Cemetery Tour Booklet
(provided during the 250th Anniversary Homecoming)
Cemetery History
The cemetery of Brittain Presbyterian Church is located adjacent to the church on a beautiful rolling hillside and is today one of the most beautiful cemeteries in this part of the country. Restoration of the cemetery was a special project for the church in connection with its bicentennial celebration in 1968 and great improvements were made during this restoration project.
Little Britain Presbyterian Church was organized in 1967 and according to church history, there was a cemetery at the location even before the church was organized. As with all the cemeteries, there are many, many graves at Brittain that are unmarked or are marked only with field stones. In recent years, several graves of Revolutionary War soldiers have been marked with new markers.
The cemetery was recorded by members of the Genealogical Society of Old Tryon County on Sunday afternoon, March 18, 1973 and every effort has been made to accurately record all data that could possibly be deciphered from the old time worn tombstones. All rocks that were difficult to read were double checked by several members to make sure that the information recorded was accurate. Society members assisting in recording the cemetery were Mr. & Mrs. Broadus H. Jackson, Mr. Harold A. Cannon, Mrs. Man Gold, Mr. Miles Philbeck jr. and Mr. Roy Brooks.
The cemetery of Brittain Presbyterian Church is located adjacent to the church on a beautiful rolling hillside and is today one of the most beautiful cemeteries in this part of the country. Restoration of the cemetery was a special project for the church in connection with its bicentennial celebration in 1968 and great improvements were made during this restoration project.
Little Britain Presbyterian Church was organized in 1967 and according to church history, there was a cemetery at the location even before the church was organized. As with all the cemeteries, there are many, many graves at Brittain that are unmarked or are marked only with field stones. In recent years, several graves of Revolutionary War soldiers have been marked with new markers.
The cemetery was recorded by members of the Genealogical Society of Old Tryon County on Sunday afternoon, March 18, 1973 and every effort has been made to accurately record all data that could possibly be deciphered from the old time worn tombstones. All rocks that were difficult to read were double checked by several members to make sure that the information recorded was accurate. Society members assisting in recording the cemetery were Mr. & Mrs. Broadus H. Jackson, Mr. Harold A. Cannon, Mrs. Man Gold, Mr. Miles Philbeck jr. and Mr. Roy Brooks.
Cemetery Tour – August 5th & 12th, 2018
Brittain Church cemetery is the oldest church cemetery in Rutherford County if not the oldest west of the Catawba. This land originally belonged to Great Britain and was a “burying ground”. Later a large acreage was granted to Mr. William Long by King George III. Mr. Long deeded seven acres to “Little Britain” which was organized in 1768.
From what we have been able to identify, we have three former War soldiers, one War of 1812 soldier, fourteen Civil War soldiers, five World War I veterans, twenty-two World War II veterans, five Korean War veterans, and four Vietnam veterans.
Also here are the remains of members of the State Legislature, House of Representatives and the house of Commons. There are seven or more doctors, four sheriffs as well as many elders, deacons, Sunday School teachers and many faithful servants of Christ.
The first grave we call to your attention is the grave of Rev. Oscar Vance Armstrong (I-1) who was pastor of this church from 1938-1941. It was during his pastorate that this, the third church building, was encased with brick and a basement was added for Sunday School rooms and a fellowship hall. Rev. Armstrong served as a missionary to China from 1908-1933.
There are two other ministers buried here: Rev. J. F. McKinon (M-1) who served Brittain from 1920 until his death in 1923, and Rev. Kenneth V. Calhoun (I-17) who served Brittain from 1990-1996.
First Sergeant Dewitt Quincy Andrews (G-9) served in the North Carolina infantry during the Civil War.
Henry K. Smart (N-4) was in the Civil War. He was born in 1825 and died in 1910. Oliver B. Carson (P-25) served in the Civil War. John C. Carson (P-21) served in the Civil War. He was born in 1830 and died in 1903. Thomas J. Vickers (Q-27) served in the Civil War.
W. L. Ensley (R-17) was a Civil War veteran who was crippled by wounds sustained during battle. He was a member of Brittain for fifty years and a deacon. Hezekiah Johnson (FF-23) also served in the Civil War. Bynum W. Freeman (RR-16) was a Civil War veteran and was born in 1759 and died in 1927.
You’ll notice in the lower section of the cemetery there are many graves that are marked with a simple stone, which at one time may have had the deceased’s name carved on it by hand and has been erased by time. There are some that are still partly legible.
At the back of the cemetery, near the tree line, you can see piles of stone and broken monuments which over a period of time were misplaced from their original sites.
Thomas Boone (CCC-11) served in the Civil War and was born in 1810 and died in 1895. William Smart Jr. (AAA-15) served in the Revolutionary War. He was born in 1744 and died in 1927. William Robertson (BBB-12) was an active participant in the Battle of Kings Mountain during the Revolutionary War. He was with Colonel Hampton’s Regiment and was shot completely through the body - with the ball entering one side and passing out the other. He recovered and reared a family near Brittain Church.
John Moore (WW-5), who fought in the Revolutionary War on the side of Great Britain, is the only known Tory buried here.
William Watson (??-??) was a private in the Revolutionary War. He was born July 12, 1759 and served as an elder for 64 years. He died at the age of 95. He was fondly known as “uncle Billy” and noted for his fervor in prayer. Once when asked to pray at Camp Creek Baptist Church, he came to the matter of war and prayed, “That the balls of Americans would go direct to the enemy and that the balls of the enemy be scattered hidder and tidder and miss”.
Lieutenant Thomas McCullouch (RR-7) was mortally wounded at the Battle of Kings Mountain. He was brought to Walker’s old fort about a mile down Cane Creek on a cowhide stretcher.
Samuel Andrews Sr. (QQ-9) was a charter member and the first elder of Little Britain at the age of eighteen. The stained glass window in the front of the church depicting the Good Shepherd is dedicated in his memory. There were three original elders in this church. The other two were Samuel Reid and James Mitchell, whose graves weren’t located. They may have been buried at the original church site.
Major Patrick Watson (PP-3) was born in 1751 and served in the Revolutionary War with the North Carolina Militia. He led the foot soldiers and was late arriving at the Battle of Kings Mountain. He died in 1809.
Private Patrick Watson and Major Patrick Watson (just mentioned) were brothers. Their other brother, John Watson (NN-9), was a Captain in the Revolutionary War. He was born in 1753 and died in 1812.
Captain James Withrow (LL-7) served in Colonel Andrew Hampton’s Regiment in the Revolutionary War. He was a member of the House of Commons for eight years.
Our only known veteran of the War of 1812 was General John W. Carson (LL-8), who was in the State Militia. He served this country in the House of Representatives for several terms.
Nathan Young (CC-17) served the country in the Legislature. He was born in 1818 and died in 1903.
A. Baxter Long Jr. (DD-22) served in the Civil War. He was Clerk of the Session and his minutes are the earliest recorded at the Historical Foundation in Montreat, North Carolina. Copies of these minutes are in the History Room.
Thomas J. Hampton (Y-23) served in the North Carolina infantry during the Civil War.
In 1967, members of the Brittain congregation, assisted by other interested members of the community, engaged in a series of concentrated efforts to restore the entire cemetery. The men of the church and community were provided dinners by the women of the church.
In 2018, a complete indexing of the cemetery was conducted and names are listed alphabetically by row and gravesite. Posts have been placed at the ends of each row to identify them.
The new index includes Row, Graveside Number, Last Name, First Name, DOB, DOD and Veteran Status if known.
Brittain Church cemetery is the oldest church cemetery in Rutherford County if not the oldest west of the Catawba. This land originally belonged to Great Britain and was a “burying ground”. Later a large acreage was granted to Mr. William Long by King George III. Mr. Long deeded seven acres to “Little Britain” which was organized in 1768.
From what we have been able to identify, we have three former War soldiers, one War of 1812 soldier, fourteen Civil War soldiers, five World War I veterans, twenty-two World War II veterans, five Korean War veterans, and four Vietnam veterans.
Also here are the remains of members of the State Legislature, House of Representatives and the house of Commons. There are seven or more doctors, four sheriffs as well as many elders, deacons, Sunday School teachers and many faithful servants of Christ.
The first grave we call to your attention is the grave of Rev. Oscar Vance Armstrong (I-1) who was pastor of this church from 1938-1941. It was during his pastorate that this, the third church building, was encased with brick and a basement was added for Sunday School rooms and a fellowship hall. Rev. Armstrong served as a missionary to China from 1908-1933.
There are two other ministers buried here: Rev. J. F. McKinon (M-1) who served Brittain from 1920 until his death in 1923, and Rev. Kenneth V. Calhoun (I-17) who served Brittain from 1990-1996.
First Sergeant Dewitt Quincy Andrews (G-9) served in the North Carolina infantry during the Civil War.
Henry K. Smart (N-4) was in the Civil War. He was born in 1825 and died in 1910. Oliver B. Carson (P-25) served in the Civil War. John C. Carson (P-21) served in the Civil War. He was born in 1830 and died in 1903. Thomas J. Vickers (Q-27) served in the Civil War.
W. L. Ensley (R-17) was a Civil War veteran who was crippled by wounds sustained during battle. He was a member of Brittain for fifty years and a deacon. Hezekiah Johnson (FF-23) also served in the Civil War. Bynum W. Freeman (RR-16) was a Civil War veteran and was born in 1759 and died in 1927.
You’ll notice in the lower section of the cemetery there are many graves that are marked with a simple stone, which at one time may have had the deceased’s name carved on it by hand and has been erased by time. There are some that are still partly legible.
At the back of the cemetery, near the tree line, you can see piles of stone and broken monuments which over a period of time were misplaced from their original sites.
Thomas Boone (CCC-11) served in the Civil War and was born in 1810 and died in 1895. William Smart Jr. (AAA-15) served in the Revolutionary War. He was born in 1744 and died in 1927. William Robertson (BBB-12) was an active participant in the Battle of Kings Mountain during the Revolutionary War. He was with Colonel Hampton’s Regiment and was shot completely through the body - with the ball entering one side and passing out the other. He recovered and reared a family near Brittain Church.
John Moore (WW-5), who fought in the Revolutionary War on the side of Great Britain, is the only known Tory buried here.
William Watson (??-??) was a private in the Revolutionary War. He was born July 12, 1759 and served as an elder for 64 years. He died at the age of 95. He was fondly known as “uncle Billy” and noted for his fervor in prayer. Once when asked to pray at Camp Creek Baptist Church, he came to the matter of war and prayed, “That the balls of Americans would go direct to the enemy and that the balls of the enemy be scattered hidder and tidder and miss”.
Lieutenant Thomas McCullouch (RR-7) was mortally wounded at the Battle of Kings Mountain. He was brought to Walker’s old fort about a mile down Cane Creek on a cowhide stretcher.
Samuel Andrews Sr. (QQ-9) was a charter member and the first elder of Little Britain at the age of eighteen. The stained glass window in the front of the church depicting the Good Shepherd is dedicated in his memory. There were three original elders in this church. The other two were Samuel Reid and James Mitchell, whose graves weren’t located. They may have been buried at the original church site.
Major Patrick Watson (PP-3) was born in 1751 and served in the Revolutionary War with the North Carolina Militia. He led the foot soldiers and was late arriving at the Battle of Kings Mountain. He died in 1809.
Private Patrick Watson and Major Patrick Watson (just mentioned) were brothers. Their other brother, John Watson (NN-9), was a Captain in the Revolutionary War. He was born in 1753 and died in 1812.
Captain James Withrow (LL-7) served in Colonel Andrew Hampton’s Regiment in the Revolutionary War. He was a member of the House of Commons for eight years.
Our only known veteran of the War of 1812 was General John W. Carson (LL-8), who was in the State Militia. He served this country in the House of Representatives for several terms.
Nathan Young (CC-17) served the country in the Legislature. He was born in 1818 and died in 1903.
A. Baxter Long Jr. (DD-22) served in the Civil War. He was Clerk of the Session and his minutes are the earliest recorded at the Historical Foundation in Montreat, North Carolina. Copies of these minutes are in the History Room.
Thomas J. Hampton (Y-23) served in the North Carolina infantry during the Civil War.
In 1967, members of the Brittain congregation, assisted by other interested members of the community, engaged in a series of concentrated efforts to restore the entire cemetery. The men of the church and community were provided dinners by the women of the church.
In 2018, a complete indexing of the cemetery was conducted and names are listed alphabetically by row and gravesite. Posts have been placed at the ends of each row to identify them.
The new index includes Row, Graveside Number, Last Name, First Name, DOB, DOD and Veteran Status if known.