OLD JAMESTOWN CEMETERY

JAMESTOWN, NY

For five years after the settlement of Jamestown in 1810, not a single death occurred in the village. During that time no steps had been taken to select suitable grounds for a cemetery. On Nov. 9, 1815, Elisha Wing, a cousin of Judge Prendergast, died at his home and a hurried selection of a site was forced upon the village. Jacob Fenton, Esq., Capt. William Forbes and a few others conferred and hastily selected a cleared pasture on a high knoll on what is now Fourth Street at its junction with Clinton Street. It was only accessible by a foot path leading over the fields. In 1817 Mrs. William Simmons, the mother of Walter Simmons, committed suicide by hanging. She was the second adult interred in the cemetery. In December 1820 there was a siege of typhus fever which continued through the winter taking a toll of 20 lives.
The people became much dissatisfied with the location and the soil of this cemetery. It was away from all roads, and the ground was hard and stony. Carrying a body over the narrow path, especially in winter, had proven very difficult. Moreover, no lots had been laid out and without that, there was no room for families to lie together. No stones had been erected and no one knew where their loved ones slept. The cemetery had never been fenced and the cows wandered through it at will.
Judge Prendergast, seeing the dissatisfaction of the people, proposed abandonment of this site and the selection of a new location. All were in favor of this idea but none could agree on a new location. Should they locate it near the site of the proposed new Congregational Church in the New England style or should it be outside the village because of sanitation? Finally, two-thirds of the villagers showed preferment for the location now bounded by present Washington, Fifth, Cherry and Seventh Streets. This spot is now the James Prendergast Public Library and Dow Park. Judge Prendergast concurred and deeded the proposed site to the village.
Before the new cemetery could be properly fenced and lots laid out, the first interment took place. But, mistakenly, the interment was made on a lot diagonally across on Fifth Street on which a resident was preparing to build a new house. Needless to say he did not relish the mound in his front yard and suit was brought against the family to remove the body.
Prior to 1836 there had been little regularity in the employment of a sexton. The relatives frequently hired an ordinary laborer to dig the grave. Hence, the alleys were infringed upon and bodies were often interred in the wrong lots. There still was no record of burials being kept. In 1854 it suddenly dawned opon the villagers that in ten years the cemetery would be filled and some new arrangements must be made. This led to the establishment of Lake View Cemetery in 1859 with definite rules and regulations and the employment of a sexton who was charged with keeping adequate records. At the dedication one ofthe speakers urged that every grave be properly marked with a durable stone on which would be inscribed not only the date of death, but also his place of birth and name of parents. What a boon to those tracing their lineage if the people had only followed this last advice.

JAMESTOWN
The Jamestown Journal of Oct. 29, 1875, printed the following list of persons buried in the old cemetery—now the site of the Prendergast Library and Dow Park… and then not removed.
Below we give, as nearly perfect as we can, a record of the burials as attested by the monuments standing then in The Old Cemetery.

CAMPBELL, Hamilton D., died Sept. 7, 1824 age 20.

BELL, Robert William, son of S.S. Bell, died Feb. 24, 1846, age 10 mo.
BELL, Benjamin, son of B.P. and E.P. Bell, died Jan. 25, 1843, age 10.
BELL, Mary Jane, daughter of B.P. and S.S. Bell died Dec. 20, 1839.
BELL, Sarah Ann, daughter of Benjamin P. and Sarah S. Bell, died Oct. 16, 1839, age 1 yr, 2 mo.

WILCOX, Minerva A., died Feb. 22, 1831, age 7 yr, 10 mo.

STEARNS, Joseph H., son of Amory and Mariah Stearns, died Dec. 15, 1826, age 1 day.
STEARNS, Hannah A., died May 17, 1834, age 3 yr. 10 mo.

SHERMAN, Damarus, daughter of L. and T. Sherman died March 1, 1835 age 3 yr. 4 mo.
SHERMAN, Joseph O., son of Loren and Thankful Sherman, died July 18, 1826, age 1 yr. 4 mo.

WHITE, Betsey, wife of James White, died Feb. 11, 1831, age 31 yrs.
WHITE, Alvira, daughter of James and Betsey white, died July 27, 1826, age 11 mos.

HESS, Nancy, wife of Daniel Hess, died Feb. 17, 1847 age 46 yrs.

SALISBURY, A monument erected to the memory of the three children of Owen Salisbury.
SALISBURY, Ann S., wife of Owen Salisbury, died Feb. 4, 1829 age 28 yrs.

REYNOLDS, William, died Aug. 5, 1848, age 60.

STRONG, Lucius, son of Benj. And Salina Palmer, died July 29, 1834, age 23.

SOUTHLAND, Wm. J., died Dc. 28, 1853, age 29.
SOUTHLAND, John Clark, son of J. and F.R. Southland, died Sept. 25, 1830, age 1 yr. 3 mo.

SHUMWAY, Oliver, died July 20, 1839, age 24.

BROADHEAD, Marwood W., son of Wm. and Lucy Broadhead, died Sept. 5, 1855, age 7 yrs.

COBB, Maranda, wife of Wm. J. Cobb, died Jan. 26, 1859,age 36.
COBB, Orlando W., oldest son of Wm. J. Cobb, died Jan. 26, 1852.

BISHOP, Lucina, wife of N. Bishop, died Nov. 19, 1847, age 37.

JONES, Clement B., son of Albert and Sarah J. Jones, died July 29, 1846, age 2 yrs, 11 mos.
JONES, Julius V., son of Albert and Sarah J. Jones, died Dec. 16, 1841, age 6 yrs. 11 mos.

CHAPIN, Ruth K. Fisk, wife of Rev. Asahel Chapin, died Oct. 5, 1838, age 22.

PIER, Loretta, daughter of Rufus and Catherine Pier, died May 3, 1832 age 1 yr.

HARRISON, Caty, wife of Roswell Harrison, died July 24, 1838, age 61.

DEWEY, D.H., born March 3, 1820, died July 11, 1841.
DEWEY, Edson, son of H. and B.M. Dewey, died Aug. 30, 1833, age 7 yr.

GRAY, Hannah Jane, wife of John C. Gray, died June 12, 1851, age 26.

WHITTAKER, Lucinda, wife of Wm. H. Whittaker, died March 24, 1847, age 26.

JONES, Louisa, wife of Ellick Jones, died May 16, 1832, age 31.

BUTLER, Deacon Richard, born in Westfield, CT, March 6, 1761, died in Busti, Jan. 2, 1839.
BUTLER, Mercy, wife of Deacon Richard Butler, died April 2, 1852, age 83.

STEPHENS, Matilda B., wife of Walter Stephens, died Jan. 6, 1848, age 38.

PIER, Mercy Ann, wife of Norman Pier, died June 6, 1850, age 35.
PIER, Rhoda Ann, daughter of Norman and Mercy Ann Pier, died Nov. 16, 1845, age 4 mos.
PIER, Wm. L., died Nov. 30, 1851, age 27.

ABBOTT, Martha, daughter of Ezra and Mary Abbott, died March 24, 1841, age 1 yr. 10 mo.
ABBOTT, Infant daughter of Ezra and Mary Abbott died Aug. 27, 1843, age 11 mo.

SHEARMAN, John P., died Feb. 10, 1855, age 41.
SHEARMAN, Infant daughter of J.P. and L.M. Shearman, died Oct. 11, 1850.
SHEARMAN, Eugene J., son of J.P. and L.M. Shearman, died Feb. 24, 1844, age 6 mos.

HIGDAY, Lucy Ann, wife of George Higday, died March 26, 1841, age 17.

WILLIAMS, Francis W., son of Asa and Achsah Williams, died Jan. 24, 1849, age 12 yrs.

THOMPSON, Infant daughter of Ann Thompson, died Sept. 20, 1845, age 2 mos.

ACKLEY, Jonathan C., died Feb. 8, 1836, age 28.

KENT, Infant son of Alonzo and Mercy R. Kent, died Feb. 22, 1842, age 3 yrs.
KENT, Edward Billings, son of Alonzo and Mercy R. Kent, died June 28, 1842.

PARTRIDGE, Lorenzo, son of Alman and Mehitable Partridge, died Dec. 9, 1836, age 4 yrs.
PARTRIDGE, Eliza M. daughter of Alman and Mehitable Partiridge, died Jan. 16, 1839, age 1 yr.

TIFFANY, Lucena, wife of Israel Tiffany, died Jan. 10, 1855, age 45.

COMPTON, Mary Jane, daughter of John W. and Rachael Compton, died Dec. 2, 1832, age 9 mos.

MERRIFIELD, A monument erected by Adolphus M. Merrifield and wife in memory of three sons.

YATES, Harriet Selina, daughter of S.S. and Selina Yates, died Oct. 8, 1834, age 4 mo.

BARKER, Orlinda, consort of Phineas Barker, died Nov. 11, 1836, age 22.

STEWART, Cynthia M., wife of Thomas Stewart, died Dec. 14, 1832, age 42.

BUSH, Elizabeth, wife of Datus Bush, died March 1, 1850 age 39.

EDDY, Electa S., daughter of Nathaniel and Electa F. Eddy, died June 26, 1846, age 1 yr.
EDDY, Zachariah, son of Nathaniel and Electa F. Eddy, died March 10, 1835, age 2 mo.

BUTLER, Solendia, daughter of S.S. and M.E. Butler, died Feb. 10, 1842, age 2 yr.

HOLMES, Clark N. son of Benonia and Perlina Holmes died Oct. 19, 1842 age 10 yrs.

STOW, Abigail, daughter of M.H. and Eliza Stow, died Nov. 12, 1847, age 10.

HUNT, Beriah G., died Oct. 18, 1835, age 14.

ROSTER, Elliott Martin, son of H.R. and Mar Roster, died Dec. 6, 1847.

LEE, Deborah, wife of Euriah Lee, died Oct. 31, 1841, age 91.
LEE, Addison Jr., son of Jonathan B. and Lucy Lee, died March 7, 1837 age 1 yr.

RIDER, Mercy L. daughter of Daniel and Sybil L. Rider, died Sept. 25, 1841, age 3 mo.

PERKINS, Clarissa, consort of Septimus Perkins, died May 17, 1836, age 23.
PERKINS, Theodore D., son of Septimus and Eunice N. Perkins, died Feb. 2, 1843, age 6 wks.
PERKINS, Mary E., daughter of Septimus and Eunice N. Perkins, died Aug. 18, 1846, age 1 yr.

VANVLACK, Volkart, died May 26, 1837, age 67.

CHASE, Austin, son of George and Mary A. Chase, died Oct. 28, 1841, age 1 yr.

WATTS, Thomas, died Nov. 30, 1849, age 45.

DENSLOW, Mary Jane, wife of W.R. Denslow, died June 13, 1849, age 19.

SEYMOUR, Elerth, wife of Daniel Seymour, died Sept. 24, 1849, age 36.
SEYMOUR, Sarah M., wife of Daniel Seymour, daughter of John and Sally Morse, died Aug. 10, 1852, age 28.

A stone with the top broken off, the remaining words are: died May 30, 1851 age 50 years. "Gone to my home above, meet me there."

STOWE, Chloe R., wife of John Stowe, died Sept. 24, 1853, age 51.
STOWE, Monument with the simple inscription, "Julia A. born 5-29 died 8-7-1850"
STOWE, Esther, daughter of John and Chloe R. Stowe, died Feb. 22, 1851, age 21.
STOWE, Charity, daughter of John and Chloe R. Stowe, died Feb. 1839 age 7.

ALLEN, Sarah, wife of R.A. Allen, died May 19, 1848, age 22.

BLINN, Mary L.P. wife of Rev. H.G. Blinn, born New Orleans May 27, 1829, died Feb. 3, 1850. Erected by the ladies of the First Presbyterian Church and Society of Jamestown.

LYON, Elizabeth, born MA in 1768, died Jamestown, NY in 1850.

GREEN, Wesley C., died Dec. 28, 1852, age 22.

WOOD, Mary, wife of Oliver Wood, died Oct. 20, 1852, age 24.

KIDDER, Sophia, wife of Nathan Kidder, born April 24, 1794, died Dec. 7, 1856.

FROST, Benjamin, died Jan. 28, 1856, age 70.

CORYN, Rev. John H. Coryn, died Dec. 22 1853, age 38.

PHETTEPLACE, Loraine, daughter of D.T. and S.R. Phetteplace, died Feb. 7, 1854 age 7 yr.

WILLES, Roswell H., son of Roswell and Susannah Willes, died July 12, 1849, age 34.

COOK, Alice M., daughter of A.P. and S.L. Cook, died Feb. 1, 1854, age 4 mo.

ESTELLE, Emily, wife of H.J. Estelle, died June 20, 1855, age 25.

A footstone with the initials P.A.C. - no headstone.

GAY, Cornelia E. daughter of Monroe and Cornelia Gay, age 3 mo.

WASHBURN, William, a solider of the Revolutionary War, died July 25, 1851, age 86.
WASHBURN, Hulda (Clark), wife of Wm. Washburn, died Jan 5, 1850 at 83.

WINCHESTER, Seraph C., daughter of Berry and Melena L. Winchester, died Aug. 23, 1850, age 10 mo.

EVANS, Hannah, wife of Wm. S. Evans, died Dec. 15, 1855, 56.

DAVIS, James H., son of Ambrose S. and Cordelia Davis, died June 16, 1850, age 13 days.

SMITH, Florence Ella, daugher of H.A. and Mary Smith died March 17, 1849, age 3 yr.

WELLINGTON, Louisa E., wife of Samuel T. Wellington, died May 24, 1848, age 29.

EVERDIN, Charles Rensellaer, born April 14, 1854, died June 8, 1856.
EVERDIN, Electa Anne, born Dec. 9, 1852, died Mar. 11, 1853.

WRIGHT, Isabelle A., daughter of Johnson and Sally Wright, died March 11, 1841, age 2 yrs.

CRAFF, Theodore, drowned June 18, 1854, age 25.

DELAND, Edward B., died Dec. 1, 1849, age 46.

TEW, Mary D., wife of George W. Tew, died Aug. 30, 1839, age 38.

LOWRY, Harriet E., born July 13, 1833, died Oct.. 4, 1935.
LOWRY, Helen T.R., born Aug. 26, 1840, died April 20, 1841.
LOWRY, Monument to Nathaniel A. Lowry without inscription.
LOWRY, Elizabeth W., consort of Nathaniel A. Lowry, daughter of William and Therina Hall, born Dec. 7, 1770 in South Farms, Litchfield, CT, died Sept. 4, 1845 in Jamestown.

SHEARMAN, John Warren, son of D. and M. Shearman, died Sept. 20, 1834, age 1 yr.
SHEARMAN, Infant daughter died July 14, 1835.

"MARY", simple inscription on tombstone.

KINNEY, Annette, daughter of Hiram and Nancy Crapsey Kinney, died March 6, 1831, age 1 yr.
KINNEY, Roxy Ann, daughter of H. and N. Kinney, died Oct. 2, 1840, age 17.
KINNEY, Daniel W., son of H. and N. Kinney, died Feb. 5, 1841, age 1 yr.

WILLIAMS, Catherine S., daughter of Daniel S. and Sabrina Williams, died Sept. 13, 1832, age 5 mos.

HOWARD, Mary L., died March 24, 1850, age 19.

DICKINSON, Edward, son of E.A. and S.M. Dickinson, died Oct. 6, 1844, age 1 month.

FLETCHER, Adelaide Emerson, daughter of A. and C.F. Fletcher, died April 12, 1843, age 4.
FLETCHER, Caroline Elizabeth, daughter of A. and C.F. Fletcher, died Oct. 12, 1843, age 1 yr.
FLETCHER, Sarah S., wife of Adolphus Fletcher, died Jan. 6, 1836, age 39.
FLETCHER, Marshall, son of A. Fletcher, died July 25, 1830, age 4.

QUERIES

A111 Compiling a VanBuskirk genealogy. Family records show a Joseph VanBuskirk with wife Margaret whose children were born in early 1800s in Jamestown. Want information regarding this family. The only data we found about VanBuskirks was the lease in 1897 by the Cassadaga Lake Association to M.H. VanBuskirk of Buffalo of some land adjacent to the large holdings of the Association. It was the only land record from 1811 to 1900. There were none in the census records. Can anyone help us? IES Indiana

A112 My 3-great grandfather was Immer (Emir) Root, parents unknown. He was born in New York State in 1806 and in 1850 resided in Crawford Co., PA. Immer had brothers Elisha, Jeromia, and Joshua who settled around Lake Chautauqua, across the line in New York. They were dairy men. Want any possible data on Immer Root. FBK New Mexico

A113 Want data on Henry House who moved to Forestville and lived the rest of his life there. He died in 1882. RS Trumansburg, NY.

A114 Desire information on Bela Burroughs, born 16 May (year not given) and his brother Harvey, born 4 Jan. 1798, sons of Porter and Abigail Hawes Burroughs of Dutch Hill, Otisco, NY and Vesper, NY. Bela settled early in Brockton, NY., Town of Portland. Bela had a son, James Harvey, whose eldest daughter, Sylvia Elizabeth, married Fowler Denton Hardenburg and lived in Brocton. Sylvia was the eldest of 12 children. Please help me. TBB Eustis, FL.

A115 Wanted information on my grandparents, Albert Clark Robertson and Lucinda Smith. He was a Captain in the Civil War. Want dates, burial place, parents of each. RCR Pittsfield, MA.

A116 The Winchesters settled in Chautauqua County at an early date. Many in Ellery, some in Fredonia. Among 23 children in this family, I know the names of eight: Elnathan, Marcus, Jonadab, Johtam who married Mary McDuffee, Francis, Ebenezer, Heman, and Hartford, born about 1799 or 1800, died 3 April 1864 aged 64, married Lucy Haskin. Wanted the names of the other 15 children and data on any or all of them. Whose children were they?

ANSWERS

A111 VANBUSKIRK. My sister and I are the daughters of the VanBuskirk mentioned in this query. We have a genealogy starting in 1655. If IES of Indiana will contact us we will be most happy to give them what we have if we are of the same family background. JVBT Ocala, FL.

A112 ROOT. We were sent a list of Root burials in the Hanover Center Cemetery but none was the Immer (Emir) Root wanted by RS Trumansburg.

A113 HOUSE. There is a Henry House mentioned in the 1874 County Directory as living in Forestville and as being in business with Hazen House and Nathan Griffin as carriage makers and doing planing work. There is also an Ambrose House there dealing in groceries and dry goods.

A116 WINCHESTER. We were sure someone would come forth with data on the Winchester family but no one did. Fenton Historical Society wants it in its library. Please share it with us.

A116 WINCHESTER. One descendant loaned us a box of Winchester material to photostat and another left her name and address for us to contact. Thank you both.

SOURCE: Fenton Historical Society Deserted Cemetery Series. From the Jamestown Journal 29 March 1969, compiled and written by Edna Ingham