Rts. 5 & 20, Town of Hanover, Chautauqua County, NY
IRVING, NY
This is what E. May Christy of Silver Creek wrote when she copied
the data from the gravestones in the 1920’s:
“Only a few stones remaining. Overgrown. A great many must
have been removed. Not cared for. “
AVERY (?) Sophia
Near Diana Avery’s stone was a stone marked “Little Sophia”
AUSTIN Jonathan
Died April 2, 1852, aged 79yrs 6mo.
HAWKINS Henry W.
son of Charles W. & Mary Hawkins died March 19, 1857
aged 6y.
LANDON Dwight
Died July __ 1869 aged 9yrs __ mo. 10da
PIERCE Sophia Austin
Died Feb 6, 1871 ae 74yrs.
STEVENS Caroline
Died Sept 9, 1844 ae 13mo (3mo?)
Artaman
Died Sept 14, 1848 ae 4yrs
Children of Charles and Esther Stevens.
STILES Thurza
Wife of Nathan Stiles died April 19, 1836 in the 21st
(or 24th) year of her age.
Amos Nathan
Son of Nathan and Thurza Stiles died May 29, 1852, aged 18 years
SLOCUM Sarah
Wife of Ebenezer Slocum, died June 20, 1856 aged 51y6m6d
___________, Loba
This first(?) name was the only writing on the top half of a
marble gravestone that SVM found. Some flowers were also carved
near the name.
Vincent P. Martonis, Hanover Historian added the following note to this cemetery reading. “I was told in the late 1980’s that the gravestones for this cemetery were removed long ago and piled somewhere out back in the swamp. I have walked the swamp 3 times looking for stones with no luck. I believe the stones were simply pushed over the bank at the back of the cemetery and covered with dirt. Steve and I found a few pieces of stones and bases over the bank at the back. The property owner has pushed piles of fill over the length of the bank in an effort to level his property toward the swamp. He has been informed that no digging could be done where there are bodies in the cemetery area: such action would violate the law and authorities would be called. Supposedly, some remains were removed long ago and reinterred in Evergreen Lawn Cemetery at Hanover Center.
A mid-1800’s map of this cemetery turned up in 1996. It was saved by the Sackett family in an old trunk in the attic. Only lot numbers appear on the map. The map is now in the Hanover Historical Center collection. The cemetery also appears on maps published in 1854, 1867 and 1881. “ VPM 1999
SOURCE: Compiled by E. May Christy of Silver Creek, NY. 1920s.
Transcribed by Donna Mills of Fredonia, NY. 2000