HISTORIC PICKENS COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA Subject: DEVELOPMENT THREATENS TO UNEARTH BURIED PAST Version 1.0, 27-Mar-2004, H-38.txt **************************************************************** REPRODUCING NOTICE: ------------------- These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format for profit, or presentation by any other organization, or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Paul M Kankula - nn8nn Seneca, SC, USA Golden Corner SC GenWeb County Coordinator **************************************************************** DATAFILE INPUT . : Karen Patterson at pattypainter@cs.com in Mar-2004 DATAFILE LAYOUT : Paul M. Kankula at kankula1@innova.net in Mar-2004 HISTORY WRITE-UP : Anna Simon at asimon@greenvillenews.com in Oct-2003 DEVELOPMENT THREATENS TO UNEARTH BURIED PAST Greenville News, March 24, 2004. Metro Section, page 1, con'd page 7 By: Anna Simon, asimon@greenvillenews.com Pickens - Descendants of American Revolutionary soldier Capt. William Lynch want their ancestor's grave defended as development mushrooms in the Upstate. Lynch was born in Virginia and lived the later part of his 78 years near Table Rock. He was buried in 1820 near his home in northern Pickens County, where an upscale golf community, The Rock at Jocassee, is today. "This is a patriot who fought for our freedom," said Karen Patterson of Travelers Rest, who's husband is a direct descendant of the captain and wants the grave, which is on a undeveloped residential lot, protected from development. A low wall of fieldstones surrounds it. A slender 20 foot oak tree grows from the grave, and the headstone lies to the side, knocked over accidentally by a heavy equipment operator. Stan Brown, one of the developers said the grave will be preserved, cleaned up and repaired, fenced, marked with an informative sign, and accessible to the public. It will be part of a planned historical walking tour on the property, along with the graves of two Lewis family members buried in 1846 and 1848 near the 18th hole on the golf course. It will be an asset to the development, which also contains the remains of an old mill, part of an old toll road that went through the mountains to North Carolina, lore from moonshine days and other artifacts, Brown said. Small cemeteries and isolated gravesites dot the foothills and mountains of the Upstate. "For Southerners in particular, these old cemeteries and gravesites give us a sense of Place, said Dennis Chastain, whose family has deep roots in northern Pickens County, "These are our ancestors and they are physically there, To lose that is a pretty big sense of loss. Even when people don't go back to visit these places, they "still have a tender spot to know their people are buried there," said Luther Johnson, Jr. director of the S.C. Franks Chapel of Remembrance in Liberty. "Black churches that once existed in the northern part of Pickens County - members died or moved away. Children never go back, but they now somebody's buried there, Johnson said. One such cemetery is in Waterford Farms, a gated Crescent community near Lake Keowee where the New Foundation Baptist Church once Stood. It burned down decades ago, and members moved to another church. The cemetery, too, will be preserved maintained and open to visitors, said Scott Munday, director of development for Crescent Communities on Lake Keowee. After a story about the New Foundation cemetery ran in The Greenville News last fall, a pastor called to say some elderly widows in his congregation who are from there were relieved to know the cemetery still existed. Paul Kankula, a Seneca retiree, is compiling an online database of cemeteries in Pickens, Oconee, and Anderson counties for genealogical research as part of a national project called GenWeb. He has mapped and photographed about 1,000 cemeteries and still has about 300 to go. He worries that unconcerned landowners will neglect them and that they will disappear. "There are cemeteries that farmers have just picked up the fieldstone and planted crops on top of the graves. There are no remains if you're talking about a grave from the early 1800's. All there is are some teeth and discolored soil," Kankula said. "It's just something that comes with the land when they bought it. They're not relative of those people." State law prohibits damage or destruction of human remains. It is a felony, and conviction carries a maximum file of $5,000 and 10 years in prison. There are cases where people have gotten caught and convicted, but, "catching them, that's the trick," said Kankula said. Most people today are buried in established cemeteries, but some aren't. A Pickens County widow recently had Johnson bury her husband on their property. As a courtesy, Johnson filed paperwork at the courthouse to attach to the deed so future owners of the land will know that the grave is there. Johnson said it should be mandatory to attach records of graves to deeds. Johnson also strongly suggests that landowners who find burial sites research property records at the courthouse to find any living descendants and talk with them about moving remains to an established, maintained cemetery. "It doesn't cost all that much," Johnson said. The issue is one of growing concern and the area develops and there are varying opinions. Linda Skelton, of St. George, who's husband is a Lynch descendant, doesn't want the captains grave moved. "That is sacred ground", she said of the Lynch grave. "Once one is buried under God's law, it is never to be disturbed because we are from God." State Senator Larry Martin, R-Pickens, introduced a bill in January to ensure that the public has access but burial sites that are landlocked by developments. It would give relatives and descendants an easement to visit the cemetery "at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner." In the case of an abandoned cemetery or one not kept up, the bill would give relative and descendants the right to maintain the cemetery if the owner doesn't. The bill was referred to a judiciary committee that Martin heads, and he said it would be taken up soon. Senator Larry A. Martin District 2 - Pickens Co. Contact Address: (H) P.O. Box 247, Pickens, 29671 Bus. (864)859-6323 Home (864)878-6105 (C) 311 Gressette Bldg., Columbia, 29202 Bus. (803)212-6340 Home E-Mail Address: SRU@scsenate.org