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The Dolsen Cemetery

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Note that there are two Dolsen Cemeteries located quite near to each other.

The Old Dolsen Cemetery

In 1815 the Raleigh Wesleyan Methodist Congregation was formed with Ninian Holmes as the preacher and school teacher. The congregation met on Sundays either in his home or in the school. In 1828 a church was built by Danial Dolsen which became known as the Dolsen Chapel. One year after the church was built (in 1829), the Rev Ninian Holmes died and was buried in the little cemetery surrounding the old church. As noted on the page below, the old cemetery's location is now lost. There was a monument erected there for Rev Holmes suitable to his respected position by the congregation. In 1864 Dolsen's Chapel burned, and the cemetery was moved to a new location. Documentation below mentions that the monuments were moved but not the remains. A common practice back then. The monument to Rev Holmes was moved to the new cemetery as well.

The New Dolsen Cemetery

Daniel Dolsen donated a point of land in 1852 to be used as a cemetery. (See his will below.) This was in a time when cemeteries were not well kept. Brush, and small trees would take over the cemeteries making them look much different than today. We do not at this point in time know the condition of this cemetery for many years after it was formed, but we do know that many of the stones were near the back of the cemetery, and indeed many of them gradually fell into the river. They stayed there for a considerable time in some cases, until they were brought back into respectful condition in 1959. Since their former location was unknown, (and in fact in some cases those locations were now in the river?) it was decided to place the stones in a row in a bed of cement. In 1964 the monument to Rev Ninian Holmes was placed on the outside of the brick wall of the Church nearby to guarantee it's preservation since it was in danger of falling into the river.

Lot 13 and either Conc. 4 -- as on the Atlas Map OR Con. 1 aka Front ...as per legal description.

Dolsen Cemetery sat for a number of years in deplorable shape but has now been restored by the restoration team. Most all of the original stones that stood in the cement foundation now stand again proudly. Unfortunately a group of people with a car pulling a boat left a hoard of beer bottles at the cemetery one night, and left almost all of the stones smashed in two or more pieces.

There are a number of things that we do not know about the cemetery. For instance the monuments seem to be remembered as standing back near the river. However, the strange part is as follows. Sensing seems to indicate a row of stones maybe about three graves wide along the river. Graves in this area seem to be mostly filled. Then, on the West side, it runs along the edge of the cemetery, and even seems to run under the road right to the farm field there. However, we have NOT found evidence of the road being moved, and there would seem to be little reason to have a special place for the poor in a family cemetery. It is unlikely that these questions will ever be answered. All we can do is to provide this bit of information for generations to follow in hopes that they can make sense of it.

The family next door remembers that the piece of equipment used to lower caskets into a grave still remained there until not long ago. (1990's possibly?) It is not known where the equipment went. If it was stolen. Taken by someone for a souvenir? Taken to be used in some other cemetery? Taken for use in a museum?

In the Will of Daniel Dolsen below note the information on the Chapel that would have been surrounded by the first burial ground, and then the description of the present burial ground being the "Point of Land". Again, please note that there is indication that this cemetery MAY go under the road and under the road drainage ditch on the other side.