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610    HARPER, EDWARD [P53.4]

Location - Bear Creek Township. Adjacent to P53.2 Tyson's Creek Baptist Church West cemetery. Across from the church at 10891 Siler City-Glendon Rd. Bear Creek.

Coordinates: 35d 33m 17.6s N; 79d 27m 24.3s W Click here for Online Maps

Additional cemetery photos:
View #2 of the cemetery. View #3 of the cemetery.
View of the cemetery sign.

Owner: Tyson's Creek Baptist Church.
Legal Description: Parcel 74315. Deed 1446/557, 2009. Cemetery shown on plat 2009-44.
Topo Quadrant: Bear Creek.
Family owned: Yes.
Maintained: Yes.
Condition: Poorly maintained.
Number of graves: 18.
Cemetery size: 50' x 60'.
White: Yes.
Unrestricted access: Yes.
Enclosed: Yes. Badly deteriorated rock wall. Previously surrounded by chain link fence; now removed.
Inscribed markers: Yes.
Number readable markers: 5.
Last burial: 1877.
First burial: 1847.
Unusual stones: Yes. Several markers of local stone.
Markers damaged: Yes. Soapstone markers badly deteriorated. Some markers dislodged.
Listed: No.

Historical significance: The will of Martha Harper directs her executor to build a wall to her specifications around the cemetery enclosing "all my family of children and grand children and daughter-in- law Nancy J. Harper" and specifies the inscription for her tombstone. The 1850 census lists Edward Harper 70, gunsmith; Martha 60; Charles 19, and George S. 15. The seven living children listed in Martha's will are Mary (Nall); Martha (Hardin); William H.; Charles A.; Julia (Welch); Jesse H.; John; and George.

Miscellaneous information: In May 2021, Ryan Jones accompanied Jim and Bev Wiggins to the cemetery. Tyson's Creek Baptist Church owns the property and in early 2021 cleared the cemetery of brush and trees. The church will clean up and maintain the cemetery.

Last canvassed by: Jim & Bev Wiggins, Ryan Jones. Date: 28 May 2021.

1. H., M.   (b. Unknown - d. Unknown)
Row-1. No-4. Material marble.
2. Harper, E. A.   (b. Unknown - d. 12 Oct 1847)
Row-2. No-3. Beautifully carved local stone. Tablet broken off and reset upright in concrete. Material local. Condition fair. Another view. - Close up.
3. Harper, Edward [E. on marker]   (b. Abt 1783 - d. 17 Apr 1857)
Row-2. No-7. Husband of Martha Harper. To the memory of E. Harper who departed this life April 17th day 1857. Aged 74 years. Lovely carving. Probate records confirm this death date for Edward.. Material local stone. Another view. - Close up.
4. Harper, G. S.   (b. Unknown - d. Unknown)
Row-2. No-4. Material soapstone. Another view. - Close up.
5. Harper, Martha Hancock   (b. 6 Sep 1789 - d. 14 Dec 1877)
Row-2. No-6. Wife of Edward Harper. Lauder, Fayetteville. Material marble. Another view.
6. Harper, Nancy   (b. Unknown - d. Bef 1877)
Row-X. No-X. The 1877 will of Martha Harper says Nancy is buried here but we don't know which grave is hers..
7. Unknown, Unknown   (b. Unknown - d. Unknown)
Row-1. No-3. Material soapstone.
8. Unknown, Unknown   (b. Unknown - d. Unknown)
Row-1. No-2. Material soapstone.
9. Unknown, Unknown   (b. Unknown - d. Unknown)
Row-1. No-5.
10. Unknown, Unknown   (b. Unknown - d. Unknown)
Row-1. No-6. Material marble.
11. Unknown, Unknown   (b. Unknown - d. Unknown)
Row-1. No-7. Material fieldstone.
12. Unknown, Unknown   (b. Unknown - d. Unknown)
Row-1. No-8. Material fieldstone.
13. Unknown, Unknown   (b. Unknown - d. Unknown)
Row-2. No-1.
14. Unknown, Unknown   (b. Unknown - d. Unknown)
Row-2. No-8. Material soapstone.
15. Unknown, Unknown   (b. Unknown - d. Unknown)
Row-3. No-1. One of three stones outside of walled area on SW corner. Material fieldstone. Area view.
16. Unknown, Unknown   (b. Unknown - d. Unknown)
Row-3. No-2. One of three stones outside of walled area on SW corner. Material fieldstone. Area view.
17. Unknown, Unknown   (b. Unknown - d. Unknown)
Row-3. No-3. One of three stones outside of walled area on SW corner. Material fieldstone. Area view.
18. Unknown, Unknown   (b. Unknown - d. Unknown)
Row-1. No-1. Material soapstone.
19. Unknown, Unknown   (b. Unknown - d. Unknown)
Row-2. No-5. Material fieldstone.