CLASSIFICATION: Family ground.
LOCATION: In the city of Poughkeepsie, on the west side of Vassar street.
CONDITION: Built over.
INSCRIPTIONS: See "Remarks".
REMARKS: In 1702 Baltus Barents Van Klecek, ancestor of all Van Kleecks in the United States, built a house at Poughkeepsie that remained standing until well into the nineteenth century. It stood near the corner of the present Mill and Vassar streets and west of it there grew up a family burial ground. Stones in this also stood until well along in the nineteenth century. The location and former existence of the Van Kleeck family ground are cited because it is probable that within the present city of Poughkeepsie there were once other family grounds like this, records which has not been preserved. Another instance is the Benschoten ground mentioned but not located. These small family grounds presumably were used in the eighteenth century before churchyards became numerous.
Copied by Charlotte Carey Dingee and transcribed by Liz DuBois