This family cemetery belonged to Henry Albert Hays and his wife Mary A. Stancell Hays. They were one of three families that came together from Northampton County, N.C. in 1854. The other two families were Mary's brother, William Everett Stancell and Mary's mother, Anna Stancell. Anna Stancell died at the David Hare farm and the family refused to go farther west. Henry Hays and William Stancell rode 20 miles or more and learned of a tract of land for sale at the Dr. Mardis farm. After a look at the land, they bought 405 1/2 acres from Richard Spencer. The land was divided with Henry taking the north half and William taking the south half. Here on this land the remains of Anna Stancell were laid to rest on Aug. 1, 1854. She is either buried on the north half where the Hays cemetery is located or on the south half where the Stancell cemetery is located. The two family cemeteries are a short distance apart. The oldest monument found at the Hays Cemetery is that of Mattie C. Moore, wife of William H. Moore and daughter of Henry Albert Hays who died March 12, 1868. In later years other families were also allowed to be buried there. As the land passed down through the family the cemetery was closed sometime between 1897 and 1903 and later generations used the Bethel Cemetery.
James Everett and Nancy Arminda "Minda" Molder Moore had a child buried in the Hays Cemetery in 1897 but had to use the Bethel Cemetery when another child died in 1903 because the Hays Cemetery had closed.
DIRECTIONS. From intersection of Highway 1 and 14 at the stop sign in Harrisburg take Highway 1 south for 2.1 miles. Turn east at Bethel Church sign. Turn south on Old Military Lane and go over an old iron bridge. Continue on Old Military Lane and cemetery is .15 mile south of Vinson Road intersection. The unmarked cemetery is on the east side of the road at the top of the hill in a small grove of trees.
MOORE, Jesse, son of son of Jas. E. & Minda Molder Moore, born Aug. 5, 1891, died June 7, 1897 MOORE, Martha C. "Mattie" Hays (Mrs. Wm. H.), dau. of Henry Albert Hays, 29y, born Oct. 10, 1838, died March 12, 1868 MOORE, Mittie A., dau. of Jas. E. & Minda Molder Moore, born March 24, 1893, died Aug. 15, 1894 MOORE, Willie, son of Jas. E. & Minda Molder Moore, born July 5, 1895, died May 29, 1987