History
The Old Scotch Graveyard in 2023.
The Old Scotch Graveyard was founded in 1775 by Captain John Martin who was a Scot leader of the British during the American Revolution.
Captain John Martin and his wife Marion MacLeod came to Cumberland (now Moore) County and lived near what is now Carthage. In 1775 the Captain bought 100 acres of land from Thomas MacClendon and tradition states this old burial ground was laid out by non-other than Captain Martin himself. He chose the highest spot of land around, and he wished to be buried there, but unfortunately, the Captain ended up years later dying in Europe. However, his wife was buried there in the graveyard that he had purchased and laid out for himself.
Later on, it was Peter Bethune who purchased the land, and it became known as “The Peter Bethune Place.” It is reported that Peter was the first person to be buried in the new graveyard. Subsequently and over the years, others may have owned it, and eventually, it was sold to Samuel Barrett; later to be known as the “Old Barrett Place.”
In December 1974, a land deal agreement creating the Colin G. Spencer, Sr., Family Trust was established, and the graveyard was parceled-out from the surrounding timber and farm lands, thus it remained under their control until 2022 when the Spencer Land Trust donated the small, run-down graveyard to the Moore County Historical Association.
Captain John Martin and his wife Marion MacLeod came to Cumberland (now Moore) County and lived near what is now Carthage. In 1775 the Captain bought 100 acres of land from Thomas MacClendon and tradition states this old burial ground was laid out by non-other than Captain Martin himself. He chose the highest spot of land around, and he wished to be buried there, but unfortunately, the Captain ended up years later dying in Europe. However, his wife was buried there in the graveyard that he had purchased and laid out for himself.
Later on, it was Peter Bethune who purchased the land, and it became known as “The Peter Bethune Place.” It is reported that Peter was the first person to be buried in the new graveyard. Subsequently and over the years, others may have owned it, and eventually, it was sold to Samuel Barrett; later to be known as the “Old Barrett Place.”
In December 1974, a land deal agreement creating the Colin G. Spencer, Sr., Family Trust was established, and the graveyard was parceled-out from the surrounding timber and farm lands, thus it remained under their control until 2022 when the Spencer Land Trust donated the small, run-down graveyard to the Moore County Historical Association.