Cemeteries

Relatives from Tennessee have been visiting Ocracoke this week. A couple of days ago we invited cousin Blanche to join us traipsing through several old island burying grounds. There are more than 80 cemeteries in the village, most of them small family plots. We found the grave of Arcadia Williams (born 1844; see the link below to read more about her), as well as the grave of "Aunt Lot" (Charlotte Ann O'Neal, 1851 - 1947) who was the island midwife who birthed many an Ocracoke baby 65 - 130 years ago.)

Alton Ballance, in his book, "Ocracokers," quotes Miss Sarah Ellen Gaskill, Aunt Lot's daughter. "My mother tried to keep count of all the babies she had delivered," Sarah Ellen said. "She lost count around 100. She never lost a case."

You can read our latest newsletter here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news041506.htm. It's the story of Old Kade.
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