Liberty Baptist Church was organized in 1848 at the foot of Bearwallow Mountain at the “border” of the Fruitland and Edneyville communities.
The church came out of Ebenezer Baptist Church and was organized at “Elder H.W. Patterson’s own home on Thursday before the fourth Lord’s day in March 1848.”
The Rev. Hampton W. Patterson served many churches in the region. His grave site is at Holly Springs Baptist Church cemetery in the Crab Creek community.
In records for Ebenezer Baptist is recorded in 1848 “A request from Liberty Church, in requesting this body (Ebenezer Church) to cooperate with her in laboring with Mt. Moriah for acts of disorder.”
Liberty Baptist helped in organizing Hooper’s Creek Baptist, Barnwell Baptist and Fruitland Baptist.
Soon after the church organized, there was recorded a one-room school at or near Liberty Baptist Church.
The oldest graves in the church cemetery are members of the Whitaker, Garren, Rhodes, Merrell, and Williams families.
The grave site of Arthur Wayne Wilkie is in the church cemetery.
Army Spc. Arthur Wayne Wilkie served with Co. B, 503rd Infantry in the Vietnam War. He was killed in action Jan. 16, 1967, from small arms fire at Binh Duong.
In 2012 the Sons of Confederates of Jackson Rangers Camp 1917, the 26th North Carolina Re-enactors and Daughters of Confederate Veterans re-enacted a funeral procession with full military honors for the late Confederate Pvt. Julius B. Whitaker. A stone was dedicated in his honor at the church. Civil War historian Terrell Garren organized the ceremony.
Whitaker served as a member of the 41st Battalion of the N.C. Militia. His unit protected the home front and supported the Confederate Regular Army.
In January 1865, “Whitaker was on duty riding in a wagon across Terry’s Gap at the foot of this very mountain. He had no way of knowing that Union officers in east Tennessee had put a bounty on his head, and on the head of any other Confederate operative in the region,” Garren said. “A Confederate deserter turned Union spy stumbled into the road in front of Whitaker’s wagon, pretending to be drunk. Without any warning or discussion, the assassin pulled out a pistol and shot Whitaker through the chest. He was killed instantly. The killer fled the scene.”
In addition to Julius B. Whitaker, the graves of 11 other Confederate soldiers are found in the cemetery.
John A. Barnwell enlisted in the 25th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. H, Cane Creek Rifles. He was wounded in both thighs at the Battle of Malvern Hill during the Seven Days Battles and was retired to the Invalid Corps. He died in 1921.
Claiborne S. Freeman enlisted in the 25th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. A, Edney’s Greys. He was wounded near Richmond, Va., the day after the Battle of Gaines’s Mill during the Seven Days Battles. He returned to duty and served through the war. He died in 1920.
Williamson Garren enlisted in the 25th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. H, Cane Creek Rifles. He was wounded at the Battle of Malvern Hill during the Seven Days Battles in Virginia, was absent wounded through December 1862, and returned to duty January 1863. He died in 1900.
Jacob Merrimon Lyda enlisted in the 25th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. A, Edney’s Greys. He was discharged in April 1862 by reason of disability. He re-enlisted in September 1863. He served through the war. He died in 1922
Riley Maxwell enlisted in the 60th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. D, Henderson Rangers. He was dropped from the rolls as a deserter in April 1864. He died in 1916
William Pinckney Maxwell enlisted in the 60th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. D, Henderson Rangers. He was wounded and captured at the Battle of Stones River (Second Battle of Murfreesboro) during the Stones River Campaign, and died Jan. 18, 1863, in the federal hospital at Murfreesboro. This is possibly a memorial marker
Rath Archibald McKillop enlisted in the 60th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. D, Henderson Rangers. He served through the war. R.A. McKillop in “N.C. Troops” is the same person as Archibald. He died in 1919.
Isaac Suttles enlisted in the 7th Battalion N.C. Cavalry. This battalion was consolidated into the 65th Regiment N.C. Troops (6th Regiment N.C. Cavalry). He transferred to the 6th Regiment N.C. State Troops, Co. E, in 1864. He was wounded severely in the head and thigh at the Battle of Plymouth in Washington County, N.C. He was absent wounded through December 1864. He died in 1894.
James L. Whitaker enlisted in the 16th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. I, Henderson Guards. He was wounded at the Battle of White Oak Swamp during the Seven Days Battles. He was wounded at the Second Battle of Manassas (Second Battle of Bull Run) during the Northern Virginia Campaign. He was killed in action May, 23, 1864, at the Battle of North Anna during Grant’s Overland Campaign. This is most likely a memorial marker.
John Whitaker enlisted in the 25th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. H, Cane Creek Rifles. He was listed as a deserter and dropped from the company rolls in January 1865. He died in 1894. His gravesite is not known, but is most likely an unmarked field stone near his wife’s grave.
William Benjamin Whitaker enlisted in the 16th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. I, Henderson Guards. He was elected captain. He was killed in action Dec. 13, 1862, at the Battle of Fredericksburg. This is most likely a memorial marker.
Two men who joined the Union have grave sites in the cemetery.
Alexander Merrell enlisted in the 12th Tenn. Cavalry, Co. L, in April 1864. He was ineligible for mandatory Confederate service. He was born in 1817 in Buncombe County (Henderson). He died in 1869.
Eli McMinn Merrell enlisted in the 12th Tenn. Cavalry, Co. L, in April 1864. He was ineligible for mandatory Confederate service until 1864. He was born in 1847 in Henderson County and died in 1916.