Calabash, NC Frink Family Cemetary My Great Grandfather Jabesh, whose grave J. Bryan and I just finshed dressing up was the son of William Frink, and Anna Reaves. In his Daddy's will, William bequeathed to Jabesh the following: "I have heretofore given to my son Jebesh a negro boy named Stanley, valued at four hundred dollars. I confirm said gifts and in addition direct that two hundred dollars be paid him in addition. I give him, devise and bequeath unto my said son Jabesh, the plantation where I reside, known as the "Green Tract", containing fourteen hundred and twenty acres (1,420 acres). I give him this plantation over and above the share of his brothers because he is now living with me and because I expect him to take care of his Mother should she survive me." Now here are some thoughts of mine as I return from seeing the graves of this Father and son: The Father, William is safe, surrounded by manicured grass in a country club. Jabesh is in the woods in a cemetary that used to be a church cemetary, but the church is gone, and woods and nature is destroying these historical and precious grave sights. There are also Somersetts, Longs, and maybe Gores, Gauses and other directly linked relatives. This cemetary that holds Jabesh and his dear wife Susan needs "HELP"!!!. I wish I could buy the property, and restore it. I wish somebody would buy the property and restore it. I wish "something" can be done, to save this most valuable piece of History. I notice Bunn is buried next to William, so why can't I arrange a way to e burried close to Jabesh?? I would like that....... Don't forget, My Great Grand Daddy Jabesh inherited 1400 acres, a slave, and responsibility for his Mother!!!! His wife's head stone is pure white and twice the size of his. (What happened to Stanley??? Do descendants of Stanley still live in Shallotte?) (Would he be Stanley Frinks as was Golden Frinks?) (What happened to (GREEN TRACT?) (Where WAS Green Tract?) (Who owns it now???) (Is it for sale?) (Maybe Bill Clinton could buy it and give it to Stanleys great grand children instead of a token apology as previously considered.) Just Frinking..... His headstone was broken off and lying face up to the elements of rain, snow, and tree droppings (as was his wife's headstone). Now, thanks to wonderful people especially Jennings Bryan Frink and Doris Frink Redwine, the stones are once again, standing, and once again readable, but what about the headstones broken into three pieces, and stained black from elements and mildew?, and what about the related head stones that are breaking off in half and falling to the ground un-attended????? Children of Jabesh! I call out for help!!!!!! This is a wonderful cemetary being lost.......... Word has it that developers MUST preserve cemetaries, but the question is, will there be a cemetary left by the time a golf course, or a road expansion is done? If I can't save my ancestors historical cemetary any other way, I will go to the White House for Government Millienum help...... I am ALL ears......? Any one interested in getting involved in "Save the Cemetary" Project??????? Ken Frink Here is what was written on two of the stones which were knocked over, left face up to the elements, and un-readable until stood back up and cleaned: Jabesh Frink Born Nov. 1, 1834. Died July 19, 1896. His words were kindness his deeds were love. His spirit humble he rests above. Susan J. Frink Wife of Jabesh Frink. Born Feb. 14, 1844 Died Dec. 8, 1890. Dearest wife, fondest mother, loving sister kindest friend. Thou hast left us And our loss we deeply mourn. But it was God that hath bereft us. He can all our sorrows heal. And may we thy pure life live and die they triumphant death. Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth. yea saith the spirit that they may rest from their labors and their works do follow them. My friends, husband, and children. Remember as you pass me by. As you are now, once so was I As I am now so you shall be. Prepare for death and follow me. Submitted by Ken Frink In connection to our "Save the Grave" project to save the historical cemetery in Shallotte (Ocean Isle Beach-Calabash) on Georgetown Road, I have e-mailed and faxed the following: From: kenf@treco.net Subject: "Save the Graves"! About the cemetery. All I was asking was basic permission to be on the property for a few hours just to do simple clean up. Nothing big--not big landscaping projects, no fences, just simple weeding, and maybe a little clorox wash on mildewed stones, and "Maybe" having a stone mason "patch" some of the broken stones,...and also permission to be on the property with a clip board to try to write down the names of all the people buried there. I only wanted permission for one day per year or a couple of days, but my formal request was for twice per year.......2 days each during daytime hours only. but I would be thankful for half a day once per year. I just hate to let that site go to total ruin. Seperate from the above, In freelance thought, or brainstorming,....or creative "fantasy",....I visioned buying that parcel, and re-constructing the origional church, and restoring the grave yard, and landscaping, and turning it into a public historical hub maintained by private, or state, or federal historical funding. The church building could serve as a "one room school house" for historical local information, and dedicated to the memory of all the various pioneers. I thought it could enhance the rest of the surrounding lands by giving the area, "a heart and soul". In the middle of progress, a serine place to sit, and ponder, and reflect. A place for a small picnic, and a few minutes rest from the modern world. BUT that was just a dream, and Mr. Williamson does not want to "break up and re-zone the huge parcel, and *I certainly respect his right* to the choice. so, again, all I wanted to do was have his permission to pull weeds, and dress stones. I don't feel comfortable going on land without permission from the owner. I don't understand why the Real Estate office (Simpson) will not do the job they said they would do for me. (To make the request for me) As far as having permission to pull weeds and dress stones goes, I en-visioned a time in the summer or fall when a variety of families could meet, and greet, in blue jeans for a "family tree" work day! An excuse to meet together, and do something meaningful together, and something to look forward to all year. It would actually pump money into the local economy, and encourage good people to buy or rent tourist dwellings..... It just seems like a win-win...healthy idea to me, but that cemetery is on it's last legs. Nothing against the land owner, but I imagine if a cemetery gets to a run down state, there are no laws to protect it. The strict laws one speaks of are for cemeterys that are maintained, not in a state of ruin...... It is typical common business sense that if a land owner wants to tear down a building, to make a parking lot, that the quality of the building must decline before permission is granted to remove it. Same principal with old grave sights. Logic says, if a cemetery owner cared about the families of the people buried in that cemetery, they would not allow that site to be in such run down shambles. I offer free labor to maintain and preserve a historical site, and I can't get an answer back (so far) so again, logic says, somebody wants to plow over the cemetery and build a golf course, or a 7-11. I saw a tv segment about Myrtal Beach or Hilton Head, where black folks were upset that some of their cemeteries were being plowed over. Because of public out cry, SOME of the cemetaries are preserved and protected by strict law, but there are loop-holes in the law that allows for something "beyond repair" to be lost. The graves are *almost* beyond repair. Some one wants to save these graves, because I have never cared about a grave before in my life. It was not until I stood over Jabesh, and Susan that I became concerned. sincerely, Ken Frink Jensen Beach FL 561-334-6872 (phone or fax) P.O. Box 1301 Jensen Bch FL 3495 File contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Ken Frink USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. 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