O'Rorke Cemetery
O'Rorke-Catholic Cemetery, at just under one acre, was established in 1858 by the generosity of benefactor John O’Rorke, a member of the Catholic Church who donated the land. It is sometimes called the Catholic Cemetery. It is located on Pender Street and Tarboro Road. From 1941 to 1986 the city operated the cemetery as a paupers’ cemetery until it became full and it is still owned by the city of Raleigh. This cemetery achieved local historic designation when it was named as a Raleigh Historic Landmark in 2010.
Database Introduction
This database is the source for burials in O’Rorke Cemetery. O’Rorke has been known by a variety of names (primarily “Catholic Cemetery,” “Sacred Heart Cemetery” and as a Potter’s Field) since 1858. It represents the combination of the following works:
— Physical survey of cemetery in 1940 and 1996, noting markers
— Wake Treasures, Vol VI, No. 1, Winter/Spring 1996, pp. 74, compiled by Harriette H.Riggs
— Parish Register for Sacred Heart, Raleigh, NC (1839-1931), compiled by Charles P. Blunt
— US Census and Mortality Records
— Death Certificates of Wake County
Special thanks to Charles P. Blunt for his research on O’Rorke-Catholic Cemetery.
Links
O'Rorke Catholic Cemetery List
O'Rorke Catholic Cemetery Walking Tour Map
O'Rorke Catholic Cemetery Audio Walking Tour
O' Rorke Catholic Cemetery Inventory
