Holbert Cove
As you all know we discovered a Holbert/Halbert cemetery in Holbert's cove several years ago. Dr. George Jones of the Henderson County Genealogical and Historical Society told me of a Holbert cemetery in the cove on land that John and Benjamin owned and he even drew me a map of the approx location along with where the Arledges and Newmans were located.
Whan started my search for this cemetery some 10-15 years ago was the fact that none of the older Holbert generations were to be found in the church and public cemeteries in Polk County (what was Rutherford Co) NC. I believe the Holberts were in the cove before the Arledge and Newman families who later joined them there in the cove and intered married with them. I believe the Holberts were in the cove before the churchs and public cemeteries were in place sothe custom at that time was to have your own cemetery on your land so you had a burial place for your family. This cemetery probably dates back to the late 1700 or early 1800.There are only two markers with inscriptions on them in a early briefinvestigation of the cemetery. I believe on of the markers was the burial plot for John Halbert/Holbert. I have been told that no one has been buried in that cemetery in more than one hundred years and all the locals have know that was the Benny Holbert cemetery. This cemetery was placed in the Polk County Cemetery book after much discussion with a Mrs Katherine H Taft and now it is common knowledge that the cemetery exists and photos have been made of it. It is located in a remote rural area and that probably is the reason that it hasn't been vandalized as yet. This cemetery is owned (or was owned the last time I checked) by family descendants of Benjamin and allied families members and has been handed down from Benjamin and Charity Stover Holbert.
Which brings me to the point of this post..........Last year and this year a greater awarness has been brought to our attention as the county just to the north, Henderson, has had a number of cemeteys bull-dozed to make room for progress, as they say. I have Mills, Edney, Corn and other families who's resting place has been ignored and over growned. Thats the good news, others have been bull-dozed and the markers left on the edge of the cleared area without any thought of even hiding them. There has been a very good responce to this injustus and the cemeteries have been cleaned up and the laws that were in place to protect them are more clear to all.
I have been told that the Holbert Cove cemetery has been soldto someone who is not a family member. The cove was a very remote place but in receint years has become a very nice place to live. The road has been paved, electricity in place, phone service avaible and it is becoming a bed-room community for any one living to the north, Hendersonville, and to the south Columbus Tryon and Saluda. In my openion, it is just a matter of time before we may see this cemetery dissapear. I have been trying for about 7 years to find some way to protect this but only having a few months of the year up there, I live in FL, have failed to find any way to accomplish this. I have not found one Holbert to join me in this effort so now I am just about burned out and I have had some medical problems and others that have prevented me from getting up there in the past two years.
So whats the bottom line.......Some day after I am gone you may try to find the cemetery where your ancestors are buried. Good luck. I have tried my best.
Earl Peeler
PS I hope the reader will forgive me for all the spelling mistakes............my spell-checker seems to have gone on vacation
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Re: Holbert Cove
misty estrada 9/04/09