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183    ALSTON, OROON [G26.2]

Location - Matthews Township. 2,000 feet east of junction of SR 1101, Moons Chapel Road, and SR 1102, Vestal Road.

Coordinates: 35d 43m 08.0s N; 79d 32m 18.0s W Click here for Online Maps

In 1965, Lois Sugg Willett, Guilford Battle Chapter, DAR, Greensboro, North Carolina recorded 2 grave markers. In 1989, Wade Hadley took photograph of cemetery. Herman Clayton Cheek and Laverne Brady Davis visited the site on 24 Mar 2001. The site was visited and photographed on 27 Feb 2012 by Arthur Smith, Tommy Emerson, and Jim and Bev Wiggins. There are two large marble grave markers, approx. 30x60 inches, expertly carved. Both stones are broken. Earlier reports say that the marble slabs were on brick enclosures. The markers are currently off of the brick bases.

View #2 of cemetery. View #3 of cemetery. View #4 of cemetery. View #5 of cemetery.

Topo Quadrant: Coleridge.
Owner: Herman C. and Linda Cheek.
Legal Description: Parcel 12603. Parcel 12603. Deed book 465/834 from Billy Joe and Hilda Glover Cheek to Herman C. and Linda Cheek, 3 Nov 1983. Plat 23-48 shows parcel (#8), 1978 for Heirs of Ervin Cheek. JM/212 Ervin Cheek from Jim Patterson heirs, 97.5 acres, 7 Jul 1946. GK/406 Robert S. and Isabel Patterson to J.D. Patterson, 97.5 acres, 7 Oct 1884 (registered 19 Feb 1926). AM/271 JJ Palmer to David Patterson (Guilford), 490 acres on Brush Creek, registered Feb 1863. AH/597 Marium P. Alston to William A. Rives, Oren Palmer, Joseph J. Palmer, and Robert Rives, (nephews of her husband Oroon Alston) 3 tracts, including 600 acres on Brush Creek, November 1851.

Family owned: Yes.
Abandoned: Yes.
Number of graves: 2.
Cemetery size: 20' x 15'.
White: Yes.
Unrestricted access: No. Private Property.
Overgrown and easy to identify: Yes.
Enclosed: Yes.
Enclosed explanation: Stone wall and wire fence. Both wall and fence are in poor repair.
Markers: Yes.
Markers with inscriptions: Yes.
Number of readable markers: 2.
Last burial: 1855.
First burial: 1851.
Unusual stones: Yes. The two marble markers are very large slabs, approx. 30x60 inches, expertly carved.
Listed: Yes.
Listed explanation: Lois Sugg Willett, Guilford Battle Chapter, DAR, Greensboro NC, 1965; Gravesites of Chatham County, 2005.
Hazards: The site is currently (2012) accessible to livestock, which are kept in the surrounding pasture. Fence should be mended.

Historical info: Oroon Alston was a wealthy farmer who lived in Chatham County from at least 1800 until his death in 1851. In the 1850 federal census, there are four people in his immediate household. He has property valued at $6500, including 69 slaves. Oroondates (Oroon) was the son of William Alston and Anne Yeargain. Oroon and wife Marium had no children. Oroon's will left Marium ten slaves outright and the remainder of his slaves for her use until her death, at which time they were to be divided among his nephews. However, Marium made arrangements in her own will, one day before she died, for many of the slaves to be freed. Mr. Cheek remembers the old Alston house, which he says had two stories, three chimneys, and a basement. He says the house burned in 1954.

Last canvassed by: Lois Sugg Willett canvassed the site in 1965; Wade Hadley photographed the cemetery in 1989; Herman Clayton Cheek and Laverne Brady Davis canvassed on 24 Mar 2001; and Arthur Smith, Tommy Emerson, and Jim and Bev Wiggins on 27 Feb 2012. Photographs of the stones and wall were taken by Bev Wiggins on 27 Feb 2012.

1. Alston, Marion P.   (b. 3 May 1787 - d. 23 Sep 1855)
"She was an exemplary member of the Baptist Church upwards of 40 years and died in full hope of a blessed immortality." "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord." "Aged 68 yrs 4 mos & 20 days." Wife of Oroon (Oroondates) D. Alston. Stone is broken into two pieces. Closeup of name. Closeup of inscription.
2. Alston, Oroon D.   (b. 8 Feb 1780 - d. 17 May 1851)
"When those we love are snatched away By death's restless hand Our hearts the mournful tribute pray That friendship must demand." "Aged 71 yrs 3 months & 9 days." Son of William Alston and Anne Yeargain. Husband of Marium P. Alston. Stone is broken into two pieces with a small piece including the birth year not found. The piece may be located within the cemetery walls as a thorough search was not performed. Bottom part of marker.