Bethel Presbyterian Church 

In 1778 an unknow Hessian officer recorded his observations on the war. "Call this war by whatever name you may, only call it not an American Rebellion: it is nothing more or less than a Scotch-Irish Presbyterian Rebellion."1

The seeds of resistance to British authority were sown in Presbyterian Churches that made captains and colonels out of deacons and elders."2

Because of their strong feelings against the Crown, strengthened by what has been called the "Presbyterian Ethic,"  the Scots-Irish settlements and their meeting houses, as well as the homes of their ministers and leaders became the rallying points for those of like sentiments, while at the same time gathering the wrath of the British and their Tory allies.  As a result, many of the Scots-Irish settlements became targets of Tory raids and destruction during the course of the war.3

Patrick Ferguson had made it known that upon leaving Kings Mountain, he intended to "spend one night in Bethel Church, leave it in ashes by day-light... and be on the east side of the Catawba before nightfall.4  Ferguson never made it off of the mountain, and died during the battle of King's Mountain.

Patriots Buried at Bethel Cemetery5

William Adams......................1733 - 1799

Authur Armstrong.................1746 - 1828

John Baird.............................1737 - 1808

John Barber..........................1740 - 1799

James Bigger.......................1761 - 1800

John Chittam........................1750 - 1818

Capt. Peter Clinton..............1745 - 1780

Henry Craig..........................1729 - 1807

Capt. William C. Davis..1754 - 1820

Andrew Floyd.......................1750 - 1839

Joseph Gabbie....................1752 - 1825

James Glenn.........................1759 - 1843

John Hall................................1737 - 1784

James Hill..............................1759 - 1835

Col. William Hill....................1741 - 1816

Col. Joseph Howe................1743 - 1799

David Jackson, Sr.................1745 - 1818

David Johnston.....................1753 - 1794

Robert Johnston....................1730 - 1794

Andrew Kerr...........................1755 - 1842

Dr. William MacLean............1757 - 1828

David McCall..........................1761- 1838

Christopher McCarter...........1758 - 1823

Joseph McKenzie..............1738 - 1821

Col. Thomas Neel, Sr.......1730 - 1779

Robert Patrick, Sr. ................1740 - 1812

Moses Ratchford...................1754 - 1821

Robert Turner, Sr. ................1739 - 1824

Col. Samuel Watson.............1731-1810

Buried At Bethel Cemetery6