Duncan Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery

Duncan Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery
Earliest known grave 1776
Near Clinton, Laurens County, South Carolina

Then and now.

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At a Glance

• Where: beside Duncan Creek Presbyterian Church, about five miles east of Clinton, near the Newberry County line.
• Earliest grave: 1776. The churchyard holds Revolutionary War and Civil War soldiers.
• Recorded here: about 216 burials, listed below by surname.
• For our families: Joseph Adair, Sr. and probably his wife Susanna; Joseph Adair, Jr.; his daughter Charity Little; Robert Long; and the Ramage family of Mary Ramage Dillard.

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On This Page

• Stones with Photographs
• All Recorded Burials (A–C · D–K · L–O · P–Z)
• Sources, Open Questions, and How You Can Help

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Stones with Photographs

Adair

Joseph Adair, Jr., Deputy Commissary, SC Militia, Revolutionary War. See also his will.

Adams and Bell

Esther Adams (1784 – 24 June 1854) is buried to the left of her mother, Mary McClure Bell. Her sister Elizabeth Cox is on the other side, but that stone is too worn to photograph.

Braddock

Braddock photos and information courtesy of Pam Miller, pamiller.net.

Copeland

Fairbairn

Ramage

No one knows for certain where Mary Ramage Dillard is buried; her marker here is a cenotaph, a monument to someone buried elsewhere. Captain James Dillard of the Little River Regiment had two wives, both named Mary. This marker to his first wife, Mary Ramage, was originally placed in error at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, at the grave of his second wife, Mary Puckett Dillard. Captain Dillard is buried beside Mary Puckett Dillard at Pleasant Hill, barely three miles from Duncan Creek. The marker was later moved to Duncan Creek, where her Ramage family is buried. Mary most likely rests in a family plot in the woods near the old Dillard home place.

McCrary

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All Recorded Burials

The list below is alphabetical by surname, with family groups kept together. Stones that are photographed above are included and marked “Photo.” Where a date on the list disagreed with the stone, the stone has been followed.

Surnames A–C

Surname	Name	Dates	Notes
Adair	Benjamin	died Sept. 3, 1825, age 71 (b. 1754)
Adair	Susanna	1723- April 9, 1800	Probably the wife of Joseph Adair, Sr., named in his 1788 will.
Adair	Joseph, Sr. — elder and founder of the church	1711 – 1789	See his timeline and his will. Photo
Adair	Joseph, Jr. — Deputy Commissary, SC Militia, Revolutionary War	died 1812	See his will. Photo
Adair	James (“First Settler”)	May 15, 1752 – Aug. 18, 1818	Photo
Adair	Hannah, wife of James Adair, Sr.	Sept. 28, 1750 – Nov. 10, 1826	Photo
Adams	Esther	1784 – June 24, 1854	Daughter of Mary McClure Bell. Photo
Beasley	Lydia Owens, dau. of Thomas & Alicy Owens, and wife of B.C. Beasley	Nov. 28, 1818 – June 12, 1845	The following three persons are on the same stone.
Beasley	Thomas, son of B.C. & Lydia Beasley	died 1840, age 9 months	The following three persons are on the same stone.
Beasley	Infant daughter of same	died 1845, age 3 weeks	The following three persons are on the same stone.
Beasley	George	Dec. 16, 1842, killed and buried in Maryland July 11, 1863
Beasley	Leonard, Virginia Military, Revolutionary War
Beasley	B.C.	Jan. 26, 1811 – May 2, 1883
Bell	John	Jan. 26, 1793 – Oct. 14, 1827
Bell	James	Dec. 28, 1770 – May 13, 1858
Bell	Sarah	1773 – May 13, 1858
Bell	William, son of James & Sarah Bell	March 28, 1804 – Dec. 30, 1819
Bell	Infant son of J.B. & M.B. Bell
Bell	James, Jr.	Dec 1, 1811 – Jan. 19, 1858
Bell	Mary, wife of James Bell and daughter of Isaac Jacks	Aug. 15, 1816 – March 3, 1899
Bell	Isaac	Aug. 26, 1836 – July 30, 1864
Bell	Sallie, 2nd dau. of J.Wm. & Mattie Bell	Dec. 1869 – Oct. 1872
Bell	Martha McConathy, consort of John Bell	Dec. 5, 1793 – Oct. 16, 1827
Bell	Mary (McClure)	died March 1, 1832, aged about 87	Photo
Bouland	John	May 5, 1760 – Feb. 2, 1820
Braddock	James F., C.S.A.	Oct. 22, 1843-Oct. 5, 1862, of typhoid pneumonia on march to Manassas
Braddock	Francis	died July 30, 1828, aged 60	Photo
Braddock	Ann, wife of Francis	died Nov. 2, 1828, age 70	Photo
Braddock	Infant of James & Oney Braddock
Braddock	Mary P., dau. of James & Oney	May 1834 – Nov. 4, 1854
Braddock	Martha A., dau. of James & Oney	Aug. 16, 1831 – Nov. 6, 1854
Byrd	William Paradon, infant son of G.& E.C. Byrd	died March 20, 1848, age 2 yrs., 6 months
Copeland	Eleanor Craig, wife of Samuel Copeland & daughter of Wm. & Jane
Copeland	William H., son of E.T. & C.A.O. Copeland	1854 – 1855
Copeland	James	died Aug 15, 1869	(D.A.R number 813990 info, not on stone: Born August 1793)
Copeland	Elizabeth, wife of James, Sr.	died Nov. 29, 1844 (b. Aug. 27, 1799)
Copeland	Leisel Watson, son of R.J. & M.E. Copeland	died July, 1871, age 8 months
Copeland	L.W., 1st S.C. Cav., C.S.A.	March 14, 1825 – Dec. 27, 1894	(D.A.R number 813990 info, not on stone: Leisel Watts Copeland)
Copeland	Sarah Jane, wife of L.W. Copeland & dau. of Robert & Sarah Owens	died Dec. 24, 1860, age 30 years, 8 mos., 24 days	(D.A.R number 813990 info, not on stone: Born March 31, 1830)
Copeland	Martha Jane, dau. of L.W. & S.J. Copeland	d. Jan. 1854, age 10 months
Copeland	Nannie J., dau. of L.W. & S.J. Copeland	d. June 13, 1864, age 3 years
Copeland	Sarah Eliza, dau. of L.W. & S.J. Copeland	d. Aug. 4, 1866, age 15
Copeland	Infant daughter of L.W. & L.T. Copeland	died July 1879
Copeland	George Berly, twin son of L.W. & Lena T. Copeland	July 1874 – Sept. 1875
Copeland	R.H., son of G.P. & M.A. Copeland	March – July 1856
Copeland	John, Sr.	died Sept. 7, 1826, aged about 78 years (born about 1748 in Ireland).
Copeland	Margaret (Blakely), consort of John Copeland, Sr.	died Feb. 27, 1844, aged about 86 years.	(supplemental information, not on stone: born 1758 in Ireland)
Copeland	J.H., Lieut., Co. B, 1st SC Cavalry, C.S.A.	June 10, 1839 – Dec. 20, 1906	Photo
Copeland	Martha T., his wife	May 20, 1842 – Dec. 17, 1910	Photo
Cox	Elizabeth	died May 3, 1848, aged 56 years, 6 months
Craig	Thomas	Feb. 8, 1873 – age 84
Craig	Elizabeth	died Feb. 5, 1851, age 56
Craig	Susan M.E.	Sept. 30, 1824 – May 18, 1855	Children of Samuel and Ruth S. Craig.
Craig	William H.	Jan. 6, 1826 – May 21, 1835	Children of Samuel and Ruth S. Craig.
Craig	John M.	June 29, 1829 – June 1, 1835	Children of Samuel and Ruth S. Craig.
Craig	Ruthe Jane	Dec. 9, 1832 – May 16, 1835	Children of Samuel and Ruth S. Craig.
Craig	John, S.C. Militia, Revolutionary War
Craig	William (E.R.)	died Oct. 13, 1824, age 64 (1760)
Craig	Jane, his wife	died July 1, 1822, age 54 (1768)
Craig	James, Dr.	died Nov. 5, 1826, age 26 yrs. 8 months
Craig	John (E.R.)	died Oct. 19, 1843, age 50
Craig	William (D.C.)	died Oct. 9, 1824, age 64 (1760)
Craig	Susanna	died May 7, 1834, age 72 (1762)
Craig	E.R.	died Oct. 12, 1825, age 21

Surnames D–K

Surname	Name	Dates	Notes
Duckett	Elizabeth	died Sept. 3, 1822, aged 21
Fairbairn	Samuel M.	died Aug. 2, 1817, age 41 years, 8 months (b. about 1775)
Fairbairn	James	died Aug. 3, 1830, age 60 years, 5 mo. 9 days (1770)
Fairbairn	Margaret	died Aug. 21, 1794, age 25 years (1769)
Fairbairn	Alexander	1722 – June 15, 1798	Photo
Fairbairn	Catherine, wife of Alexander	1740 – July 16, 1781	Photo
Ferguson	Charles M., son of S. & L. Ferguson	Dec. 1843 – Nov. 1854
Ferguson	Elizabeth, wife of Charles Ferguson	born March 18, 1793, married Aug. 1806, died May 23, 1869
Ferguson	Lucinda, wife of S. Ferguson and daughter of George & Frances McCrary	March 13, 1813 – Oct. 22, 1848
Ferguson	Henry, son of S. & L. Ferguson	Oct. – Nov. 1848
Ferguson	William Walton, son of Samuel & Agnes Ferguson	April 10, 1859 – Sept. 5, 1892
Ferguson	Spencer, son of S. & L. Ferguson	Oct. 1841-Feb. 1842
Filson	Alexander	born in County Donegal, Ireland March 17, 1761	died Nov. 18, 1841
Finney	Mary A., his wife, and dau. of T.D. & E.J. Young	Sept. 6, 1846 – July 27, 1867
Finney	John R.	Sept 27, 1844 – July 9, 1881, C.S.A.
Finney	John	Sept. 10, 1808 – Aug. 1, 1891
Finney	Lucinda	June 11, 1812 – March 30, 1881
Finney	Mary S., daughter of John and Lucinda	Feb. 25, 1836 – March 25, 1886
Finney	Isaac W.	Sept. 30, 1835 – Nov. 4, 1877
Finney	Sallie E., his wife	July 11, 1840 – March 23, 1879
Folker	Eunice Penelope, consort of Rev. Patrick H. Folker & daughter of Rev. John B. Kennedy	died Aug. 1, 1848, age 37 (born 1811)
Folker	Three infant children of Patrick H. & Eunice P. Folker	no date (about 1840)
Glasgow	John L., buried between Thos. & Mattie Lou Owens	Sept. 15, 1824 – Oct. 18, 1858
Glasgow	Winfield Scott, son of John L. & Sarah E. Glasgow	died 1852, age 2 yrs. 7 months, 22 days
Glasgow	Infant son of same couple	born & died 1851
Glasgow	Infant son of same couple	Born & died 1854
Graham	Nancy	July 4, 1813 – Oct. 21, 1824
Hill	Mary Polina, dau. of James & M.A. Hill	1852 – 1853
Hill	Lewis Richard, son of James & M.A. Hill	born & died 1856
Hill	James Thomas, son of James & M.A. Hill	born & died 1855
Hughes	Lettitia Y.	Oct. 31, 1831 – March 15, 1917
Jacks	John P.	Jan. 24, 1819 – Oct. 26, 1867
Jacks	Mrs. N.A., his wife	Aug. 17, 1832 – Nov. 22, 1882
Jacks	Sarah A.O., daughter of J.P. & N.A., B. & SD.	1854
Jacks	J.H.	Feb. 1856 – Oct. 1920
Jacks	W.J.	Nov. 1861 – Jan. 1927
Kelly	Margaret Braddock, wife of W.F. Kelly and daughter of James & Oney Braddock	April 21, 1848 – Dec. 13, 1927
Kennedy	Rev. John B., A Presbyterian preacher over 50 years.	died Dec. 12, 1846, aged 81 (born 1765)
Kennedy	Rebecca, consort of Rev. J.B. Kennedy	died July 29, 1846 (born 1771)
Kern	Alfred Anthony	Jan 20, 1808 – June 28, 1840
Kern	John Frederick, born in Hamburgh, Germany, leaving a widow and 6 children	Sept. 6, 1758 – Nov. 5, 1830
Kern	Elizabeth, relict of J.F. Kern, Sr., born in London	Aug. 19, 1766 – Feb. 11, 1834
Kern	Paridon Daniel	died June 21, 1826, age 28 years, 6 months

Surnames L–O

Surname	Name	Dates	Notes
Leak	Nancy J., consort of Robert B. Leak	April, 1829 – Oct. 24, 1855
Leak	Robert Bluford	Aug. 17, 1818 – Feb. 22, 1859
Leak	Martha A., daughter of R.B. & N.J. Leak	1853 – Aug. 1855
Leak	David Thomas, son of R.B. & N.J. Leak	Oct. – Dec. 1851
Leake	T.D.	Jan. 4, 1850 – June 21, 1919
Leake	Lou Finney, his wife	Aug. 18, 1850 – April 26, 1899
Little	James	July 12, 1803 – Oct. 11, 1854
Little	Matilda, his wife	Jan. 25, 1803 – Oct. 23, 1854
Little	J.S., dau. of Thomas & J.E.	Oct. 1849 – May 1850
Little	David R., son of James and Matilda	March 1834 – May 1854
Little	Robert J.R., son of John W. & Eliza	May 1854 – Jan. 1855
Little	Cynthia A., dau. of James & Matilda	July 1841 – June 1857
Little	Joseph E., son of Thomas & Jane E. Little	Jan. – June 1862
Little	Thomas H., C.S.A.	Dec. 19, 1836 – Dec. 7, 1862 at Lynchburg, Va.
Little	Chany John, son of J.W. & E.J. Little	March 1862 – Oct. 1878
Little	John W.	Feb. 10, 1832-May 1, 1914
Little	Eliza Jane, his wife	July 17, 1832-Dec. 14, 1905
Little	David	Sept. 25, 1802 – March 7, 1852
Little	Sarah, his wife	Jan. 16, 1812 – July 8, 1871
Little	John	died Jan. 11, 1844, aged about 38 years
Little	David, Sr. of Ireland	Nov. 11, 1767-Nov. 17, 1812
Little	Mrs. Charity (Adair), wife of David Little, Sr.	1770 – Nov. 6, 1826	Daughter of Joseph Adair, Jr.; see his will.
Little	Thomas	Aug. 1, 1809 – Sept. 5, 1872
Little	Jane E., his wife	Feb. 1, 1822 – Dec. 27, 1871
Little	Annie, daughter of J.P. & S.A. Little	July 1868 – Sept. 1873
Long	Robert	1760 – Jan. 20, 1840	Revolutionary War; elder 1788. See Robert Long.
Long	Elizabeth, wife of Robert Long	1756 – Sept. 4, 1823
Long	Miss Susan	1783 – Nov. 12, 1873
Long	Mary, daughter of Robert & Elizabeth Long	died July 20, 1817 (b. 1789), age 28	also on her left hand lies her niece Martha Monfoord.
Long	Martha, daughter of Robert & Elizabeth Long	died Oct. 29, 1825
Long	Samuel	died Nov. 15, 1776, age 19
Luke	John, Sr.	March 14, 1767 – Jan. 14, 1848
Luke	Jane, his wife	Dec. 5, 1789 – Nov. 14, 1844
Mccrary	Edwin	April 7, 1811 – Feb. 13, 1873
Mccrary	Maria A., his wife	Oct. 26, 1822 – April 20, 1867
Mccrary	Thomas, S.C. Troops, Revolutionary War		Photo
Murdough	Thomas	1728 – Aug. 15, 1809
Nicols	Betsey, wife of D.C. Nichols	died July 19, 1905, age 57 years, 11 months, 18 days
Owens	Robert	died Jan. 1, 1848, age about 56 (b. 1792)
Owens	Martha Jane, wife of R.S. Owens, dau. of Charles & Elizabeth Ferguson	Nov. 8, 1825 – July 12, 1853
Owens	Florella Jane, youngest daughter of Martha & Robert S. Owens	1853 – Oct. 1857
Owens	Ma??	died in the year 1823
Owens	Thomas, husband of Alicy Owens	1789 – July 10, 1828	In the 39th Year of his Age
Owens	Thomas	Nov. 1811 – (broken)
Owens	Mattie Lou, dau. of T. & S. Owens	Feb 13,1870 – Aug 28, 1884
Owens	John Robert, son of T. & S. Owens	1863 – Jan. 1887
Owens	Susan, wife of Thomas Owens	Jan. 25, 183? – June 14, 1882

Surnames P–Z

Surname	Name	Dates	Notes
Perry	Mary Ann, “Her months of affliction are o’er”.	died Aug 27, 1852, aged 16.
Philson	William	Nov. 12, 1791 – May 21, 1871
Philson	Agness, wife of William Philson. Married April 19, 1819.	Had 9 children. 6 survived.	died July 7, 1868, aged 68. Born June 29, 1800
Philson	James Walton, son of William & Agnes	Feb. 11, 1832 – Nov. 7, 1849
Ramage	John J.	died Jan. 29, 1844
Ramage	Nancy C.F.	June 1842 – Feb. 1847
Ramage	Infants of J.W. & M.E. Ramage
Ramage	Isaac W.T.	June 29, 1842 – Nov. 7, 1862, at Lynchburg, Va. Co A 13 S.C. Reg.
Ramage	Mary Ramage Dillard (cenotaph)		Buried elsewhere. See Mary Ramage Dillard. Photo
Ross	Dr. George	died Nov. 13, 1825, age 46 years, 11 months (born 1779)
Ross	Sophia Franklin	died Nov. 20, 1825, age 8 months
Setzler	Dr. F.M., C.S.A.	Aug. 22, 1845 – Oct. 17, 1923
Setzler	Mary Young, his wife	April 17, 1849 – Oct. 17, 1923
Taylor	Irine Owens, daughter of Dr. E.F. & F.F. Taylor	1893-1895
Taylor	Dr. Edgar F.	1852-1936
Taylor	Fannie C.	1858-1897
Tribble	Cornelius, son of Elijah & Nancy	Aug. 14, 1836 – Jan. 18, 1863 at Richmond, Va.
Underwood	Mr. Isaac	died Aug. 19, 1819, aged 37	Also near this marble stone is entered the bodies of his mother, Sarah Underwood, his sister, Sarah Holland, and his nephew and niece William and Sarah, son and daughter of his brother, John Underwood.
Weir	Nancy Long	1799 – July 17, 1875
Weir	Dr. Thomas	1800 – July 14, 1880	DR. THOMAS WEIR (1800-1880) Dr. Weir studied medical education under Robert Long who operated an academy on Duncan’s Creek. After working his way through the Medical College of South Carolina, he began practicing medicine in what was to become Clinton. He was a large planter, owning 67 slaves in 1860. He was a delegate to the Secession Convention and his name stands proudly upon the Ordinance of Secession. All four of his sons were in the Confederate Army, three died. The family was for 150 years closely associated with Duncan’s Creek Presbyterian Church where Dr. Weir was an elder and is buried at Duncan Creek.
Weir	George W.	Jan. 1, 1881 – Jan. 12, 1930
Wier	Dr. Thomas Withrow	Oct. 29, 1830 – April 26, 1908 C.S.A.
Wier	Lou Buchanan	Jan. 17, 1852 – Aug. 27, 1916
Wier	Willie H., son of Dr. T.W. & L.B. Wier	Dec. 19, 1883 – Feb. 26, 1887
Wier	Nannie E., daughter of Dr. T.W. & L.B. Wier	Dec. 21, 1885 – Feb. 26, 1887
Wier	Mary Catherine	1834 – Oct. 5, 1838
Wier	Elizabeth S.R., daughter of Dr.Thomas & Nancy Wier	1832 – Oct. 19, 1852
Wier	William Preston	1838 – Nov. 7, 1856
Wier	Lt. Robert Long	died near Centerville, Va. Nov. 5, 1861, age 32, C.S.A.
Wier	Lt. Samuel Laurens, fell in the Battle of the Wilderness, Va.	May 5, 1864, age 21 (body lies in an unknown grave)
Wier	Capt. Harrison Kern, fell in battle at Deep Bottom, Va	July 28, 1864, age 24, (born 1840)	These three sons of Dr. Thomas & Nancy Long Wier died in communion of the Presbyterian Church and were martyrs to the Confederate War.
Wilkison	John	Aug 18, 1784 – Feb. 15, 1809
Workman	James I., son of C.J. & S.E. Workman	Aug. 26, 1868 – Aug. 7, 1872
Workman	William C.	July 16, 1871 – May 7, 1887
Workman	Josephine S.E.	Sept. 26, 1847 – July 1, 1887
Workman	John B.	Oct. 7, 1866 – June 1, 1895
Young	Major Samuel (Elizabeth’s grandfather)	Aug. 15, 1792 – April 8, 1865
Young	George C., son of Wm. & E.E. Young	May 1842 – Aug. 1868
Young	Also infants of Wm. & E.E. Young	born & died 1867 & 1870
Young	Robert Mc N	Oct. 23, 1822 – Oct. 11, 1854
Young	Margaret	Feb. 21, 1780 – May 23, 1853
Young	Elizabeth	1755 – Nov. 2, 1800
Young	George Sr.	1755 – Oct. 13, 1833
Young	Thomas	1781 – Feb. 21, 1824
Young	Christopher	1797 – Nov. 22, 1825
Young	George	died Aug. 2, 1843, age 55 years (1788)
Young	Mary, wife of George Young, Jr.	died Nov. 17, 1831, age 40 (1791)
Young	Elizabeth	Aug. 1795 – June 2, 1856
Young	five infant children of Wm. & Elizabeth Young
Young	William	Feb. 19, 1795 – Aug. 30, 1868
Young	Jane Elliott, daughter of W. & E. Young	Dec. 24, 1820 – June 2, 1863
Young	Ella J., daughter of J.I. & O. Young	June 1882 – Jan. 1890
Young	Lizzie T., daughter of J.I. & O. Young	Feb. 1880 – Dec. 1889
Young	Robert Watts, son of J.I. & O. Young	1886 – 1887
Young	Dr. Thomas D., consort of Elizabeth J. Young	March 3, 1818 – Nov. 27, 1854
Young	J.B., left a wife & 3 small children	March 12, 1811 – Dec. 23, 1852
Young	Manon G.	died Jan. 10, 1845, age 30 years, 11 months, 4 days
Young	Joseph W.	Jan. 17, 1839 – Sept. 19, 1844
Young	M.L. ?	April 1830? – Sept. 1842?
—	M.B.	1896 or 06	Fragment or unidentified marker
—	Z.B.W.(next)		Fragment or unidentified marker
—	R.I.P		Fragment or unidentified marker

More Photos

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Sources, Open Questions, and How You Can Help

Sources

• G. E. McGrew, “Epitaphs from Duncan’s Creek Presbyterian Church,” The South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Magazine 49, no. 4 (1948): 225–30, JSTOR.
• Genealogy Trails: Duncan Creek church and cemetery transcriptions.
• Photographs by Lisa Bowes, Pam Miller (pamiller.net) and Gerald McCrary.
• Find a Grave: Duncan Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery.

Open Questions

• Two stones read “William Craig, died October 1824, age 64,” one marked (E.R.) on the 13th and one (D.C.) on the 9th. Are these two men, or one stone recorded twice?
• Robert Long’s dates here are 1760–1840; his own page gives his birth as about 1763. Which is right?
• Was Robert Long’s wife Elizabeth (1756–1823) the daughter of Joseph Adair, Sr.? His 1788 will calls Robert Long “my son inlaw.”
• Was James Adair (“First Settler,” 1752–1818) the son of Joseph Adair, Sr., who named a son James as his executor?
• Which is the earliest grave: Samuel Long, died 15 November 1776, or a Susannah Long, as one history says?

How You Can Help

If you have photographs of any of these stones, or corrections to this list, please get in touch.

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Holy Places: Duncan Creek Presbyterian Church · Duncan Creek Cemetery · Holland Cemetery · Holland–Leak–Adair Burying Ground · Leesville Methodist Cemetery