History

Old Waxhaw Presbyterian Church

church-body

Also known as Waxhaw

Old Waxhaw Presbyterian Church — church, appearing in the Charlotte record across 5 documented year(s).

In the record (5)

  1. c. 1700

    The Great Trading Path (also called the Occaneechi Path) was a colonial-era trade route running roughly 800 miles, connecting Virginia's Fort Henry (Petersburg) south through the North Carolina Piedmont to Cherokee and Catawba territory; in North Carolina it crossed the Flat, Little, Eno, Haw, Uwharrie, and Yadkin rivers before turning south at the Trading Ford (near present-day Spencer) toward the Catawba and Waxhaw villages below Charlotte.

    Trading Path (NC highway marker L-36)Ford Motor CompanyCatawba NationRobert HenryJesse Spencer

    Source · checked 2026-08-13

  2. 1740

    According to the Museum of the Waxhaws, an epidemic of smallpox around 1740 killed so many of the Waxhaw Indians (a group affiliated with the Catawba) that the tribe disbanded and its survivors merged into the Catawba Nation and other neighboring tribes.

    Unverified — sourced but not confirmed against a primary record.

    Catawba NationMint Museum of ArtLevine Museum of the New SouthHarvey B. Gantt CenterNASCAR Hall of Fame

    Source · checked 2026-08-13

  3. 1750

    Anson County was formed in 1750 from Bladen County (which had itself been formed in 1734 from New Hanover County); Anson County was named for George, Lord Anson, First Lord of the British Admiralty, and originally encompassed the future Mecklenburg County, home to Catawba and Waxhaw Indian communities along the Pee Dee and Catawba river systems.

    Catawba NationKing George

    Source · checked 2026-08-13

  4. 1752

    The Old Waxhaw Presbyterian Church, the first church established in the Waxhaws region and later associated with the Jackson family (Andrew Jackson's family), was founded in 1752.

    Unverified — sourced but not confirmed against a primary record.

    Mecklenburg PresbyteryFirst United Presbyterian ChurchFirst Baptist Church WestAndrew Jackson

    Source · checked 2026-08-13

  5. 1957

    The North Carolina Highway Historical Marker program erected marker L-36 ("Trading Path") on South Tryon Street at Morehead Street in Charlotte, noting that the route -- used since the late 17th century by Virginia traders carrying guns, gunpowder, knives, jewelry, blankets, and hatchets to exchange with Catawba and other Piedmont tribes -- passed through Mecklenburg County, forking toward the Waxhaw region and toward Charlotte/Pineville.

    Trading Path (NC highway marker L-36)Catawba NationWilliam Tryon

    Source · checked 2026-08-13