"GALLOWS OAK ROAD" AND UNKNOWN GRAVE OF A TORY

The "Gallows Oak Road" is about a quarter of a mile southeast of New
House, N.C. in Cleveland County, No. 8 Township. It is so named because
a Tory is said to be hanged near this road in an oak tree (perhaps a red
oak; for they predominate, so says Mr. Pink C. Grigg, 71, prosperous
farmer in this section) down in a hollow. The spot of land where he is
said to be hanged belongs to the widow of George Grigg. The Tory was
hanged about 100 yards from this road now leading from New House out to
Highway No. 18 on west side of said road. Mr. Grigg, aged as he is,
knows little about the hanging. But he said the road had always been
called The Gallows Oak Road". He said he had talked with Mr. Joe
Walker, now deceased, being 95 at death; and that Mr. Walker pointed out
to him the very spot where the Tory was hanged. We failed to ascertain
where this Tory was buried.

However, Mr. Pink C. Grigg pointed out the fact that the oldest man now
living in the community and the one most likely to give the most
accurate information concerning this hanging was Mr. Dock Walker of
Shelby, N.C., R.F.D. No. 4. I would suggest a further source of
information-Mr. Delfau Walker, son of Joe Walker, of Ellenboro, N.C.
R.F.D. No. ___[Blank]. Data by Anson G. Melton, Oct. 16, 1939.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
This cemetery is among the many Cleveland cemeteries included on the Cleveland Count WPA Cemeteries CD,
copyrighted 2008, by Ann K. Propst and Derick S. Hartshorn.
All listings and cemeteries listings were made prior to 1940 and represent the conditions of that time.
All information has been donated to the NCGenWeb Project but authors retain copyright protection under law.
It may be referenced and briefly exerpted under the universal fair use doctrine.
For a copy of the complete Cleveland County WPA Cemetery Survey CD, see http://www.hartshorn.us/CWPA.htm