Cemetery History
The Story of Old Tranquil Cemetery
A sacred ground established in the 1800s, holding the remains of families who shaped Newbury County, South Carolina — now being reclaimed from the forest.
A Place of Rest, Forgotten by Time
Origins in the 1800s
Old Tranquil Cemetery was established in the early to mid-1800s, serving the families of the Newbury area in what is now Newbury County, South Carolina. The cemetery sits within land that would later become part of the Sumter National Forest — a federal designation that effectively removed the land from local oversight and left the cemetery without a caretaker.
Decades of Abandonment
Over the course of the 20th century, the cemetery fell into neglect. The surrounding forest encroached steadily, and large pine trees — some now towering over the grounds — took root among and beside the gravestones. Today, their root systems and sheer weight pose a direct threat to the markers that remain. Without intervention, more will be lost.
Who Rests Here
The families buried at Old Tranquil represent the fabric of early Newbury 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Records are compiled from historical documents, gravestone inscriptions, and family submissions.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.
Adair
Multiple family members, mid-to-late 1800s
Caldwell
Several markers documented, dates unclear
Chalmers
Family plot, late 1800s
Dominick
Multiple generations represented
Fellers
Documented markers, 1800s
Halfacre
Family members, dates uncertain
Kinard
Several markers, mid-1800s
Lominick
Multiple family members
Mayer
Documented, late 1800s
Oxner
Family plot documented
Riser
Multiple markers, 1800s
Shealy
Several family members
Shell
Family members documented
Shumpert
Documented markers
Stuck
Family members, dates uncertain
Wessinger
Multiple generations
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.