DR. JOSEPH HAMILTON CEMETERY

This family cemetery is located in No. 7 Township, Cleveland County,
N.C. at the old Robert McBrayer (now Mrs. John E. McBrayer) home place
about 200 yards south of Highway 74, being nine miles west of Shelby,
and two miles east of Mooresboro, N.,C.  Dr.  Hamilton's grave is
situated between two large cedar trees.

Owner of Cemetery:  Mrs. John E. McBrayer

Approximate number of marked graves:  2
 Before 1914:    1
 After 1914:    None
  Unmarked graves:  2

Condition:  Neglected somewhat with Dr.  Hamilton's large flat marker
lying flat on some stones perhaps two feet high.

Date of survey:  Nov. 22, 1939 Worker:  A. G. Melton

"Dr.  Joseph Hamilton, who departed this life the 3rd of August 1824,
aged 64 years.  He was born in the county of Tyrone Ireland.  But for
many years past a resident of Rutherford, N.C.  This stone is erected as
a tribute of gratitude of his memory by his affectionate wife and
daughter."

"Daughter of Nancy Hamilton, aged 74 years."

One unmarked grave.  This grave, tradition says, is said to hold the
remains of a servant to Dr.  Hamilton.

Data by P. Cleveland Gardner:

I am advised by D. Roy McBrayer that due north of this grave yard some
40 feet now stands the old log store building about 32 x 36 feet in
which building Dr.  Hamilton operated a store for many years and until
date of his death.  Also, he says that the old Hamilton dwelling house
stood about 150 feet southwest of graveyard, where present home of Widow
McBrayer now stands.  The Hamilton dwelling was a two story frame
building, all in middle, and chimney at each end of house; brick where
laid in lime motor [mortar ?] between ceiling and weather boarding.
Following death of Dr.  Hamilton this farm was purchased by Robert
McBrayer, son of David McBrayer, from the daughters of Dr.  Hamilton.
Robert conveyed this farm by deed to his son, John E. McBrayer; said
farm is now occupied by Mrs. Margaret Lovelace McBrayer, widow of said
John E. McBrayer.  Tradition handed down through the McBrayer family is
that during Reconstruction period following the civil War that Captain
Howe and his federal troops on leaving Shelby camped in the woods just
opposite and north of the house and that the officers took their meals
in the McBrayer home, etc.  Also, in the meantime this group of federal
soldiers plundered and carried away cattle, horses, and other personal
property belonging to this McBrayer family

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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