Beaufort, North Carolina, a historic town on the Atlantic coast, is home to the Old Burying Ground, one of the state’s oldest cemeteries. Established in 1724 near the town’s center, it is a fascinating resting place with approximately 200 gravestones dating back to the pre-Civil War era.
The markers themselves tell a story of a remote coastal community. Because stone had to be transported great distances by sailing vessel, many early graves are marked with local materials like shell, brick, or wooden slabs. Characteristic of historic seaport towns, some graves feature vaulted brick markers, designed to protect the remains from high water and wild animals.
The cemetery’s most notable grave is that of the “Rum Barrel Girl,” a young girl whose tomb is often adorned with trinkets left by visitors. Legend says she was a sea captain’s daughter who died on a voyage to England after begging her parents to go. Her heartbroken father, unwilling to bury her at sea, preserved her body in a barrel of rum and had her interred that way upon their return.
Having visited many old cemeteries, the Old Burying Ground stands out for its unique blend of beauty and compelling history.
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