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317    PENNINGTON [L13.1]

Location - New Hope Township. 300 feet west of SR 1700, Pea Ridge Road, 0.3 mile south of Griffins Crossroads at US 64

Coordinates: 35d 43m 55.7s N; 79d 04m 59.2s W Click here for Online Maps

On 7 December 1994, the site was visited by Will M. Heiser, accompanied by Leo Hatley, owner, Virgie Howard, neighbor, and James and Norma Pennington, of Mosely Virginia, descendants. They noted scattered field stones and several depressed areas which indicate this location was once a cemetery. Later a marble monument "Pennington Cemetery" was erected by James and Norma Pennington. They believe John Pennington and his wife are buried here.
Linda Pennington Matthews photographed the sign and fieldstone markers in September 2019. In July 2023 Archaeological Consultants of the Carolinas, Inc. surveyed the site. State site form is 31CH1373.

According the report done by Archaeological Consultants of the Carolinas, Inc., This cemetery is situated on a ridge top and is characterized by mixed pine and hardwoods with light undergrowth. It is bounded to the south by Ridge View Road and to the northeast by a short, steep slope and ditch. There is a marble sign facing the road with the words "PENNINGTON CEMETERY" engraved on it.
A total of 23 possible graves were identified within this cemetery. See plan map of the site. Graves were either marked with fieldstone headstones and/or footstones or were simply depressions. There are no cut stone markers or inscriptions present at this cemetery. Six graves had both headstones and footstones. Eleven graves had either headstones or footstones present. The remaining six graves were only depressions. The vicinity is littered with natural stone and there were several downed trees in the area.
This site was visited in 1994 by descendants of the Penningtons. Following that visit, James and Norma Pennington erected the sign. It is their belief that John and Elizabeth Pennington nee Mitchell are buried at this site (CemeteryCensus 2023). John Pennington was born in 1801 and died circa 1891. Elizabeth was the daughter of Henry and Sue Mitchell. She was born in 1831 and her death date is unknown. On November 13, 1882, John A. Pennington sold a 20-acre parcel of land to Loaumi Hatley, except for "0.25 acre for graveyard." It is likely that this cemetery corresponds to the quarter acre of land referenced by John Pennington.

Owner: Leo C. Hatley.
Legal Description: Parccel 17329. Deed Book BC-564, 13 Nov 1882, John A. Pennington to Loaumi Hatley, 20 acres "except 0.25 acre for graveyard." Deed Book 248-206, 4 Mar 1957, J. B. and Hattie B. Hatley to Leo C. Hatley.
Topo Quadrant: Merry Oaks.
Family owned: Yes.
Cemetery size: 0.25 acre.
Unrestricted access: Yes.
Overgrown and easy to identify: Yes.
Enclosed: No.
Markers: Yes.
Markers with inscriptions: No.

Unusual situation: Only scattered field stones and several depressed areas indicate there is a cemetery here. Archaeologists (AAC) identified 23 possible graves. Jim and Norma Pennington erected a marble monument which says "Pennington Cemetery."

Miscellaneous information: Location of cemetery was reported by Leo Hatley and Vergie Howard. Jim Pennington believes John Pennington and then his son John A. Pennington were the original property owners, and that John Pennington and his wife Elizabeth may be buried there.

Pennington cemetery plan map from AAC report.

Last canvassed by: Will M. Heiser w/ Leo Hatley, Vergie Howard, Jim and Norma Pennington, Mosely VA. Date: 7 Dec 1994; Linda Pennington Matthews, Sept 2019. Archaeological Consultants of the Carolinas, Inc., 2023.

Pictures of some stones in the cemetery: Stone #1. - Stone #2. - Stone #3.
Stone #4. - Stone #5.

1. Pennington, Elizabeth (Mitchell)   (b. 1831 - d. Unknown)
Wife of John Pennington. Daughter of Henry and Susan Mitchell. Sister of Kelly Mitchell. "Betsey". 3' x 1' slab. Bottom two rows: BENIN ? GTON ?. Norma Pennington, Moseley, VA, believes this is Betsy Pennington, m. 29 Nov 1863, Holcomb, "Marriages of Chatham Co., NC, 1772-1868".
2. Pennington, John   (b. 1801 - d. ca. 1881)
Husband of Elizabeth (Mitchell) Pennington. Ref: Jim and Norma Pennington.