Location: Averasboro Township 1/2 mile west of Averasboro Battlefield off NC 82 on the east bank of the Cape Fear River a few hundred yards upstream from the point where the Lower Little River empties into the Cape Fear River. The listing of the survey stated there were 55 graves as of 1976 survey although upon my transcription the number came up to 57. Almost all of the graves are those of descendants of Alexander Smith, son of John Smith, Sr. of Smithfield. Burials also include some of the slaves of the Smith and Elliot families though the transcription did not list any of the names of the slsve burials. The survey was conducted in 1976 by Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Whitmel Smith. There exists a typed list of graves from Old Smith Cemetery at Smith's Ferry, compiled by J. Hairr from sources in the archives in Raleigh and by on-site investigation, November 1992, 3 p. Newspaper article, "Lost Graveyard Found, Repaired" by Laura Peck, Dunn Daily Record, August 8, 2001 about a Johnson family cemetery.

Requests for photos of the grave markers elicited this response from Find A Grave contributor Lisa Brewer:

"Went to the area and spoke with a person that has been hunting in the woods, where the cemetery is located, for the last 50 years. He states that the cemetery only had wooden markers and there were no names visible on them. The last time he went hunting there, a couple of years ago, all of the markers were gone and there was nothing to indicate that a cemetery was there. I went to the woods in an attempted to locate the area of the cemetery however, it is on private property marked with 'No Trespassing' signs."

And, from another member of our Family Smith:

"Updated and correct information on the location and condition of the Smith Ferry/Smith Family Cemetery:
My husband and I had relic detected on this property with permission from the landowner until a few years ago when we and others who had permission were asked by the landowner to leave! Due to the disrespect of trespassers riding horses all through his fields and camping and fishing without permission, all people who previously enjoyed this beautiful site could no longer visit. The cemetery where the Smith Family & relatives are buried was cleaned up at one time as the Dunn Daily record article stated. Now it is an awful mess and breaks my heart to know this!! The stones are still there and some of the original fencing. Trees have grown up in the cemetery. The cemetery with the wooden grave markers is in the actual woods on the property, closer to the front and is a slave cemetery if we are not mistaken. There are TWO cemeteries on this property, not one!! Previously we had tried to keep the Smith Family Cemetery cleaned up and could no longer do it due to our age and now we can't even walk down to either of the cemeteries or the old ferry site due to the disrespect of others!!"