Luke Sykes Cemetery

Luke Sykes Cemetery

a.k.a. McDuffie Cemetery

Cemetery #94 in Cemeteries of Bladen County, Volume III - NW Bladen

Location: S of Hwy 53, 4.3 miles NW of the intersection of Hwy 242 and Hwy 53, back of what was the W.A. Woodburn house, but now (1984) the Mike Thaggard house. Recorded by Wanda S. Campbell.

Note: This is a complete survey. All markers are represented.

All photos taken by Jason Bordeaux in 2007.

Luke Sykes

1797-1875

At Rest.

Note: Luke Sykes was the son of Josiah Sykes, Jr. and Elizabeth Pridgen.

Mary Atkinson

Wife of Luke Sykes

1802-1888

At Rest.

Note: Mary Atkinson was the daughter of Wilie Atkinson and Susannah Barnhill.

“In Memory Of” Private Josiah Sykes, Jr.

Erected January 21, 2007 by Layton Dowless, Vern Tatum, and Jason Bordeaux

Note: Josiah Sykes was the father of Luke Sykes. This marker was placed beside of Luke Sykes’ grave.

Note: I later found that the dates on the marker were incorrect. Although I had a copy of the pension, I used the birth date from Lionel Melvin’s book which showed March 12, 1740. The birth date on the pension was March 5, 1740. The death date of December, 1832 comes from a Bladen County deed. I later found that this deed belonged to another Josiah Sykes. Private Josiah Sykes continued to receive payments for his service until late 1841. He therefore died sometime at the end of 1841. December is not a proven month, but it is close and it was left on the marker since it had already been inscribed. Please view the following link for an explanation of the 1832 date. This report has not yet been updated to show the correct death date.

http://www.ncgenweb.us/bladen/reports/descendents/sykes.josiah.pdf

See photo on next page for corrected dates.

“In Memory Of” Josiah Sykes, Jr.

Pvt, NC Militia, Rev War

Mar 5, 1740

Dec, 1842

Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge

Note: This photo shows the marker after the dates were corrected.

Note: Josiah Sykes, Jr. was the son of Josiah Sykes, Sr. He was the father of Luke Sykes and David Sykes.

John Wesley Sykes

Corp, Co K, 18 NC Infantry

Confederate States Army

Aug 23, 1829

Jan 30, 1915

Erected January 21, 2007 by Layton Dowless, Vern Tatum, and Jason Bordeaux

Note: John Wesley Sykes was the son of Luke Sykes and Mary Atkinson.
He was the husband of Susan Elizabeth Tatum.

“Mother”

Susan E.

Wife of J. W. Sykes

Born Sept 14, 1842

Died April 24, 1911

At Rest.

Note: Susan Elizabeth Tatum was the daughter of Theophilus Tatom and Anna M. Smith.
She was the wife of John Wesley Sikes.

C. D. Sykes

1884-1938

At Rest.

Tombstone repaired by Layton Dowless.

Note: Cecil Douglas Sykes was the son of John Wesley Sykes and Susan Elizabeth Tatum.

For more information on Cecil, go to http://www.ncgenweb.us/bladen/pictures/ancestors/sykes/cdsykes.htm

“In Memory Of” Captain Wilie John Sykes

Co B, 18 NC Inf, CSA

Dec 24, 1825

May 27, 1862

Erected January 21, 2007 by Layton Dowless, Vern Tatum, and Jason Bordeaux

Note: Wilie John Sykes was the son of Luke Sykes and Mary Atkinson. He was the husband of Mary Frances McNorton. He died at the Battle of Hanover Courthouse in Virginia and was buried on the battlefield. Wilie was also a soldier of the Mexican War of 1848.

“In Memory Of” Corporal Josiah Pridgen Sykes

Co K, 5 NC Inf, CSA

1837

Sep 12, 1862

Erected January 21, 2007 by Layton Dowless, Vern Tatum, and Jason Bordeaux

Note: Josiah Pridgen Sykes was the son of Luke Sykes and Mary Atkinson.
He died in a federal P.O.W. camp.

“In Memory Of” Private Henry Mitchell Sykes

Co B, 18 NC Inf, CSA

Oct, 1844

Jun 29, 1934

Erected February 16, 2007 by Layton Dowless, Vern Tatum, and Jason Bordeaux

Note: I later learned that Henry Mitchell Sykes also served as a Corporal in Captain McDugald’s Railroad Defense Company.

Note: Henry Mitchell Sykes was the son of Luke Sykes and Mary Atkinson. He came home from the Civil War conflict shell shocked. He lived the rest of his days in Dorothea Dix Hospital and died there at the age of 89. At this time, the hospital cemetery was no longer in use and Henry was cremated.

The markers for Captain Wilie John Sykes, Corporal Josiah Pridgen Sykes, and Private Henry Mitchell Sykes were placed in a row in order from oldest to youngest. Their nephew, Cecil Douglas Sykes, is buried to the right of these markers on the same row.

Emily Currie

Wife of William J. McDuffie

Dec. 27, 1846

Oct. 28, 1929

Note: Emily Currie was the daughter of Daniel Currie and Emily Sykes and the granddaughter of Luke Sykes and Mary Atkinson. She was the wife of William James McDuffie.