Chatham County North Carolina Cemeteries Other NC County Cemeteries
Brought to you in partnership with Chatham County Historical Association https://www.chathamhistory.org

555    RIGGSBEE, RALEIGH [E24.3]

Location - Williams. Off Lystra Road, near Joe's Road

Coordinates: 35d 50m 30.0s N; 79d 04m 00.0s W Click here for Online Maps

Photo of Ms. Anna Williams and Diane Riggsbee.

Owner: HBP Properties, LLC (in 2008). Property under contract to developer of Legend Oaks.
Legal Description: Parcel 18773, DB 598/48. Part of the estate of David R. Riggsbee, bought from other heirs of Nathaniel Riggsbee (DB 377/707). Nathaniel R. bought land of estate of Allen Edwards in 1870 (DB BP/175) and T.S. Durham in 1872 (DB BO/330)..
Topo Quadrant: Farrington Code E.
Family owned: Yes.
Number of graves: 79.
Cemetery size: 120' x 120'.
African-American: Yes.
Restricted access: Yes. Private Property
Overgrown and easy to identify: Yes.
Enclosed: Yes.
Enclosed explanation: Low fieldstone wall.
Enclosed conditions: Intermittent but recognizable.
Markers: Yes.
Markers with inscriptions: Yes.
Number of readable markers: 4.
Last burial: 1919.
First burial: 1896.
Markers damaged: Yes.
Other damage explanation: Neglect; Sallie Riggsbee stone uprooted by tree.
Hazards: Neglect, Development.

Significant events: Tradition holds that Hugh Edwards, who obtained a state land grant on Cub Creek in 1801 (BD M, pp 15-16), and for whom Edwards Mountain is named, is buried in this area, along with other members of the Edwards and Durham families. This cemetery may have been started by the Durham and Edwards families, or by slaves owned by those families. The only marked burials are for the Nathaniel (Nat) Rigsbee family. Riggsbee bought the land in 1870 (BP/175) and 1872 (BO/130)..

Miscellaneous information: Legend Oakes property manager Trenton Stewart guided Lynn Richardson (Chatham Planning Office) and Jim and Bev Wiggins from CCHA to the site..

Legal info: Parcel number 18773, deed book 1343/486; plat 2007/226.

Previously canvassed by: Jim and Bev Wiggins. Date: 18 May 2007. Revisited by J. Pyle, B. Wiggins, D. Riggsbee, A. Williams on 14 Mar 2008-- recounted graves using flags. 79 graves positively identified but there is room for more within the walled area, and more probably exist.

1. Riggsbee, Roll (Raleigh or Royal)   (b. 7 Sep 1855 - d. 14 Oct 1918)
[son of Nathaniel and Jeanette Riggsbee--from 1870 Census and family notes]. fs: RR. My trust is in God.. Another view. Row 2. column 6.
2. Riggsbee, Sallie   (b. c.1866 - d. 10 Apr 1896)
Wife of Edmon [Edmond] Riggsbee. ivy and anchor carving. Honored, Beloved and Wept, Here Mother Lies Age 30 Years. birth date calculated from age on stone. Another view. Row 3.
3. Riggsbee, Thomas   (b. c.1822 - d. 16 Jul 1919)
Masonic symbol, ivy and anchor carving.. Not lost, blest thought But gone Before, where we Shall meet to Part no more.. birth date calculated from age on stone. Another view. Row 2. column 1.
4. Riggsbee, Wesley   (b. 14 Jul 1894 - d. 20 Aug 1915)
Son of Edmon [Edmond] and Sallie Riggsbee [on stone]. ivy and anchor carving. Thy memory shall ever be a guiding star to heaven.. Another view. Row 3.