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Many of our small cemeteries are in danger of
being lost forever through vandalism and neglect
and it is of the utmost importance that these
last resting places be protected, transcribed,
and preserved for future generations.
That is the aim of this project and why it came
into being in the first place. Living here in
the county for the past 12 years we have seen
several cemeteries cease to be, and along with
them goes valuable information that can be used
for genealogical research, and at times the only
records of the people who lived, loved and died
in Gates County long ago.
Unlike other areas, there are few municipal or
public cemeteries here in the county. Most of
the residents who died here were either buried
in their church cemeteries, or in small family
plots. Although we endeavor to record all cemeteries
in Gates County, we are trying to concentrate
on the smaller family sites that are scattered
all over the countryside. Many of them have grown
up so badly that it is nearly impossible to tell
that there are in fact graves under all the weeds
and undergrowth. There have been several instances
when we have discovered cemeteries just feet from
a place where we had frequented hundreds of times
in the past and didn't even know they existed.
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As Gates County continues to grow in population
as a residential annex of sorts to the metropolitan
area of Hampton Roads, Virginia, development
will inevitably endanger some of the less
known burial sites. More people are moving
down to this area to get away from the high
costs of living, and hustle and bustle of
life in Southeastern VA to live in the pastoral
setting of Northeast NC, and Gates County
in particular. As new residential areas
and trailor parks spring up seemingly overnight,
the likelihood that some of these cemeteries
will be vandalized, neglected, or totally
destroyed becomes ever more real.
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This is why this project is so critical not only
from a genealogical vantage point, but from a
historical one as well. If you live here in the
county, or visit frequently, I urge you to help
with this project. Taking transcriptions of the
graves, photos, or helping to clean an overgrown
cemetery are only a few ways to help. If you are
a member of a church that has a cemetery, perhaps
you can involve other members of the congregation
to help transcribe the stones.
Transcribing isn't the only way to help however,
and something as simple as dropping us an e-mail
telling us where a cemetery is or might be found,
or if you own land with a cemetery on it, contact
us and we will be glad to come out and transcribe
it ourselves.
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Our eternal thanks go out to Raymond Parker
Fouts, Chris Perry, John Kittrell, Walter
Askew, Ron Hill, Elsie Richardson, Patricia
Hall, Joe Lang, Renee Haynes, Cheryl Eure,
James Baines, Bill Marley, and David Langston
for their generous contributions. Thanks
also go out to all of the members of the
Gates County S.C.V., Camp 2003 for their
help as well. We are also grateful for the
numerous people who have given us tips and
directions to some of the cemeteries transcribed
herein.
Thanks also go out to Mark Clements and
the NCDA & CS for donation of topographical
maps!
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As of January 21, 2004 we have listed:
4 Church Cemeteries
1 Municipal Cemetery
95 Family Cemeteries
233 Surnames
1617 individuals
NEW! Google Search- This search box will now give
you access to all pages on the throughwire.net
domain, including the Gates County Cemetery Survey,
Gates County GenWeb, Gates County Historical Society
page, and even the Gates Tour. This integrated
cabability will allow you to conduct a comprehensive
search for any information contained on the many
different sites that I run.
Have fun!
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