Richard Dobbs Spaight Gravesite Improvements

Gravesite and sepulcher of Richard Dobbs Spaight

The article in the Sun Journal on the duel that ended Richard Dobbs Spaight’s life on September 6, 1802, brought to mind the Spaight Gravesite Improvement Project I initiated as a part of the Richard Dobbs Spaight Committee established by the Craven County Commissioners in 1987 to plan activities and events in celebration of the Bicentennial of the Constitution in 1989. Locally, the Committee was initiated by Gertrude Carraway to honor and promote recognition of New Bern’s famous patriot and signer of the constitution.

Myself and a number of others were appointed to serve on the Committee, chaired by Tom Ward. Each member was asked to initiate and organize a project or event as a sub-committee for the celebration that would be held throughout 1989 culminating on November 21, the 200^th Anniversary of our state’s ratification.

The project I chose was to make improvements to the Richard Dobbs Spaight gravesite, located on private property on Madam Moore’s Lane, erect a historic marker and make this historic site accessible to the public. Like every project we undertake, it took the time, talent and contributions of many to come to fruition.

Harold Talton, Swiss Bear’s Chairman and I met with Ms. Hughrena MacDonald owner of the property (historically called  Clermont*) and discussed our interest in improving the deteriorating grave site and sepulcher, erecting a historic marker and finding a way to make it accessible to the public. Ms. MacDonald was very supportive, on the condition we could find a way to make the site accessible to the public which would not compromise her privacy.

Charlie Potter, a Swiss Bear Board member and Chairman of the County Commissioners, with the Board of Commissioner’s support, agreed the County would develop the site and maintain it into perpetuity. Dick Smith, Smith Design Group, provided a landscape plan with an entry point into the grave site from the road. Improvements included installing a culvert in the drainage ditch adjacent to Madam Moore’s Lane, construction of a road into the site and putting a bench near the grave site. Neuse Memorial donated the cost of the repair work needed within the sepulcher which included repair to the ledger and marble chips on the interior space to eliminate weed problems. The grant I received from the Kellenberger Historical Foundation paid for the state marker to erect near the site to clearly identify this very significant cemetery  and pay tribute to a New Bernian who was a Revolutionary War patriot, a delegate to the Federal Constitution Convention of 1787 and the North Carolina Ratification Convention of 1788. Richard Dobbs Spaight also had the distinction of being the first native-born Governor of the state of North Carolina, serving for three terms.

At the Dedication Ceremony, August 23, 1989 the ceremony opened and closed with a USNC Color Guard, speeches by dignitaries, the New Bern Police Department honored Richard Dobbs Spaight with a 21 gun salute and the marker was unveiled. 

It was an outstanding occasion and a project I take great pride in. New Bern’s historic role in the founding and development of our country including having a signer of the constitution’s gravesite in Craven County is quite impressive. The opportunity to initiate and coordinate the restoration of this historic gravesite and making it available to the public was another example of people working together for the greater good of the community.

*On this property known as Clermont, a colonial brick mansion was constructed for Col. William Wilson in 1735 whose daughter married Richard Spaight.  The mansion was demolished during the Civil War. The MacDonald family owned the property for many years that bequeathed to Tryon Palace and the state by Hughrena MacDonald when she passed away several years ago.

Susan Moffat Thomas

Executive Director