WATERBORO HILL CEMETERY

ELLINGTON, NY

At the little cemetery on Waterboro Hill in the Town of Ellington the brush is too high to drive up the road and the gate, if a gate it was, and blocked by a fallen tree. It is three iron pipes, 15 feet long joined together. The brush inside the cemetery was far more dense than it had been 20 years previously. We doubt that we could have found all the stones. When we talked with Mr. Carlson, the Ellington cemetery caretaker, five years ago, we understood that the cemetery was to be kept mowed now that the supervisors for Ellingotn had taken over the deserted cemeteries in the town.
The fences on each side of the roadway were solidly built and wired but the wire around the cemetery was sagging and rusty. Soon the cattle will be free to roam through the cemetery. We were glad to see that the devils clubs in the south end were gone. Twenty years ago we beat a path through them to reach a lone grave in the center. We just had to read that stone! It was the babe without name or parentage.
This cemetery is not far off Rout 17. One turns left instead of crossing the Waterboro bridge. It is on the right among a heavy stand of trees about a mile from Route 17, and is located on the Davis property. On Sunday, we went to the Gerry Home to talk with Hattie Davis Williams, age 91. She remembered that her parents were Leroy Davis and Julia Ann bush. This is probably the Julia Adaelaide born in 1841 in the town of Conewango, Cattaraugus County, daughter of Nelson Bush and wife Julia Ann Leach. She would be a sister of Deloss and an aunt of the late Burnett Bush. (Taken from the Nelson Bush Bible.) We cannot find any graves for John and Polly Davis. Hattie thought they might be in the Kennedy Cemetery with her parents. We didn’t find her parents, there though she said they had a marker.
The next day we went to see Edna Colburn Price in the Town of Poland and discovered she had a Bible with some good Colburn records in it. She didn’t think she was descended from David Colburn until she phoned the reunion registrar, who had lovely records. We copied only a little and must return for the rest. David Colburn Sr. born 1771 came from Plainfield, NY. His wife Rebecca Locke was born 1775. They had Polly, Sophrona, Harvey, Rebecca, Lucy (probably the one who married Lewis Arnold), Clarinda, Emeline and David Jr. Wife Rebecca we did not find, though the registrar said she had seen a stone with Rebecca on it.
David Jr. married (1) Ann Walters (could it have been Waters?) 1 Oct. 1839 and (2) Altheda Maria Lille 30 Jan. 1846. His children by Ann were William H. who married Lucy Smith; Charles D. who married Eliza E. Ingersoll;. Mary E. who married John Smith; and by Theda Mariah were Anne who married Elison Bagg; Luther C. who married Lucy Butman and 3 children who died in childhood. These Colburns are not listed in the Robert-Edward Colburn Genealogy from whom other Chautauqua County Colburns are descended. (Fenton has Ellison Bagg m. Ann Wilbur and official death record, listing her as dau. of Nelson & Emeline Wilbur.)
In 1822 Zenus Bemus from New Hampshire bought lot 1 in the Town of Ellington. Among the official death records at Ellington is that of George Bemus who died 11 Feb. 1892, age 82-11, born in NH, son of Zenus and Caroline Bemus. Bethany his wife was Bethany Bentley daughter of Eldred and Betsey (Abigail) Allen Bentley. Henry the son of H. & .L. Bemus is the son of Horace and Lucy Bently Bemus. Two brothers married two sisters. Horace and Lucy moved to Augusta, Wisc. Since we have never found graves for Zenus and Caroline, we wonder if they too went to Augusta.
In the Foreman-Farman Genealogy is Esther 1777-1872 daughter of Richard Goodwin of Haverhill, MA who emigrated to Bath, NH where Esther was married, and then they all came to Ellington via Augusta, Oneida County, NY.
The Ellington records give Martin V. Ingersoll as having died 21 Feb. 1904 instead of the 19th as the stone says. He was the son of Peter and Lois (Smith) Ingersoll. In the Ellington records is also Betsey Waters who was born in Machias, daughter of Daniel & Polly (Lafferty) Phillips, both born in Cherry Valley, NY. According to the record she died in Clear Creek, perhaps at that time she was lving with a son or daughter. There is no Ellington record for her husband Lora Waters. Nor is there one in the Town of Poland.
In the Jamestown Journal for 17 Feb. 1865 was the notice "died in Busti 14 Feb. Ebenezer Knapp formerly of Otsego County aged 84 years 23 days." From the dates it must be the Ebenezer buried here. Probably Hiram and Elijah buried in the Busti Cemetery are his sons as well as Ira buried here. In the Weaver Genealogy is Hannah W. Knapp, first wife of William Perry Weaver. She is buried on the left of Ebenezer and is probably a daughter. Ira Knapp, born 22 March 1818, died 3 April 1892, married Lucinda Weaver born 15 Sept. 1825, died 3 Dec. 1879 daughter of Thomas and Isobel Weaver.
I found that the lower part of this road nearest Rte 17 lies in the Town of Poland. Sylvester Brown, buried without a stone, has his death listed in the Poland records while he is always listed in the Ellington census. The house he built with a stone foundation recently burned. It was quite visible from the road Monday. His first wife Julia Ann was buried in Dexterville Cemetery but not put in this cemetery as far as we know. In Valley View Cemetery on the Frank Smith lot No. 155 the map lists Julia Ann Brown. We think this is she. His second wife Mercy is not thought to be here either.
For those of you who are wondering about the Dexterville Cemetery. We have found several records in Lake View Cemetery that merely state that they were transferred from Dexterville. They seemed to be in the 1880s. Does anyone know about this? Was there once a cemetery there which was razed to make room for some factory? Just where was it located?

BEMUS, Henry, son of H. and L. (Horace and Lucy Bentley) Bemis, no dates.
BEMUS, Bethany, wife of George W., died 27 April 1888 age 83.
BEMUS, George W., son of Zenus and Caroline (probably here according to Ellington death records), born NH, died 11 Feb. 1892, age 82.

BUSH, Moses, died 6 Feb. 1848, age 33.
BUSH, Manlius, born 8 Feb. 1808, died 20 Oct 1891.
BUSH, Eliza, his wife, died 31 Oct. 1894 age 74.
BUSH, Horatio, their son, died 6 Sept. 1855, age 20.
BUSH, Anna Elizabeth, wife of Enos Bush, died 22 May 1856, age 23.

COLBURN, David, died 4 Aug. 1852, age 81. His wife was Rebecca Locke. Perhaps she is here or perhaps she died in Brookfield, NY, before she moved here.
COLBURN, David L., died 22 June 1885, age 67.
COLBURN, Ann (Walters first wife) died 4 Sept. 1845 age 27.
COLBURN, Theda Mariah (Altheda Mariah Lillie, his second wife), born 13 June 1826, died 17 Jan. 1892.
COLBURN, William H. (son of Ann) died 20 June 1870, age 29 Capt. Co. E 42 Regt NY Vol.
COLBURN, Infant son of David and Mariah died 5 Feb. 1847, age 1 day.
COLBURN, Anne, dau. died 18 March 1848, age 1 mo 5 day.
COLBURN, Anne M. dau. died 7 Feb. 1860 age 11.
COLBURN, Martin L. son, died 1 Sept. 1862, age 3.
COLBURN, Martha, died 3 Sept 1862, age 10 mo. 15 day.
COLBURN, Eddie, died 20 July 1864, age 9.

DAVIS, Truman L., son of John and Polly Davis, died 21 Aug. 1838, age 1-10.
DAVIS, William, son of John and Polly Davis, died 25 Aug. 1838, age 10 mo.
A small stone is shelled off with blank footstone.
The Shaws are on this lot.

DOTY, Mandane, dau. of Harry and Alzina Doty died 18 May 1852, age 9 mo.

GOODWIN, Richard, died 16 April 1858, age 74.
GOODWIN, Ruth P., his wife, died 16 June 1848, age 56.
GOODWIN, Richard, son, died 3 Aug. 1872, age 36.

GRIFFITH, Rhoda, dau of Rev. A. Griffith, died 7 May 1857, age 18.

GUEST, Ervin E., son of E.R. and Lydia Guest, died 21 March 1883, age 17.

INGERSOLL, M.V.B. (Martin son of Peter and Lois Smith Ingersoll) born 13 July 1829, died 19 Feb. 1904. (21st on Ellington records.)
INGERSOLL, Mary L. his wife born 23 July 1829, died 11 Oct. 1872.
INGERSOLL, Laura died 23 March 1864 age 4.
INGERSOLL, Cora L. died 17 March 1873, age 8.

KNAPP, Ebenezer, died 14 Feb. 1865, age 84 (See Jamestown Journal for 17 Feb. 1865)
KNAPP, Rachel his wife died 30 Jan. 1866, age 74.
KNAPP, Ira, age 74 (From Weaver Gen. born 22 March 1812, died 3 April 1892.)
KNAPP, Our Mother - nothing more (Lucinda Weaver, dau. of Thomas and Isabel Weaver and wife of Ira Knapp born 15 Sept. 1825, died 3 Dec. 1879.
KNAPP, Ira Scott, son of Ira M. and Lucinda, died 17 April 1847 age 1.
KNAPP, Daniel W. died 19 Feb. 1861, age 27.
KNAPP, David T., died 18 Oct 1842 age 27.
We have a penciled note that he had a wife Hannah whose stone had fallen down.

MOWAR, Henry W. died 21 Dec. 1885, age 67, Co. G 1st Mich. Eng.

SAUNDERS, Charles died 27 Nov. 1876, age 79.
SAUNDERS, Jerusha, his wife, died 4 june 1847, no age cut.
SAUNDERS, Mariette Stone his wife (second) born 29 May 1797, died 27 March 1867.

STEVENS, Beriah, died 28 May 1843, age 83.
STEVENS, Clarissa his wife, died 1 Dec. 1856, age 84.
STEVENS, Flavaline wife of Cyrus Stevens died 1 July 1827, age 70.
STEVENS, Josiah, their son, died 22 July 1860, age 21.
STEVENS, Amanda J. their dau. died 4 Feb. 1854, age 2.
There are footstones with inititals for Josiah and Amanda.

SKINNER, Infant dau. of Orrin and Abigail Skinner, died 26 Jan 1845, age 2 day.

SHAW, Judith Davis, wife of A.B. Shaw, died 29 April 1868, age 43.
SHAW, Milla A. dau. of Arnold and Judith Shaw, died 24 Jan 1860, age 8.

SMITH, Avis W., wife of Deacon Timothy Smith, died 23 June 1862, age 68.

WATERS, Lora, born 7 Feb. 1809, died 20 May 1884.
WATERS, Betsey, wife of Lora, born 4 March 1813, died 7 March 1895.
WATERS, Merton J., their son, died 30 Sept. 1853, age 29 days.

WOODWARD, Sarh, dau. of John and Sarah Woodward, died 7 Sept. 1846, age 18.

WEAVER, Hannah Knapp, wife of William P. Weaver died 18 Jan 1847, age 26.

YARINGTON, Avery, died 4 May 1849, age 50.

BROWN, Sylvester (born Delaware Co., NY) died in Poland 15 June 1895, age 71. No stone for him.

OUR BABE, born 3 March 1881, died 17 July 1881 (Outside the fence).

QUERIES

B10 ENOS, Tannah 1814-1909, daughter of Charles and Keziah Arnold married Norman Griswold Enos 1807-1894. They are buried at Bemus Point. He came from Herkimer County and the 1810 and 1820 census of Herkimer shows a Griswold, Enos in the Town of Fairfield. Could Norman have been his son? DB, Florida.

B11 FREEMAN, Hiram born 25 August 1835 in the Town of Ellington, son of Caleb 1783-1852 and wife Sibel (Ralph) 1797-1848, buried in the old Pioneer Cemetery on the edge of Ellington village, married 1862 Pauline Sickles of Albany and had a son Silas born in Buffalo in 1864. Wanted: Data on Caleb and Sibel. Were there other children besides Hiram? GW, Iowa.

B12a PIERCE, James born about 1815, came to Chautauqua County about 1825 from Vermont or eastern New York State. His wife was Polly. What was her maiden name? She was born in Erie County, PA and according to the 1865 census was under the care of the poormaster, apparently of Dewittville. They had at least 6 children, all born in the 1840s: Matilda, Sylvia, Lucinda, Selina, David, and Celestia. Sylvia married first William Wing and second Daniel Fowler of Niobe. Wanted dates and marriages for these children other than Sylvia. SP

B12b PIERCE. Wanted parentage of James. Could he have been a son of David listed in Panama in 1860 census as aged 68 (born 1792). SP.

B13 BARNEY, Samuel 1799-1865 (son of Luther of Ellery) lived in Harmony. He married Eliza (no dates, no stone) daughter of Thomas Bemus of Harmony. Their children were: Betsey born 1829 married George Wooley Losee in 1849; Thomas 1831-1865 Civil War vet; Charles 1842 born and died same day; Jane Atkins born 1845; Luther born 1848 married Cornelia Houck in 1876; William Marvin 1852-1862. Samuel and Eliza are buried at Magnolia with 3 sons, Thomas, Charles and William Marvin. Wanted to learn of descendants of Betsey, Jane and Luther; the death dates and marriages of these three and where they are buried. RE, Idaho.

B14 Gist of letter received: I recently saw a book you wrote on the Descendants of General Putnam Farrington. It was a wonderful complete, book on the family. My ancestors are from Pennsylvania. Are you familiar with that area? I enclose chart showing my parents, grandparents, and great grandparents. Please be so kind as to trace may family back further and write it up in book form: Long Beach, CA.
Answer: Dear Long Beach, it costs $300 to print the book, $200 in postage to get the data, another $100 incidentals and two years of undivided attention and devotion. I never did recover all the postage. My next book will have to be self-supporting and I’d like to be paid something for my time.

B15a BURCH. Does anyone have information on Admiral Burch born in Vermont or CT. He served in the Revolutionary War from Albany Co. as a second Lieut. At one time he lived in Ripley.

B15b BENSON, John born about 1773, perhaps in Dutchess or Rensselaer County, was the son of Joel Benson, Revolutionary soldier and his wife, Mary Shaw Benson. John married Mary Burch, daughter of above Admiral Burch. John died in Ripley in 1840. He had these children: William, John Jr., Edward, Thomas, and Mary Ann. Mary Ann Benson married John B. Tinker. She and brother Thomas lived and died in Ripley. What happened to the other children? William, John Jr. and Edward were still in Ripley with their mother in the 1840 census. North East.

B16 THOMAS. There were two Thomas families in the 1850 census of Harmony. Wanted information on the Jedidiah Thomas family of Blockville. Jedidiah was born 1793 in New Jersey and died between 1850 and 1855, probably in Blockville. His wife was Eliza Root 1804-1849 buried in the Blockville Cemetery. Her daughter Matilda married Russell Tanner, son of Nathan & Susan (Pettis) Tanner. Matilda was living in 1905 in Busti in the household of Elmer Morey (Morley?), the husband of her daughter, Mary. Surely someone can help. North East.

B17 CORNELL. Searching for information on Amos Cornell, born Fort Ann, NY 7 Feb. 1800 or 1802, died Bear Lake, PA 1884. His son, Lorenzo D. by his first wife Belinda Rice, is buried in the Grant Cemetery at Niobe. North East.

ANSWERS

WATERBORO HILL CEMETERY
1) A letter from Conewango Valley re Ervin E. Guest listed in the cemetery his father Edwin R. Guest b. 22 Sept. 1831 d. 15 May 1905 and his mother Lydia M. Badgley Guest b. 28 April 1832, d. 25 Dec. 1901 are on the same lot. Also a brother DeLeslie E. Guest b. 26 Sept. 1856 d. 26 March 1861. They have no stones.
2) A lady from Sodus, NY writes she has a grandfather and grandmother Ingersoll there. She also has a lap robe used by Governor Fenton which she wishes to give to the Fenton Historical Museum. Her brother was coachman for the Governor’s daughter, Mrs. Gilbert.
3) Had a telephone call from Randolph that a woman had written up several family records of Waterboro Hill early residents. We spent an evening at her home, purchased Lyman Wade and McKoon genealogies and came away with much material on the David Colburn family buried in this cemetery.

WATERBORO HILL CEMETERY
A) In regard to Erwin E., son of E.R. and Lydia Guest listed here last month -- his father and mother are buried here also on the same lot with him. They are Edwin R. Guest born 22 Sept. 1831 died 15 May 1905 and Lydia M. Badgley Guest born 28 April 1832 died 25 Dec. 1901. Another son is here too. DeLeslie E. Guest born 26 Sept 1856 died 26 March 1866. Other children of Edwin and Lydia were Frank E. born 29 Sept. 1868 died 29 Dec. 1959 in Altadena, Calif, and Alice B. born 5 March 1861 died 16 Nov. 1940 wife of Adelbert M. Spaulding. They are buried in Valley View in Ellington. Contributed by H.S. of Conewango Valley.
B) Have been very much interested in your article. I have relatives in this cemetery: My grandfather and grandmother Ingersoll, 2 aunts and a baby sister. Hattie Williams you spoke of is my cousin. Her parents are buied in Valley View not Kennedy as you said. LCM Sodus, NY.
C) While we listed Sylvester Brown in our comments we omitted him in the listing. HE was born in Delaware Co., NY about 1824 and died 15 June 1895 age 71.
D) Mrs. George Wade of Randolph contacted us and said she was writing up the family histories of the pioneers on Waterboro Hill. We visited her and came away with 2 genealogies. We hope to acquire others later on.
E) We mentioned the Dexterville Cemetery in the Waterboro article. Mrs. Perry Secor called us to remind us that we would find reference to this in the 1857 Atlas of Chautauqua County. We have a copy but did not think to consult it. Thank you Mrs. Secor.

B11 FREEMAN. A petition for adminstration papers by Silas Freeman for estate of Caleb Freeman 1783-May 27, 1852 buried in the old Pioneer Cemetery in Ellington gives the children as Phineas R., Ruby wife of Daniel Dunkle, and Silas of full age also living in Lansing, Mich. It also lists minor sons George and Hiram both under 21 years of age and living in Lansing, Mich.

B13 BARNEY. The Bible records of Joseph Barney, son of Luther the Revolutionary Soldier, came to Fenton to preserve and we have sent a copy to RE in Idaho who is writing up a history of this Barney family. Any descendant is urged to send in their records so that they will be included in the record.

B18 VANRENSSELAER Have received several letters from VanRensselaer descendants who are interested in knowing about the family. One woman in New Jersey sent us the name and publisher of a VanR genealogy which we shall try to purchase if available.

B18 VANRENSSELAER. We were able to purchase the VanRensselaer Genealogy which we mentioned in our last column. While it does not carry the line down, it does give the record of Abram and Clarissa (Caswell) VanRensselaer and their children’s names, but not the dates of the children nor whom they married. We hope the VanR family will send us their records so the we may make an agenda.

B18 VANRENSSELAER, Abram. A petition dated 29 Aug. 1890 by Clarissa VanRensselaer his widow seems to indicate that his sons Phillip and Abram Jr. and perhaps dau. Catherine were by a former wife and that by Clarissa Caswell he had Robert and Hope. HF of Demerest, NJ is questioning the above in a second letter. Fenton: The 1875 census for Cattaraugus County gives the age of Abram as 71 and Clarissa as 46. It sounds very plausible. But the descendants have not told us so. H.F. has been touring New England on genealogical research and says “The New York City Library can’t handle the crowds that come each day to the Genealogy Department. The librarian said that genealogy has hit a new high this past year.”

COOLEY, H.F. is also interested in the Cooley family of Chautauqua County. Frank Cooley married Clara VanRensselaer and she needs dates for them. Also place of burial.

SOURCE: Fenton Historical Society Deserted Cemetery Series. From the Jamestown Journal 26 July 1969, compiled and written by Edna Ingham