Old Shiloh Presbyterian Church Cemetery
Established about 1785, Cleveland County's oldest and most historic church cemetery contains remains of the earliest settlers from nearby communities and their descendants. Among those buried here are heroes of the Revolutionary War, the Indian Wars, the War of 1812, the Civil War, and a State Senator.
Family Names Represented by Markers
Christmast Gordon Morrow
Crow Hambright Patterson
Dillingham Hardin Price
Dover Harry Randall
Ettress Holmes Reynolds
Etters Howser Sellers
Gilfillan McCarter Williams
Many of the stones were obtained from the nearby Kings Mountain quarry and carved by stone cutters James Crawford and John Caveny, and their sons. Some graves are marked by stones only. Among the eminent at rest here are Revolutionary War participants Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Hambright, Commander at the Battle of Kings Mountain, and Patterson brothers Arthur, Jr, Thomas, and William. Major Frederick Hambright, son of Col. Frederick Hambright, was an Indian fighter and went on an expedition to Georgia against them. The War of 1812, John Hambright and Josiah Hambright. Civil War veterans Charles H. Christmast, killed at Charleston, South Carolina 1862, and Joseph Ettress of Lincoln County, North Carolina; and 1835 North Carolina State Senator John B. Harry.
Many that are buried here fought in the Civil War on the Confederate side to help sustain their cause for the south.
The cemetery has been added to the Cleveland County, North Carolina, South Carolina, and National Register of Historic Places on the basis of the unique funerary art on some of the headstones carved by the Crawfords and Cavenys.
A few markers in the south end of the cemetery are in Cherokee County, SC.
The oldest dated tombstone is that of Elizabeth H Dover who died February 1788. The last burial in this cemetery was 1916.
The cemetery is currently being maintained by the Hambright Family Reunion which meets each October. Southern Power, which owns the land around the cemetery, has been a great partner in keeping the trees trimmed.
The Walter R Ferguson Foundation has donated funds for the recent restoration.
In September 2024 The Hambright Family Reunion established a 501 (c) 3 non profit named Old Shiloh Cemetery to accept tax deductable donations for the perpetual upkeep of the cemetry. In June 2026 Shiloh Presbyterian Church transferred ownership of the cemetery property to the Old Shiloh Cemetery Non-Profit. This is managed by the Hambright Family Reunion which meets annually in October.
The Hambright family started a reunion in July 1947. From that reunion meeting, a cemetery committie was formed and met for the first time in October 1947.
The first burial in the cemtery was in 1788. At that time the cemetery was arcoss the road from the church. In 1885 Shiloh Presbyterin Church sold the church land to an A.M.E Zion congregation and moved to Grover. The cemetery continued to be in use by the church. The last person buried there was in 1916. As time progressed the cemetery was forgotten and fell into disrepair. At the 1947 Hambright Family Reunion they decided to form a committee and collect funds to try and maintain the cemetery. Since that time the maintenance of the cemetery has been an up an down battle. At different times differerent members of the Hambright Family have taken turns in the upkeep. However this is a daunting task and it has fallen into disrepair numerous times. In 2025 the Old Shiloh Cemetery non-profit received a donation from the Walter R Fergson Foundation that enabled the Cemetery Committee to make substancial repairs and landscaping enhancements.
Donate for the perpetual upkeep of Old Shiloh Cemetery
On December 22nd, 2011, the National Park Service approved the listing of the Shiloh Presbyterian Church cemetery to the National Register of historic places
Shiloh now joins the prestigious ranks of North Carolina historical properties such as: Bald Head Island Lighthouse (Bald Head Island), Hezekiah Alexander House (Charlotte), The Capital (Fayetteville), The Queen Anne’s Revenge Shipwreck (Atlantic Beach), Quaker Meadows (Morganton vicinity), Grove park Inn (Asheville), Bath Historic District (Bath), Salem Tavern and Wachovia Building (Winston Salem), Cameron Village (Raleigh), Duke Homestead and Tobacco Factory (Durham).
Shiloh Cemetery was considered as a result of the “finery” art contained among the many tombstones, and the cemetery has met the National Registers requirements for Criteria A,C and D respectively; a church owned property that deserves its primary significance from its large collection of gravestones from the 19th and 20th century carved by stone cutters and engravers from York County, South Carolina (James and William Crawford and John and Robert Cavanaugh); details indicative of Caveny’s work are found on the tombstone of Colonel Frederick Hambright and others; a small, rural church cemetery with gravestones of artistic value, stylized funerary art; and its distinctive designed features
This was a rare accomplishment for Shiloh as cemeteries are seldom considered to be approved and added to National Register status. Approval would not have happened without the dedicated efforts of Dennis Dover of Chino Hills, CA who has worked for many years with the North and South Carolina Archives and the Historic Shelby Foundation to make this nomination possible.
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