Henry Craig 1729 - Feb 28, 1807

Epitaph:
Sacred to/the/Memory of/HENRY CRAIG/Who departed this life/on Feb. 28th 1807/In the 78th Year of his age./A man subtle, of sober mind;/ to wife and children ever kind./Alto great merit many have,/Death summons all men to the grave.
Description:
The original soapstone headstone is encased in a large granite monument. The original headstone is encased on the east side of the granite monument. Underneath the original headstone is the following inscription: "THIS MEMORIAL ERECTED BY/DESCENDANTS OF HENRY CRAIG/1959". The west side of the granite monument has the following inscription: "CRAIG/PIONEER HENRY CRAIG/REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER./SERVED UNDER GEN. SUMTER./WOUNDED AT THE BATTLE OF/FISHING CREEK, S.C./HIS WIFE/MARY AND HIS SON JAMES/"THE HATTER"/BURIED NEARBY." The plot retains the original footstones.
Biography

An article by James W. Atkins titled "Clan Dedicates Craig Monument" was in The Gastonia Gazette on Tuesday, September 15, 1959.

Clan Dedicates Craig Monument

Members of the Craig Clan of Gaston, York, and surrounding counties, together with many representatives of collateral families - the Glenns, the Riddles, the Willifords, the Patricks and others - gathered at Bethel Presbyterian Church Sunday afternoon to dedicate a handsome new marker to the memory of Pioneer Henry Craig, ancestor of these families.

Preceding the dedicatory ceremonies a sumptuous picnic dinner was served on long tables under the trees, and a few business matters pertaining to the clan were transacted.  Attendance was 150 or more.

J. Milton Craig of Mount Holly  concluded his incumbrency as president and Robert O. Craig Jr. of Gastonia was chosen to succeed him.  Other officers chosen were: Vice-president, William N. Craig of the the Union section, secretary, Mrs. Joe E. Hardman 'Pearl  Craig' of Shelby; treasurer, R.L. Quinn of Gastonia and Historian Miss Kate McLean of Gastonia.

Announcement was made that preparations are in the making for publication of a history of the Craig Clan.

Highlight of the meeting was the dedication of a new memorial marker, a handsome granite block, to the memory of Henry Craig, placed over his grave in the beautiful old Bethel cemetery.  This church and cemetery date back to 1764.

Wording on the new marker is as follows:

 
Pioneer Henry Craig
Revolutionary Soldier
Served under Gen. Sumter
Wounded at the Battle of
Fishing Creek, S.C.
His Wife
Mary and his Son James
"The Hatter"
Buried Nearby
 
On the reverse side of this marker is inset the original smaller marker removed from the same spot over the grave of Henry Craig.  It reads as follows
 
Sacred to the Memory of
Henry Craig
Who departed this life
Feb. 28, 1807
in the 78th year of his age
A man subtle, of sober mind;
To wife and children ever kind;
Altho great merit many have
Death summons all man
to the grave.
 
The Rev. J. Edward Craig, pastor of Paw Creek Presbyterian Church, Mecklenburg County, read the dedicatory ritual and delivered the dedicatory prayer. 
 
Bethel Church has one of the oldest and largest rural cemeteries anywhere in this section.  It is beautifully kept, being under the supervision of a full-time caretaker.  Numerous distinguished men and women lie buried there, including many Craigs, Brandons, Riddles, Patricks, Campbells, Ratchfords and hundreds of others.
 
Sunday's gathering was said to have been one of the most largely attended and most interesting held by the clan since its organization years ago.

Grave Site:

Section
E
Row
2
Number
7
Map:
Click here
Photos:

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