Cemetery History
The Story of Old Tranquil Cemetery
A sacred ground established around 1799, holding the remains of families who shaped Newberry County, South Carolina — now being reclaimed from the forest.
A Place of Rest, Forgotten by Time
Establishment: A Community Takes Root
Old Tranquil Cemetery is tied to the early Old Tranquil Methodist Church near the Jalapa community in Newberry County, South Carolina. The site began around 1799 when a log church was built by early settlers, including Zaccheus Wright, Dr. Thomas Shell, and Robert Gilliam. These founding families carved a place of worship and community out of the Carolina backcountry, and the ground beside their church became the resting place for generations that followed.
The First Sunday School in the County
In 1827, Zaccheus Wright and Absalom Glasgow established what is believed to be the first Sunday school for children in Newberry County at this church location — a testament to the community's commitment to education and faith. The congregation continued to grow, and in 1832 a new frame structure replaced the original log building, followed by a larger frame church in 1859.
Relocation and Abandonment
Around 1890, the church building was removed or destroyed and relocated near Jalapa Station, leaving the historic cemetery behind without an active congregation to tend it. Over the course of the 20th century, the surrounding forest encroached steadily. The cemetery eventually fell within land designated as part of the Sumter National Forest — a federal designation that removed it from local oversight and left it without a caretaker. Large pine trees took root among and beside the gravestones, and their root systems now pose a direct threat to the markers that remain.
Who Rests Here
The families buried at Old Tranquil represent the fabric of early Newberry County life — farmers, tradespeople, community members, and their children. Many of their descendants still live in the region today, and others have spread across the country. The Preservation Society is working to build a complete record of every person interred here, so that no one is forgotten.
Known Burial Records
The following records represent what has been documented to date. This list is incomplete — if you have information about a family member buried here, please register as a descendant.
Records are compiled from historical documents, gravestone inscriptions, and family submissions. Dates and spellings may vary from original sources.
Brown
Documented burial records
Chambers
Documented burial records
Clark
Documented burial records
Copeland
Documented burial records
Davis
Documented burial records
Eddey
Documented burial records
Franklin
Documented burial records
Gallman
Documented burial records
Gilliam
Documented burial records
Glasgow
Documented burial records
Glymph
Documented burial records
Goree
Documented burial records
Graydon
Documented burial records
Gregory
Documented burial records
Herbert
Documented burial records
Hinson
Documented burial records
Hunter
Documented burial records
Jones
Documented burial records
Massey
Documented burial records
Moore
Documented burial records
Satterfield
Documented burial records
Shell
Documented burial records
Sligh
Documented burial records
Turner
Documented burial records
Wilson
Documented burial records
Wright
Documented burial records
Yeargin
Documented burial records
Is Your Family Here?
If you recognize a family name or believe you have ancestors buried at Old Tranquil, we want to hear from you. Registering helps us build a complete and accurate record.