According to the Hairstons, the pieces are of great historical significance to North Carolina, and the silver has been featured in historical books. Family members said the silverware dates back to the Civil War era and the mid-18th century. Nellie Couch works at Dee's Antiques in Mocksville. She said the theft is the talk of the community.

"I really hate that it happened because that it is part of Davie County history and it has been in their possession for generations and generations. I think it is sad that someone would go and take from someone like that anyway," said Couch.  

Police said the thieves cut phones lines and entered the plantation through a window just before midnight Sunday night. Davie County Sheriff's Detective Scot Kimel said he's concerned about what the thieves left behind.

"They left behind a lot of very valuable silver plated antique silver plate sets behind. They were particular in taking only solid silver and coin silver items so that indicates to me that they are not interested in selling them as antiques or anything like that. It seems that they may be interested in taking them to a metal dealer and selling it as scrap silver and of course if that is done and the person who buys the items doesn't know what they are looking at, they are going to melt it down and the historical value will be forever lost," said Kimel.

Some of the silverware is labeled with family monograms "LPH" in calligraphy script and "D" in calligraphy script.

Kimel said investigators are also going through surveillance video and analyzing fingerprints that investigators were able to lift from the scene.

He said the family is offering a reward. Anyone with information is urged to call the Davie County Police Department at (336) 936-2966.