cherry Point are those of Evan and Sally Jones, (1813 and 1817), a relatively prosperous family that lived near the Neuse River and the mouth of Slocum Creek. Their markers (Figure App.1.14) have the “bedboard-shaped” profiles described by Benes for New England markers from 1670-1790. He attributes the use of this shape to the expression of a sleep metaphor, underlined by the normal presence of small footstones also shaped in the “bedboard” profile (Benes 1977:42). Such footstones also present in the Jones plot. The use of the “bedboard” profile at Cherry Point continued as late as 1840s, when it appeared in the Winn cemetery (see Figure App.1.17 and APP.1.18). In contrast, the Burying Ground in the seaport of Beaufort also features the “bedboard” profile beginning around the 1790s, but it nearly disappears from there in the 1820s, to be replace by more elaborate and sentimental Victorian motifs such as the willow-and-urn, hands extended in farewell, or angels in flight. Crosses and cross motifs also became more common in Beaufort after the first quarter of the nineteenth century. At Cherry Point, the only example of the new Victorian type is the Holton stone, the largest in the inventory (Figure APP.1.5). Dating from 1823, the stone marks the burial plot of Barbara Holton, the wife of Lot Holton, a wealthy plantation owner and naval stores producer. Although Lot’s name and birth date are inscribed on the stone next to his wife, he later remarried and apparently is buried elsewhere. Over Barbara’s name is a hand extended in farewell, paralleling the expression of the inscription below. Over Lot’s name is a heart, also a graphic representation of his own inscription. The relatively large size and elaboration of the Holton marker seems to correspond with the wealth of the family, but we should remember that the Evan Jones family markers, erected only a few years earlier, were much plainer although the Jones family was also quite prosperous (see Section 3.4). The elaborate and sentimental Victorian style apparently did not take root in the Cherry Point area. Later nineteenth centure markers were either in the “bedboard” style of even plainer, featuring straight or arched but should less tops (see Figure App.1.4., 1.10). In the meantime, Beaufort’s markers from the 1840s onward began to display even more elaborate Victorian symbolism, including large, freestanding draped urns, brokern columns, and ovelisks. These do not appear tin the Cherry Point area. Such elaboration ws probably beyond the means of most of its residents, or perhaps they did not consider such displays appropriate.

In the early twentieth century, some elaboration appears, and introduces diversity. Many stones were still in a simple style that featured a name outlined by rouletted lines and a short verse (see Figures App.1.16. and App.1.18). Others were more elaborate, with lamb motifs (Figure App.1.13), a hand descending from a cloud (or rising into it) and holding a flower (Figure App.1.2), crosses through crowns (Figure App.1.9), and Masonic or other fraternal symbols (Figure App.1.11). Some featured only ephemeral metal markers; most of these have not survived (Figure App.1.15).

In every case, the marked graves at Cherry Point are oriented with headstones toward the west and footstones toward the east. Tradition holds that this orientation ensured that the graves’ occupants will face eastward, the direction from which resurrection will com (Benes 1977:42). In every case but one, the inscribed faces of the stones face westward, away from the graves. The exception, the Hunter marker in Cemetery 10, has been broken off at the base and set upright, facing ease. It may also have originally faced west.

Although we know of no published studies from N.C. that examine and compare gravestones in the region in ways long since common in New England (e.g. Benes 1977; Deetz and Dethlefson 1978), we see no reason why it could not be done. Although the state lacks a recognized tradition of gravestone art in contrast to New England, it seems likely that anthropological and folkloristic studies of regularities and deviation in this area, given wide enough scope, could make useful contributions to region and local history.

Appendix 1 lists inscriptions for each of the marked graves and presents representative photographs of marker types discussed in this chapter.

APPENDIX 1

1. son of W. H. & Nancy E. Cully

G.W. Cully Born Dec. 27, 1869 Died Nov. 6, 1919

Husband of A. L. Cully

Peaceful be thy [illegible] slumber.

2. Sarah F. wife of Allen Whittington Nov. 6 1860 Feb. 10, 1922 Best mother, rest in sweet sleep, While friend in sorrow o’er Thee weep.

3. Kissie Sykes Aged 40 years

4. James B. Robinson Born Feb. 18, 1877 Died March 10, 1926 Pride of Havelock Chamber 6091 – Havelock, N.C.

5. The following names were noted in 1941 from small metal-and-paper undertakers’ markers. None of the markers seems to have survived.

John King; Jan 24, 1939, age 42 years

Charlie Nelson; 1915 – 1941

James Nelson; died 1929

Dinah Nelson; June 18, 1939, 65 years

Joe Early Fenner; Nov. 28, 1930; 40 years old

Ollie Berrid; died 1939

Rosa Lee Prichard; 1914 – 1941

John McCray; April 21, 1940

Marietta Singleton; Feb 28, 1935

Jimmie Lee Richards; 1 year 8 months

Pollock

Estelle Gibbs; 1918 – 1940

W. R. Willoughby; June 15, 1928, Age 58 years

T. McCray; died 1923

Reta Bryant; Dec. 29, 1925, age 4 years

Mindora Bryant; died June 20, 1935

Addie George; Sept 24, 1926, 18 years

Virginia Dove; June 7, 1932, age 64 years

William Dove; 63 years old

Walter M. Toon; Dec. 8, 1926, age 7

Redmon Patton; July 28, 1926, 60 years old

Annie Dewie; Aug 20, 1926, 40 years old

Steven Berry; April 12, 1930, 51 years old

Elizabeth Berry; Feb. 17, 1935, 25 years

Earnest Lee Berry; Oct 12, 1936, 16 month old

CEMETERY 2 (Wynne Family)

The cemetery survey notes form 1941 state only, “Overgrown with trees and brush – no markers, sinks visible – impossible to give an accurate count of the graves.”

CEMETERY 3

Another unmarked cemetery, with and estimated 15-25 graves, according to Emma Hill Stevens, a nearby resident at the time of the cemetery survey in 1941.

CEMETERY 4

This cemetery also lacks markers, but the surveyors in 1941 estimated that three or four graves were present. According to their informant Emma Hill Stevens, one of the graves is the burial place of a man named Sparks.

CEMETERY 5 and 6

This cemetery preceded the Little Witness Church cemetery, according to the local informants in 1941. The informants also stated that about 40 to 50 graves were present, but only one was marked:

Our Darlings Together in Heaven

Nannie K. dau. of A. F. & M. C. Moore Born June 7, 1890 Died July 9, 1895

Maudie E. dau. of A. F. & M. C. Moore Born Feb. 12, 1892 Died Aug. 30, 1898

CEMETERY 7

In addition to at least one unmarked grave, this cemetery contains two stones:

1. Sacred to the memory of Caroline R. daughter of Wm. B. and Elizabeth Thorpe Born July 8, 1846 Died Jan 30, 1867 20 years 6 mos. 22 days

2. Philip J. Son of John W. & Maria F. Armes Born Jan 2, 1848 Died March 5, 1896

In the r[ ]ted Fork I’m resting,

Safely sheltered I abide.

CEMETERY 8

The 1941 cemetery survey originally recorded that only unmarked graves were present. At an unknown later date, this entry was corrected to include the one marker present:

Barbara Holton was born Mar. 25, 1783 and died July 8, 1823

Farewell dear husband prepare to meet me in Eternity Lot Holton was born Oct. 6, 1780

Here is my heart [illegible] to meet you in that happy life.

CEMETERY 9

1. William Buys Born July 28, 1847 Died Sept. 27, 1918

Kind, upright, honest and true

2. Anna Daughter of William and Nellie Buys Born Jan. 17, 1875 Died Nov. 24, 1917

Faithful in the Lord’s service until death.

3. Mrs. Nellie Buys Born April 17, 1847 Died Sept. 23, 1881

In loving remembrance.

4. In Memory of Antge Visser Buys Brandt Born Nov. 26, 1813 Died Oct. 1, 1904 Aged 91 years

5. In Memory of Elizabeth H. Jones Daughter of Bryan & Sarah Jones Born Jan. 24, 1842 Died June 17, 1843

6. Not youth, nor age, nor beauty Can evade The sentence Passed on man; Then parents Dear from grief refrain, for I Through Christ shall live again.

Forgot by man but remembered By God

7. In Memory of Elizabeth Winn Wife of Stephen W. Winn Who died Dec. 27, 1842 Aged 54 years

Her ways were ways of Pleasantness, and all her Paths were paths of peace.

8. In Memory of Stephen Winn, Esq. Who departed this life Feb 23, 1833 Aged 45 years 10 months And 24 days

9. In Memory of Martha E. Jones Daughter of Bryan and Sarah J. Jones Who was born Feb. 13, 1842 And died Feb. 27, 1848

10. In Memory of Gilley A. Cooper Daughter of Bryan and Sarah Jones Who was born Nov. 22, 1848 And departed this life June 27, 1850

Farewell, lovely babe, farew- Well, with me thou canst no Longer dwell. I hope ere long With thee to tell, that Jesus Has done al l things well.

CEMETERY 12

The 1941 cemetery surveyors’ notes stated “No markers but sinks can be seen. Approximate area about 35 feet by 30 feet.” No additional information is available.

CEMETERY 13

1. In Memory of Sally the wife of Evan Jones who departed this Life Feby 21st, 1813 Aged 52 years

2. In Memory of Evan Jones Who departed his life March the 2nd 1817 Aged 60 years

3. In Memory of Geo. D. Pate whose stay on earth was 86 years Died May 26, 1920

4. Edward Salter Born June 29, 1861 Died May 3, 1916

Dearest husband thou hast left us.

And thy loss we deeply feel.

But ‘tis God that hath bereft us

He can all our sorrows heal.

Yet again we hope to [illeg.]

When the day of life has fled.

Then in heaven with joy to greet thee

Where no farewell tears are shed.

CEMETERY 15

1. Willie L. Barned Born May 9, 1881 Died Mar. 16, 1917

2. Willie J. son of J. R. & Dinksie Barnes Born Nov. 8, 1909 Died Mar. 2, 1911

Gone but not forgotten

3. Maggie Daughter of John R. & M. E. Barnes Born Oct.27, 1882 Died Oct. 14, 1898

4. Murphy E. Wife of John R. Barnes Born Mar. 26, 1850 Died Mar 26, 1900

5. Susannah Wife of Francis M. Barnes Born Nov. 21, 1838 Died June 1, 1989

We shall sleep, but not forever.

There will be a glorious dawn.

We shall meet to part no, never

On the resurrection morn.

6. Francis M. Barnes Born Dec. 26, 1832 Died June 16, 1909

7. Joel H. Barnes Born May 20, 1874 Died Aug. 18, 1907

In the bright eternal city

Death can never, never come.

In his own good time he’ll call us,

From our rest to home, sweet home.

8. Caroline Wife of Denard B. Garner Born Mar 12, 1861 Died Sept. 21, 1906

Gone Home