Lorene, I have had several inquiries about the Porter Cemetery which seems somehow to have been overlooked or at least the last time I checked I did not find it listed among Spartanburg Co or Cherokee Co. cemeteries but that has been a while ago. So in answer to your note I am taking the liberty of sending this reply to the Spartanburg list and Old96 list in the hopes this old cemetery will be recognized and perhaps restored if possible. I have added some additional information for those who might be interested. In July 1978 I visited Ms. Lucille K. Pegram in Gaffney. I believe her father was Robert Kirby. She was the one who gave me directions to the Porter Cemetery, which I believe now lies in Cherokee Co (since 1897). I went out Hwy 150 between Cowpens & Pacolet just before you get to Thicketty Creek. I’m not sure I made a note of the distance but the cemetery was on a little hill across the road from Dwayne Kirby’s house [don’t know if he still lives there or not] but when I asked his wife about the cemetery she called him at work and he came home. I visited with him a little. His grandfather was Josh Kirby but he didn’t know much about the Porter Cemetery. My 1978 notes: “The cemetery is mostly grown up in trees and brush. There are quite a few rocks that appear to have marked graves at one time. This cemetery has been abandoned and forsaken for many years. There appear to be as many as 20 or 30 graves but most of them are not now marked with legible markers. The Cemetery is in the edge of a pasture and the cows tromp through here and rest under the shade trees without any regard for the departed. Even the utility crew that is stringing power lines tromped through the cemetery, kicking stones out of their way as they walked.” I was able to read a few tombs, some of which were just rocks with names and dates scratched in them. I found the following: Jacob Kirby, Feb 27, 1803 – March 14, 1880 M. D. K. 1859 Sam J. Porter Jan 13, 1880 – July 15, 1880 Smith Porter Jan 22, 1877 – July 16, 1877 Infant son of S. P. and M. R. Porter, born Jan 23, 1867. The notes I found did not have any other names or dates listed but I’m not prepared to say the ones above were the only legible tombs or markers. I had been given information that the Kirbys and Porters were somehow related so I may have limited my notes to those two families. For what it might tell us, the Spartanburg Co, Deed Records have the following entries: Benj. Wofford, P. J. to Jacob Kirby, 211 acres, deed dated 1875, filed 1879 Jacob Kirby to Sam Porter, 46 acres, deed dated 1875, filed 1879. Robert H. Kirby to Samuel Porter, 23 acres, Blue Branch, deed dated 1875, filed 1879. R. H. Kirby to Samuel Porter, 35 acres, deed dated 1877, filed 1879 Jacob Kirby to Sam P. Porter, 68 acres, deed dated 1879, filed 1879 Jacob Kirby to Samuel Porter, 1 acre, deed dated 1879, filed 1879 My guess is from the infants buried in the Porter Cemetery, that the cemetery is located on this land. However, the grave for M.D.K, 1859 puzzles me and I am now wondering if I read the date right. I haven’t figured out what M.D.K. stands for although Jacob Kirby and Patsy Lipscomb Kirby has a daughter named Martha and one named Mary. Also, at the moment I don’t remember what “P.J.” stands for in the original deed. Will have to look that up. I haven’t found any other deeds into or out of Jacob Kirby but Robert H. Kirby or R. H. Kirby is a different story, perhaps later. I would like to know the relationship, if any, between Jacob Kirby and Samuel Porter, if anyone on the list knows. Also, whether or not this cemetery appears online or in any publication by Spartanburg Co or Cherokee Co researchers. More than you asked for and probably more than you wanted to know so for now I’ll go back to my shade tree. But thanks for asking. Rex Kirby -----Original Message----- From: Lorlauvan@aol.com [mailto:Lorlauvan@aol.com] Sent: Saturday, November 09, 2002 2:00 PM To: rex@tyler.net Subject: Re: [Old96] Kirby, Garner, Sparks, Lipscomb In a message dated 11/9/2002 7:50:29 AM US Mountain Standard Time, rex@tyler.net writes: I sometimes think if I could just sit down under the shade of a tree near Thicketty Creek, perhaps near my grgrandfather Jacob Kirby's grave at the old abandoned and neglected Porter Cemetery that I could unravel all the mysteries of my many kinfolks from SC. Can you tell me exactly where the old abandoned Porter Cemetery is located? Thanks. Lorene Vanzant

Hi Rex, According to this site, Jacob and Patsy Lipscomb Kirby's daughter Katie married Sam Porter. The dates and Louisa, VA don't seem to jive with your information, so this tidbit may be wrong also. http://www.surnames.com/haggard/web/d499.htm#P39509 Sam's wife on the 1880 census was Martha. Could Katie be a first wife? You mentioned that Jacob had a sister named Katie ... hmmmm. Melissa --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? U2 on LAUNCH - Exclusive medley & videos from Greatest Hits CD