Abandoned cemeteries are everywhere and they leave traces if you know where to look.  Have you ever noticed this one resting in plain view in downtown Raleigh? An unassuming crumbling stone wall is the beacon proclaiming this corner lot of Booker and Hill streets as someone's final resting place dating back to the early 1800s. According to historians it may date back to the 1830 and be a part of the "Welcome" property of Henry Seawell (1774-1835).  Read the full story from Heather Leah at WRAL5 source Visit Wake County Genealogical Society's Website  -  Homepage  |  WCGS Events  |  Join WCGS  |  Publications  |  Wake Cemetery Survey Images  |  Society Surnames  |  Digital Resources  |  History Resources  |  More Links and Resources  |   Contact - info(at)wakecogen(dot)org

The June 2024 law changes  (HB385, sec11)   that limit the protections of cemeteries - lost, abandoned, culturally and historically significant - have been discussed and updated previously on our blog - here . There has been a hopeful turn of events. Unfortunately, it is not the full restoration of oversight powers to the Office of State Archaelogy. This new proactive measure comes from outside the legislature. The N.C. Department of Transportation will team with N.C. State University Institute for Transportation Research and Education to begin research on mapping unmarked burial sites belonging to historically marginalized groups. This positive step forward is a pilot project beginning in Edgecombe County. The project goal is to  identify and map Indigenous burial sites, graves of formerly enslaved individuals, and historic African American cemeteries within the county. The pilot runs through the summer of 2026 and may expand after that.  This effort gives me hope t...

Updates on HB383 sec 11: The bill was passed on June 26 with the language that places old abandoned family cemeteries as well as historic archealogical relics at possibly more risk than before. The following language of HB385 Section 11 is taken directly form the Legislative Reporting Service at UNC School of Government.   The wording below is the version that passed. The concerning portions are highlighted in yellow as restrictions to the OSA  that did not exist previously. Part XI Removes all of former Part XI (amending various statutes related to coastal development) and replaces it with the following new content. Section 11 Adds new GS 113A-113.1 (requiring the Office of State Archeology [OSA] to provide information to owners and prospective purchasers in areas of environmental concern). Requires OSA to, upon request of an owner or prospective purchaser of land located in an area of environmental concern, to provide the owner or prospective purchaser with information as to...

Update on McCullers Cemetery: Cemetery Clean Up and Planning session For the Patriot Mathew McCullers Cemetery is scheduled Saturday, March 18, from 1-5:30pm. Optional Meet for lunch at Smithfield Chicken ‘N BBQ near the McCullers Crossroad by 11:30am Cemetery located on Donny Brook Road across 401 South/Fayetteville Road from the South Campus of Wake Tech. This is a Revolutionary War Soldier's grave site in Wake County. If you are interested in attending, please contact Holt Anderson directly. His contact info is in bold below . This is good work being done to save this and an ajoining slave cemetery. Please help if you are able.  Original post:: Holt Anderson, Joel McCullers Hobby, and Tommy Broadwell (all McCullers descendants) are in the early stages of organizing a cleanup project of the McCullers Family Cemetery in southern Wake County. They seek other descendants and interested parties to assist in planning and executing the effort to clear the site located at Donny Brook Rd...

The first clean up (Feb 18) was attended by 13 people. Good progress was made, but about half of the clean up remains to be done. Then next clean up day is scheduled on  Saturday March 11, 2023 from 9:00am to 12:00pm. This cemetery is located at 1461 Purfoy Rd. Surnames include  Barbour, Betts, Revels, Smith, Wray.   Seventeen graves are named. The earliest burial is dated 1814-1890. 1461 Purfoy Rd. Be sure to visit the Harnett County Cemtery Preservation Group on Facebook to see photos of the clean up progress and to get details for March 11. Page link:   https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089072144515&mibextid=LQQJ4d Clean Up Event link:  https://fb.me/e/4cyE4borY?mibextid=RQdjqZ This cemetery is in Wake County, right in our backyard.  Visit Wake County Genealogical Society's Website  -  Homepage  |  WCGS Events  |  Join WCGS  |  Publications  |  Wake Cemetery Survey Images ...

Help and input needed for cemeteries on the Wake/Harnett County line in Fuquay area I received a request for help from Steve Koontz of the newly formed Harnett County Cemetery Preservation Group requesting help from descendants and   interested volunteers to assist in the clean up and restoration of several cemeteries on the southern county line. One has graves with the following surnames: Barbour, Betts, Revels, Smith, Wray.   Seventeen graves are named. The earliest burial is dated 1814-1890. Located near 1461 Purfoy Rd.   A clean up day was scheduled for Feb. 18 , but there may be several needed. See this Facebook post . There is a second cemetery near Fuquay that is on their list to clean up. The Stevens Family Cemetery will be scheduled for date in the near future. Please contact Steve Koontz if you can help with either of these or any other Southern Wake Cemeteries that the Harnett group has on their schedule. Steve Koontz skoontz76@aol.com Harnett County...