Historical Researcher's Blog !

One of the hardest things to accomplish while stabilizing an endangered cemetery is to locate sunken headstones. Some are easier to locate then others since parts of the stone may be visible. Other stones, however are much harder to locate because they have sunken so far under the surface that no signs of a grave marker is visible. In either case, stabilizing a sunken headstone is the same.

  Here is a link to some images of the Henderson Cemetery preservation project, as of September 5, 2012:

   
    In Part I, I gave some examples of the process in clearing and searching for possible unmarked graves within an area of a cemetery that had been encrouched by wild foliage and brush.  In Part II, I will be discussing a more detailed aspect of finding an unmarked grave--searching for artifacts and other signs of possible graves.

Front area of Petteway Family Cemetery before removal of foilage and brush{Review Part I of this post}

     In the front area of the Petteway cemetery is a span of property that is separated from the original early 20th Century railroad tracks and the cemetery as it is seen today.  The car path leading to the cemetery, today,  separates this piece of property and the cemetery.  Sometime, ca. 1970s the land developer "dug a ditch," to ensure loggers would not encrouch upon the cemetery. 

   The Elder of the family, Dalton Odell, Grandson of Former Slaves George and Cecilia Petteway was born in 1925.  His earliest memories of the cemetery starts when he was around ten years old.  The cemetery has been in use since 1888, if not sooner.  How many individuals were buried in the cemetery prior to 1925.  Since at least the 1950s the area in front of the cemetery has never been cared for by the family.  Is this area, between the railroad tracks and the known cemetery empty of graves?

   The only true way of knowing if there are unmarked graves within this particular area of the cemetery is to clear out all of the excess brush and debris.  Under some eight inches of mulch and compost there may be a fallen headstone or other form of grave markers that are within this area.  Special care is needed to identify a metal pipe or large stone as a grave markers or just, discarded.

   In older times, it was not uncommon for African Americans to use pottery, dishware, tools, money or, other items to identify the location of a grave.  Sea Shells is another tradition that is carried on today.  The larger the shell, the more respected the individual was to the family.  One grave located in the Blackwell cemetery has very large sea shells that cover the individual's grave from front to back.  Pvt. James Blackwell is the only known Spanish American War African American Veteren within Onslow County.

   If no unmarked graves are confirmed then, Odell Petteway will remove the majority of small trees to make a parking space for visitors.  At this time, there is only the pathway to the cemetery that has been used for parking.  Many Elders have to walk a long distance to visit the cemetery.  The lack of parking has always been an issue for the Petteway family, especially during a funeral where dozens of cars are used to transport family members to the cemetery.

In either case, as a newly found piece of the Petteway cemetery being rediscovered or, as a much needed parking area for the cemetery, this particular area will be put to good use.  But, before anything can be done, the entire area needs to be carefully and properly cleared, using only hand tools.

     One of the most challenging aspects in the preservation of old cemeteries is the need to identify "unmarked" graves.  The term unmarked refers to a grave where the headstone or, any other form of identification, is missing. 




    In the two images below, note the lettering at the base of each visible headstone.  The remaining writing is under the surface.  There are two main reasons for this:  The stone, due to soften ground from rain saturation, sank into the ground.  The second cause is much more reasonable. 

   When a cemetery is left unattended, in this case for over thirty years, fallen debris, leaves and other material accumulate around the stone.  Over time, these things decay and become mulch, also known as compost.  Each yearly amount of mulch adds onto the previous amount. 

  When cemetery preservation work is first started, many headstones appear to have sunken into the ground when in reality, the ground rises up and over the headstone.

I have been the exclusive caretaker for the Petteway Family cemetery since January 2007.  During this time I have "reclaimed" nearly eighty percent of the original cemetery that dates to ca.1870.  Being an all African American and the largest of it's kind in Onslow County, North Carolina (southeastern part of the state), it is vital to rediscover as much of the cemetery, as feasibly possible.  The primary reason. . . to show proper respect to the individuals who were laid to rest within the cemetery when it first was used.

I have conducted extensive, independant research in regards to who had been laid to rest within the Petteway Family cemetery.  By the end of 2009, twelve names were added to the list to help identify "unmarked" graves that are scattered throughout the cemetery.  Ten of these individuals were not known to many of the current Petteway family members.  Two were children under two years of age and three were Former Slaves.  They died between 1912 and 1924.  This cemetery has been used since ca. 1870.  Starting in the Spring of 2011, a once wild foliage encrouched section of the cemetery grounds was finally cleared, using only basic handtools.  The work was long and hot but, well worth the effort.






Allowing the "visible" ground surface of the recently cleared land to acclamate, to allow grass and not wild brush and weeds to grow, made identifying additional "possible" unmarked graves easier.  If allowed to happen, decades, and in this case, a century's, worth of fallen foliage debris will eventually cover original cemetery grounds.  Leaving no evidence of cemetery or, it's graves.

For the novice, when a part of a cemetery is cleared of it's surface foliage and then left alone, so grass can grow, unmarked graves can be identified.  The soil around a potential grave will be altered in appearance.  In some cases, using a mathmatical equation, the actual demensions of a grave can be seen in the ground.  Other instances, the ground surface "gives way," allowing a depression of a grave to be visable.  After confirming a depression as an actual unmarked grave, through detailed anylisis and care, additional graves can be rediscovered.



As a last image of Part I of this post, I present you the after view of the front of the Petteway Family Cemetery.  I conducted the entire clearing process, by hand, using only small handtools.  Evidence suggests that not less then twenty unmarked graves are present in this particular area of the cemetery.  Waiting to be confirmed to be actual graves of the Elders of the Petteway family.

Here is another sad news article in regards to endangered cemeteries. 

The staff of Resurrection Mission try to inform the public why it is important to protect these family and community cemeteries. 

Take a few seconds out of your busy lives and reflect on how it would feel if these intentional desecrated graves was one of your Ancestors.


Watertown Daily Times | Vandals smash headstones at Champion cemetery


http://www.resurrection-mission.com/

This is the year to learn more about the War of 1812.  Some argue; our second war of independence.

Southeastern North Carolina had a vital role during the War of 1812 with numerous shorelines and ports along the eastern Atlantic Ocean.

Captain Otway Burns, Privateer during the War of 1812, was born and raised in Swansboro, North Carolina.  He sailed the open Oceans and devestated the British trade routes by capturing not-less-then forty vessels.  Many twice the size of his small ship--Snap Dragon.

Take time to learn more about Captain Burns and the role he played during the War of 1812.   Does your family have a connection to him or the events that took place during the war?  Did any of your Ancestors fight in the War; on land or by sea?

Here is a link for a book that I wrote about Captain Burns's entire life.  Much of the book is presented for the first time and gives a more accurate discription of his many adventures and escapades.

Remember our military Veterans, both present and past.

Jack

Out-of-state family matters, over the last six months, had taken me away from my blog entries. 

I came across an interesting photograph, obtained from a family friend, during my most recent trip to Northern New York.  Below is an image that provides a humorous aspect of family genealogy.

James Harvey [Sic] Thompson, was twenty-one years old when the below image was taken of him, ca.1910.  Can anyone give a reason for his appearance?



Doing family genealogy can be adventurous.  Learning unique aspects of family history can be fun for a researcher. 

How many of your family members share in James' birth date?  How were they listed on Census reports?

A question that needs to be answered:  Was James H. Thompson a Civil War Veteran?  Being Memorial Day weekend, it would be nice to find out that he was and to rediscover how he served his county.

To all Veterans out there, young and old, thank you for your dedication, sacrifices and commitment to protect our Freedoms.

Semper Fi !

Some of the Petteway family members who once attended the Edney Primative Baptist Church School house. Framed photograph depicts the school house prior to 1960 Hurricane damage.


Today, the remaining portion of the Edney School house still stands on the grounds where it was built. Due to severe damage caused by the 1960 era Hurricane, the church was evetually torn down and replaced, by Odell Petteway, with a new cinder-block style building. This new church is still being used for church, education and family gatherings.


Dalton Odell Petteway, Grandson of G.W. & Cecilia Ann Petteway, received the Petteway family "Hero Award," for his life-long dedication in protecting the Edney Primative Baptist church and School house.

Framed picture, being held by Ms. Shelia Blue, is a re-discovered image of the original Endney School house, ca. 1935.

Someone, somewhere, may have material dealing with the Edney Primative Baptist Church and school. Before the Petteway's next family reunion, hopefully, more of their Heritage can be rediscovered and presented to them--for their continued dedication in preserving our local & family histories.

Another Onslow County cemetery (southeastern North Carolina) has been vadilized. No information is available at this time.

I will post updates as news develop and I am able to this newest endangered cemetery.



In the meantime, here is a link my primary Internet site:

http://www.resurrection-mission.com

(above & below images)
Airborn dirt, flowing over road, caused by plowing of the cropfield

Imagine the above dirt storm flowing not over a road but instead, onto an adjacent small family cemetery located within the neighboring tree line of the crop field. Now, add ten; twenty-five; one hundred or, even two hundred years of this flowing dirt, coming to rest on that same cemetery.

The cemetery that was located "at one time" within the crop field area has been re-discovered. I had to spend some detailed time researching the grounds. The image below, is from this specific cemetery and represents, clearly, how plowed crop fields can, over time, encrouch a cemetery:

(Left; A) Grave head stone located nearly twenty inches under "visible" surface.

(Left; B) Actual headstone from the crop field cemetery---After washing stone, with only clear water & soft brush, information was re-discovered.

First name is hard to decifer.

Born: December 1825

Died: July16, 1908

I hope these images help to explain how some old & endangered cemeteries can become "mis-placed." Urban sprawling has dominated the once plentiful farm land. There are, however, land developers out there, who insist on taking the most extreme steps and care to protect the final resting places of people who once lived in their communities.

Take just a moment and think of all of the "forgotten" military Veterans who are laid to rest in the endangered cemeteries within your neighborhood.

To make a contribution to Resurrection Mission--protecting endangered cemeteries and search for our "forgotten" military Veterans please visit the Resurrection Mission Website.

Happy Easter & say thanks to our military troops and Veterans when you see them.

Richlands, North Carolina:

I have finalized the Brick Mill Cemetery burial roster for section "A," only. There are 107 confirmed graves, some unmarked, within this area of the cemetery. There are more but, due to the harsh treatment of the cemetery over the past fifty years, these graves may never be re-discovered.

There are another seven sections to re-confirm the marked, unmarked and possible grave locations.

There will be numerous family reunions being held in the summer of 2011. I hope to have the burial roster complete by June. This will give me time to publish my findings and present a copy to some of the direct descendents of their Ancestors who were laid to rest within the Brick Mill Cemetery.

I have worked for five years on the Brick Mill Cemetery. Nearly all costs, labor and required equipment and supplies were at my own expense.

Thank you all for your support,

Jack

To make a modest donation:


To learn more about Resurrection Mission:

Tired of the rising, by the hour, of gas prices? Do you have an opinion as to what can be done to lower the need of oil dependency?

Visit the Gas Out Day group page on Face Book and express your thoughts to people all over the Nation who are upset about the price of gas.

Grave marker for John L. Langley

Born: 1835 Died:1863

Was John L. Langley a Civil War Vet?

Additional research needs to be done to confirm this possibility.

"I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith"

"...fight; course; kept the faith" Could these be clues to his military service?

One of the goals of Resurrection Mission is to locate our "forgotten" military Veterans. In time, hopefully, we will learn if John was or was not a veteran of the American Civil war. And, if he was, he too must be properly recognized for his commitment and duty to his military service.

For view images:




I am safe, dry and well.

Jack