I’ve always loved cemeteries. A fun outing for me is prowling around in a graveyard, hunting dead relatives. I’ve also always had a type of “sixth-sense” as to where to find a certain grave. I believe they call to me, wanting to be found.
About six years ago, I discovered that my husband had Revolutionary ancestors who were buried in a quaint little village in South Carolina. At the time of the discovery, I was able to locate the cemetery online and to find some information about the aforementioned ancestors but, there wasn’t a lot to go on.
While making our way home from a business meeting, we made a detour and visited Salem Cemetery and the graves of two of his fourth-great-grandfather’s, William Fleming Bailey and Thomas Cauthen. Both men fought in the Revolution and are believed to have been involved at the nearby Battle of Hanging Rock.
A dedication ceremony had been held in May 1976 for the Revolutionary Patriots of Lancaster County and the Cauthen memorial monument was erected by the Waxhaw chapter of the DAR in honor of the Cauthen patriots, Thomas and his brothers, James and William, who died in Lancaster County. The address for the service was delivered by the Reverend Baker James Cauthen, a direct descendant of William Cauthen.
Also William Fleming Bailey is honored at this same site. Bailey, was the father of Nancy Agnes Bailey, who married George Washington Cauthen, son of the aforementioned Thomas Cauthen.
It was a memorable occasion to visit the final resting places of these Revolutionary soldiers and to commemorate the day with a photograph of my husband with his hand resting on their monuments.
#52ancestors