Winston-Salem in Forsyth County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Last Burials in the Parish Graveyard

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 23, 2021

1. Last Burials in the Parish Graveyard Marker

Inscription. Archaeologists have located 28 of the graves in the original Parish Graveyard. Rebecca Hill was the last person buried in the Parish Graveyard, prior to the racial segregation of Salem cemeteries in 1816. Rebecca was born on January 23, 1772 and died in childbirth on December 20, 1815 at the age of 43. Combined historical and archaeological research located Hill's grave and the three that immediately preceded her interment: Sarah, Robert Johnston, and Andrew Schawitz. Sara lived in Bethania before being sold to Heinrich Herbst of Salem in 1785. Soon after, she married Abraham, an enslaved member of the Moravian Church. Sarah was never baptized, so upon her death she could not be buried in God's Acre like her husband. Robert Johnston was born in New York and died on October 2, 1813 at the age of 25. Andrew Schawitz was from Saxony, Germany and died at the age of 70.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Anthropology & Archaeology • Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical date for this entry is January 23, 1772.

Location. 36° 5.052′ N, 80° 14.424′ W. Marker is in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in Forsyth County. It is on South Church Street just north of Race Street, on the right when traveling north

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. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 911 S Church St, Winston Salem NC 27101, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Piedmont

and specifically in Piedmont Triad.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The African American Graveyard (a few steps from this marker); The Landscape South of St. Philips (within shouting distance of this marker); Squire's Grave (within shouting distance of this marker); Emancipation in Salem (within shouting distance of this marker); Historic Happy Hill Path (within shouting distance of this marker); Reich-Hege House Site (1830-1922) (within shouting distance of this marker); Lewis Hege (1840-1918) (within shouting distance of this marker); Reich-Hege Lot (1830) (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Winston-Salem.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 23, 2021

2. Last Burials in the Parish Graveyard Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on January 27, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 28, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 303 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 28, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.