CHARLOTTE CENTER BURYING GROUND.

The third death, and the first male person who died in the town of Charlotte, was Barnabas Cole. He died in the year 1811, and was buried at Charlotte Center, then a little settlement deep in the woods which had been commenced in 1809, a little later than the settlement in the Pickett neighborhood, and a little earlier than that at Sinclairville. It is not certainly known where Cole's remains were interred. It is believed, however, that he was buried within the limits of what was afterwards set apart as the burial place at Charlotte Center. The burying ground consists of two acres or more, situated on the west side of the highway, about forty rods south of the intersection of the roads at the center of the town, in which about four hundred and fifty people are buried at this time. The oldest grave-stone in the burial place is that at the grave of Betsey C, daughter of Jabez and Mary Beardsley, who died February 12, 1831, aged nine years. A monument is erected here to the memory of Alonzo W. Cross, the first soldier representing the town of Charlotte to fall in the war of the Rebellion. He was instantly killed in the thick of the conflict in the battle of Malvern Hill, July 1st, 1862. Upon his monument are inscribed the lines:
" No more the trumpet's martial sound
Shall summon him to meet his foes,
Nor war's deep thunder echoing round,
Disturb him in his last repose."

Many of the pioneers, and most prominent of the early residents of the town, are buried in this burial place. Among them Robert W. Seaver, a soldier of the Revolution, and the first settler at Charlotte Center; Randolph W. Seaver, his son; Elijah Carter, a soldier of the Revolution, was probably buried in this ground; Stephen Lyman, Samuel Vaughn, and Samuel Cleland, soldiers of the last war with England; the brothers Calvin, Luther, Nathan, and Daniel Lake, among the best known and most respected citizens of the town; Aaron Hall, Nathan Penhollow, Addison Lake, Hiram and A. W. Straight; also Thomas Pearson and William Wright, natives of England; James Houston and Hugh Harper, natives of Ireland; David George, and James Williamson, and David Rose, natives of Scotland. The latter was more than seven years a soldier in the British Army. He served in the 93d Highlanders. He arrived at the battle ground at Waterloo, with his regiment, just as the great conflict terminated. He served under Packenham at the battle of New Orleans, and soon after was honorably discharged, his time having expired. He returned to his native country, and later took up his home in Charlotte.

Prepared by Obed Edson, under the direction of the Trustees of Evergreen Cemetery Association; Sinclairville, N. Y.: Press of The Commercial; 1890.