“Creepy But Cool”

So said the woman at the Beaufort Historical Society who suggested it as a walking tour; she was not wrong. The site was established in 1709 and contains remains from the Indian wars from that period as well as, later, members of the United States Colored Infantry (former slaves who fought on the Union side during the Civil War), sea captains and sailors whose ships sank off the coast of North Carolina and, of course, residents of Beaufort.

The Old Burying Ground is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is now managed by the Historical Society.

Some of the oldest gravesites are marked with brick as headstones needed to be imported.

Many of the headstones have lost their identity with age. 1756 is the oldest legible date but not the oldest grave.

During the time these graves were created, it was customary to brick them over to protect the remains from animals and water.

Old wisteria vines and trees guard the gravesites in the Old Burying Ground.

Family plots were common and spanned the decades represented in the Burying Ground.

The Historical Society provides a map to tour the Burying Ground. It contains stories about the graves and their occupants …

… Captain John Hill (1817-1879) We liked the inscription on his headstone:

“The form that fills this silent grave

Once tossed an ocean’s roiling wave,

But in a port securely fast,

He’s dropped his anchor here at last.”

… Sarah Gibbs (-1792) Sarah was married to Jacob Shepard who was lost at sea. She re-married Nathaniel Gibbs and had a child by him. Several years later, Jacob returned… Nathaniel and Jacob agreed that Sarah could remain with Nathaniel while alive but that she would spend eternity with Jacob. His is the grave next to hers.

… Girl in a Barrel of Rum. This child died on a return trip from London in the 1700’s. Her father had promised her mother that he would return the girl safely when her mother agreed to the trip. Normally, she would have been buried at sea but her father wanted to keep his promise so he brought her home in a barrel of rum.

… Vienna Dill (1863-1865) This child was buried in a glass-top casket.

The Ann Street Methodist Church

Leave a comment Cancel reply