Black Oak Cemetery at Northampton Plantation (shown here before 1940) contained the graves of the Cain, DuBose, Jervey, Lucas, Mac- Beth, Porcher, Priolieu, Ravenel, Stoney, and Waring families. Show me your cemeteries, and I will tell you what kind of people you have. - Benjamin Franklin

South Carolina law states that if power and water companies plan to construct lakes, ponds, or reservoirs which cover cemeteries, they are required to:

• Notify the public of their plans

• List the names of the graves to be covered

• Allow relatives of those buried to dispose of the remains under the supervision of a duly licensed embalmer at the expense of the company.

If no relatives come forth, the graves may be covered by the water.

After construction of Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie, Santee- Cooper officials said that 6,000 of the 7,000 graves identified at the time, 1938- 1941, had been relocated before the lakes were formed. Many of the plantations had their own cemeteries where both white and black residents were buried. Some of the plantation cemeteries in the Pineville area (between St. Stephen, Eutawville, and Pinopolis) covered by Lake Marion or Lake Moultrie were

The cemetery at Pooshee Plantation (shown here before 1940) contained the graves of the Mayzck, Ravenel, Stevens, Dwight, and Gaillard families. • Hanover Plantation: About five miles northwest of Pinopolis on SC Hwy. 6. Home of Paul de St. Julien, who erected the house in 1716. For nearly 200 years it had been occupied by the St. Juliens and Ravenels and contained their burial grounds.

The oldest grave was that of Paul de St. Julian who died in 1741. Both Stephen Ravenel (died 1818 at age 48) and Daniel Ravenel (died 1836 at age 62) served as Secretary of State for South Carolina.

• Moorefield Plantation cemetery: Twelve miles northwest of Pinopolis on SC Hwy. 6. One of the Porcher Plantations for many years, but not their burial ground. Interred there are the Frierson, Brickell, and McCants' families. Oldest grave reads: Mrs. Eliza Mary Frierson, 21 Oct 1821, age 35, Consort of John Frierson, Esq.

The cemetery at The Rocks Plantation (shown here before 1940) contained the graves of the Causey, Couturier, Dubose, Dwight, Gaillard, Gourdin, Kirk, Palmer, Porcher, Simons (Simmons), Sinkler, and Tate families. • Somerville cemetery: Three miles north of Pinopolis. The land was first granted to John Stewart in 1690 then acquired by William Scriven (first Baptist minister in South Carolina) in 1698. In 1708, he sold the place to René Ravenel. This contained one of the principal homes and the burial grounds of the Ravenel family for generations.

The oldest grave was that of Benjamin Mayzck who died in 1758. Two doctors were buried there: Daniel Edward Ravenel, M.D. (died 1833) and James Ravenel, M.D. (died 1817).

• The Rocks Plantation cemetery: Just north of Eutaw Springs. The plantation house at the Rocks was moved 1.6 miles to escape the flood waters of Lake Marion. The rest of the property was inundated. Part of the land that was not flooded is now operated as Rocks Pond Campground. In 1992, the house was destroyed by a fire.

The Rocks Church was the sister chapel to the Pineville Chapel and served the Episcopalians who lived near Eutawville. Families buried there include Causey, Couturier, Dubose, Dwight, Gaillard, Gourdin, Kirk, Palmer (my grandmother, Mary Palmer Gourdin, Aug 2, 1874- March 2, 1909), Porcher, Simons (Simmons), Sinkler, and Tate.

Confederate Veterans with markers in the cemetery were

• Childers W.J. 1806 Dec 6, 1891 Member of Co. Z, 27th S.C.V.

• Couturier Peter J. Aug 1, 1830 Oct 14, 1890 Erected by Comrades of Eutaw Light Dragoons. He was First Lieut.

• Gaillard Eugene M. 78 Years of age • Kirk Henry Berkeley March 12, 1846 Sept 5, 1927 • McKelvey Phillip K. Co. A Manigaults' SC Arty. C. S. A.

• Milnor Henry July 15, 1847 May 2, 1921

• Porcher Julius Theodore Nov 25, 1863 M.D., Lieut. Col. S.C.V., Fell on Missionary Ridge in Tennessee. Buried on field of battle, age 34 years

• Singleton W.H. No Dates Co.1- 3, SC Arty. CSA

• White Dewin John 2nd Lieut., Chincester Co., Mil. CSA

• Pooshee Cemetery: Seven miles north of Pinopolis. This was the burial grounds of the Ravenel family for generations. Pooshee Plantation (1,000 acres) was granted to Peter St. Julien by the Lords Proprietors in 1705. In 1711, it passed to Henry Le Noble and in 1714 to René Louis Ravenel.

A large stone in this cemetery had this inscription: "It is to honor their last resting place that this stone is erected by one of their descendants, A.D. 1855. René Louis Ravenel, 2nd son of René the emigrant and his wife Susan, and their sons, René, James, and Daniel, and their daughters Elizabeth and Lusannah, also Stephen Mayzck, husband of the above named Lusannah and Elizabeth Jane, daughter of Daniel Ravenel of Somerset and his wife of the above named Daniel. They died successively between the years of 1740 and 1787. Their Huguenot Ancestors settled and lived in this immediate neighborhood. Here they lived and died, and their descendants still continue to occupy this soil."

Families buried there include Mayzck, Ravenel, Stevens, Dwight, and Gaillard. The oldest inscriptions were for James Ravenel (between 1740 and 1787) and Paul Mayzck (1748)

• Mount Pleasant Plantation: Five miles east of Eutaw Springs. Home of the Marions and Kirks and one of their burial grounds. The oldest gravestone was for Mrs. Gideon Kirk who died Aug 27, 1797.

• Black Oak Cemetery at Northampton Plantation: Near SC Hwy. 6. Families buried there include Cain, DuBose, Jervey, Lucas, MacBeth, Porcher, Priolieu, Ravenel, Stoney, and Waring.

The following inscriptions tell interesting stories:

• Behrmann Soligh Oct 19, 1863 Jan 22, 1931. Born in Russia, died in Charleston SC

• Cain Joseph P. Feb 18, 1836 Dec 16, 1903 MD Erected by a loving people to a Beloved Physician.

• Porcher Thomas E. August 16, 1871. Drowned in the surf of Sullivans Island, age 33

• Porcher William Edward July 7, 1864 age 40, died on Johns Island. Survived 12 hours after being wounded in battle. Confederate Veteran.

(Next week: Pineville Cemeteries, Buck Hall & Crawl Hill)