Chatham County North Carolina Cemeteries Other NC County Cemeteries
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006    MARLEY [A96.1]

Location - Albright Township. On US 64, across from 455 JC Teague Rd. is an entrance road on the east side. The cemetery is located about ¬ mile along the entrance road that needs to be walked to or reached by a high clearance vehicle. As of April 2023, this area was being developed so the access road may change.

Coordinates: 35d 45m 09.3s N; 79d 32m 32.6s W Click here for Online Maps

Additional cemetery view 1. -- Additional view 2. -- Additional view 3. -- Additional view 4.

In 1964, Lois Sugg Willett, Guilford Battle Chapter, DAR, Greensboro, North Carolina, recorded 13 grave markers and 18 field stones. Her notes say that a stone fence encloses about one-half of the cemetery, but it was never completed, and that slaves are buried here with no inscriptions on their stones. (DAR, 1964, pages 57-58). On 19 Sep 1991, Audrey and Will Heiser found 8 partially legible grave markers, 3 illegible markers, and 12 field stones.

An archaeological field survey of the site was completed in 2017 as part of a Phase I Archaeological Investigation of the Chatham-Siler City Advanced Manufacturing Site. That survey revealed 9 legible markers, 1 illegible marker, 10 footstones, 17 fieldstone markers, and "many" unmarked graves inside the stone wall surrounding the cemetery. The report of that investigation did not include inscriptions from the markers. It does include some information about the Marley family. Link to the report.

In April 2023, CCHA volunteer Kelly Gomez visited the site, accompanied by Joseph Gulla-- owner of the Benjamin Marley house nearby. Development was underway on the surrounding property. Just outside the stone wall on the west and southwest side of the cemetery, they observed that the ground was covered in periwinkle and young trees. There were a handful of visible depressions in this area that could be unmarked graves, outside the wall.

Topo Quadrant: Liberty.
Family owned: Yes.
Legal: Cemetery parcel is 94702, deed 2243/16. Surrounding parcel is 12580, deed 1729/1027.
Abandoned: Yes.
Number of graves: 37+.
Cemetery size: 108' x 82'.
White: Yes.
Restricted access: Yes. The cemetery is located within a development site on private property. Currently, the cemetery is best reached by foot or high clearance vehicle, although roads are being developed.
Overgrown and easy to identify: Yes.
Enclosed: Yes.
Enclosed explanation: Stone wall.
Enclosed conditions: Broken down.
Markers: Yes.
Last burial: 1859.
First burial: 1815.
Listed: Yes.
Miscellaneous information: overgrown with brush and periwinkle. Unmarked graves are documented within the wall and others may exist outside the wall. NC Office of State Archaeology (OSA) Number: 31CH1016.
Jesse Marley's role in freeing the enslaved people of Marium Alston is detailed in this paper on the Chatham County Historical Association website.
Last canvassed by: Lois Sugg Willett, 1964; Will and Audrey Heiser, 19 Sep 1991; S&ME 2017; Kelly Gomez, May 2023.

1. Lowe, Mary   (b. 1828 - d. 4 Nov 18__)
DAR 1964, p. 57-58, by Lois Sugg Willett. Marker not found in 2023.
2. Marley, Annie Laria   (b. 29 Dec 1827 - d. 2 Mar 1847)
DAR 1964, p. 57-58, by Lois Sugg Willett. Marker not found in 2023.
3. Marley, Benjamin   (b. 12 Aug 1755 - d. 8 Nov 1815)
Another view. - - - Closeup. Photos from 2023.
4. Marley, Infant   (b. Unknown - d. Unknown)
Infant of Jesse and Lovey B. Marley. Footstone: M. Photo from 2023.
5. Marley, Jesse   (b. 20 Mar 1808 - d. 14 Oct 1859)
Husband of Lovey B. Marley. Son of Benjamin Marley. Photo from 2023.
6. Marley, John   (b. Unknown - d. Unknown)
Son of Jesse and Lovey B. Marley. According to 1964 notes of Lois Sugg Willett, John Marley is buried at the foot of Jesse Marley's grave and marked with fieldstones with no inscriptions.
7. Marley, Lovey B.   (b. 16 May 1814 - d. 12 Dec 1867)
Wife of Jesse Marley. "Aged 53 Yrs 6 Mos & 26Ds" Footstone. Photo from 2023.
8. Marley, Malinda   (b. 1831 - d. 23 Dec 1835)
"Aged 4 yrs, 1 mo, 28 days." Photo from 2023.
9. Marley, Sarah L.   (b. 28 Apr 1853 - d. Jan 1853)
Daughter of Dr. H. B. and L. E. Marley. Footstone: S.L.M. Photo from 2023.
10. Marley, Thomas J.   (b. 6 Dec 1836 - d. 12 Mar 1839)
Son of Jesse and Lovey B. Marley. Photo from 2023.
11. McLean, Eliza Ann   (b. Unknown - d. Unknown)
Infant daughter of W. S. and Mary C. McLean. "Aged 7 days." Shares marker with mother Mary C. Marley McLean. Photo from 2023.
12. McLean, Mary C. (Marley)   (b. 30 Dec 1832 - d. 8 Dec 1858)
Wife of W. S. McLean, M.D. Daughter of Jesse and Lovey Marley. Shares marker with infant daughter, Eliza Ann McLean. 7'9"x 4'6" granite slab. Footstone. "Dearest Mary asleep in Jesus. O, for me May such a blissful refuge be." Photos from 2023.
13. Underwood, Elizabeth (Marley)   (b. 27 May 17__ - d. 27 Oct 1835)
Daughter of Benjamin Marley. Photo from 2023.