GOVERNOR THOMAS BURKE GRAVE

View west, 1923 (image via The News of Orange)

The original monument (a cast iron plaque on a marble plinth) was paid for/placed by UNC students A. R. Reep, W. E. Hauss, J. H. Rich, and H. W. Carter (see photo above) in the summer of 1923. Its inscription read, simply, "Thomas Burke North Carolina Troops Rev. War."

The second monument is a granite monolith, and was erected and dedicated in a ceremony (with then North Carolina Governor J. Melville Broughton delivering a speech) in 1944. Its western face is blank; the eastern face reads: "Thomas Burke born Galway, Ireland, 1747 died Hillsborough, N. C. 1787 Revolutionary soldier and war governor of North Carolina." (NOTE: Burke's death date, 1787, on the monolith is incorrect. He died December 2, 1783.)

The third marker, a bronze plaque, was erected May 27, 1973, on the original 1923 marker's plinth. It reads "Sons of the American Revolution Dr. Thomas Burke born Galway, Ireland 1747 died and buried Tyaquin Plantation, Hillsborough, N. C., 1783 physician-attorney-poet-patriot member of conventions at New Bern and Hillsborough 1775 representative to Provincial Congresses at Halifax, 1776 Delegate to the Continental Congress, Philadelphia 1776-1781 war governor 1781-1782 helped draft the first constitution of North Carolina. Placed by the North Carolina Society of the Sons of the American Revolution under the auspices of the General Francis Nash Chapter 1973 'Triumph America! thy patriot voice has made the greatest of mankind rejoice.' - Thomas Burke."

There are likely other Burke family members buried within the .07 acre graveyard.

The graveyard/property is currently owned by the State of North Carolina (with its custodians being the local chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution). The graveyard was deeded to the State and SAR in August 1943 by the Latta family.

In May 1962, members of the Hillsborough Historical Society cleaned up the graveyard, rebuilt a stone wall, cleared brush, and evaluated the broken 1923 marker for repair.

From Cemetery Census: