|
R.G.S. OFFICERS 1988 - 1989 | |
| President: | Judy Markham |
| Co-Vice Pres. & Program Chairpersons: | William Welch Letitia Welch |
| Recording Secretary: | Sheryl Weissert |
| Corresponding Secretary: | Loretta Welch |
| Treasurer: | Diane Partridge |
| Membership Chairperson: | Richard Halsey |
| Hear Ye co-editors | Robert Hesselberth James Roome |
| Rochester Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 92533, Rochester NY 14692 | |
|
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
It has been a long time since a subject as modest as county history has become so controversial. And as genealogists, whose interests are undeniably intertwined with local history, we have found ourselves inevitably drawn into the debate. County Executive Tom Frey has declared that he wants "a more scholarly approach" to county history like the works of Blake McKelvey did for the city. It is hard to find fault with that philosophy McKelvey, a Harvard PhD, spent over two decades preparing his landmark, four-volume study of Rochester that is probably the best ever done for any city. Twenty years later he was still at it, although retired, publishing the popular anecdotal volume on Rochester. But that is a hard act to follow. And on the surface, at least, Frey's proposal does not appear to suggest McKelvey-like results. Bestowing the empty title of county historian on the director of communications and special events certainly won't. Worse, it is an affront to everyone interested in history. Appealing for help from busy professors and a progression of student interns at SUNY Brockport's Institute of Local History may produce something, but probably not what Frey is looking for. You do not get quality work without a quality leader, willing to totally immerse him/her self in the subject. A county executive certainly should know that. |
The Rochester Genealogical Society will continue to meet the third Thursday of each month (except December, July and August), at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, East Avenue and Vick Park B. The mini-workshops will start at 7 P.M. (except as noted below), followed by the business meeting at 7:30 P.M. and the main program at approximately 8:00 P.M. Visitors are welcome.
Thursday, January 19th
Mini-workshop: Continuation of New England Historic Genealogical Society tape on "RESEARCHING YOUR VERMONT ANCESTORS."
Program: "SEARCHING FOR FAMILY ROOTS IN 19TH CENTURY ENGLISH SHIPPING RECORDS." - Ross Bower
Thursday, Feburary 16th
Mini-workshop: New England Historic Genealogical Society tape on "RESEARCHING YOUR IRISH ANCESTORS."
Program: "FINDING PLACES OF ORIGIN OF GERMAN ANCESTORS." - Larry Naukam
Thursday, March 16th
Mini-workshop: New England Historic Genealogical Society tape on "RESEARCHING YOUR GERMAN ANCESTORS."
Program: "IDENTIFYING AND PRESERVING ANTIQUE IMAGES." - James Reilly
RGS SURNAME LIST
Bob Hesselberth
Each year our society publishes a Surname List. This alphabetized list of all the surnames being researched by our members shows which members are interested in each name on the list. The purpose of the list is to enable people researching the same name to contact each other, compare notes and perhaps get valuable clues leading to a hard-to-find ancestor
The surname list is most effective if every member of RGS provides names for the list. If you havn't furnished your names, or if you havent updated your names in the list lately, please send them to Dick Halsey, our membership chairperson, who publishes the list.
(WordPerfect is a registered trademark of WordPerfect Corporation)
RELOCATED CEMETERIES IN MONROE COUNTY, NY (continued from last issue).
Dick Halsey
St. Joseph's Church had two cemeteries on opposite ends of Rochester. The first cemetery was given to the church by Peter Thiel in 1840. This one-acre lot was on the east side of Mt. Read Blvd. about a quarter mile north of Lyell Avenue and is usually called the Lyell Avenue cemetery. Very few burials were made there.
In 1843, Bernard Klem gave the Church some land to use as a burial place. This is usually referred to as the Goodman Street Cemetery as it was close to Goodman Street, but the exact location was south of the corner of the present day Palmer and Breck Streets near the railroad tracks. After Holy Sepulchre was established in 1871, St. Joseph's Goodman Street Cemetery was closed because of the New York Central Railroad wanted the property for a railroad yard. In April 1872, the remains were dug up, put in boxes, and shipped to Holy Sepulchre on the railroad. The fate of the people buried on the Lyell Avenue lot is not as clear but they may have been moved to Holy Sepulchre in 1898. The lot was sold in 1915 and by 1920 it was part of a housing development.
Other Catholic Cemeteries in Rochester were closed and moved to Holy Sepulchre. St. Peter and St. Paul's Cemetery was opened in 1847 and contained two acres on the corner of Ames and West Maple Street. It was closed in March 1876 because "further interments would not be conductive to the public health." In October 1898, 1300 to 1500 burials were moved to Holy Sepulchre. Holy Family Church opened a cemetery in 1864 on Maple Street near Glide. The last burial was about 1907. Approximately 600 bodies were moved from there to Holy Sepulchre in 1955. St. Boniface Cemetery was opened in 1866 on two acres on the southwest corner of South Clinton Street and Highland Parkway. In November 1955 about 1000 bodies were disinterred and moved to Holy Sepulchre. A photo in the Times-Union shows a steam-shovel taking off the top four feet of earth. A hoe was then used to find the graves. It also shows the bones being put into a box about two feet long, a foot high, and nine inches wide. None of the plots in Holy Sepulchre from these old cemeteries have any tombstones.
Information on cemeteries moved or mistreated in the rest of the county is scarce. In some cases it is known that the cemetery was moved, but not the location.
There was, at one time, a Cemetery on East Aveune in the Town of Clarkson used by the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Brockport. The graves were moved to the Brockport Cemetery sometime early in this century.
The North Greece Cemetery on Peck Road in Greece had many stones that were falling over and the town laid all the stones flat so they could mow the lot. Since then, mowers have broken many stones by running over them and parts of some stones have been scattered.
There was a Friends Cemetery in the town of Henrietta thought to be on lthe northwest corner of Calkins and East Henrietta Roads under the parking lot of Wegmans grocery store. The Friends seldom put tombstones on their graves so the exact location wasnt known. In August 1985 part of a grave was dug up while installing a sewer about 150 feet west of the corner.
The Hooker Cemetery in Irondequolt had its tombstones bulldozed and buried in 1960 in an attempt to improve the looks of the cemetery grounds. Restoration was begun in 1968. The tombstones have been dug up and the attempt to reconstruct them still continues.
On Union Street in Spencerport a very old cemetery was bulldozed in 1955 by the new owner of the property. He said there was nothing on his deed stating it was there. The dozer plowed down both the fence and the tombstones for the small cemetery containing about 15 graves dating from 1808 to 1823.
There was a Baptist Cemetery in the Town of Pittsford at the intersection of Mendon Center, Tobey and Calkins Roads. It was used until 1880 when 30 graves were moved to either the Pioneer Cemetery or the Pittsford Cemetery. The Beers-Billinghurst Cemetery on Mendon Road in Pittsford is now a housing development. It's five graves were moved to the Pittsford Cemetery in 1961. The Thomas Cemetery at the end of Fishell Road In Rush was demolished by the farmer that owned the land. He, for some unknow reason, threw most of the tombstones into Rush Creek. Fortunately the tombstones were copied in 1920 before the cemetery was destroyed, so some records do exist.
In June 1956 a small private cemetery containing four graves was moved from its location on the corner of Chili Avenue and North Road in Scottsville to the O-At-Ka Cemetery. There was one stone for Polly Hetzler who died in 1837. A school is now on that lot.
A small cemetery on Long Pond Road in Greece was called the Wagner Farm Cemetery, or Big Ridge Cemetery or the Orchard Cemetery. In 1966 tombsones had been toppled and the cemetery was in sorry shape when the land was wanted for the new Park-Ridge Hospital. Although there were only fifteen tombstones when the cemetery was moved, there were a total of 137 graves. The graves were reinterred in the Falls Cemetery on Latona Road and are well marked with a large hedge around the plot.
New York State has specific laws pertaining to the moving of a cemetery. A cemetery can be considered abandoned if no one has been buried in the cemetery in only twenty years. That would mean that at least half of the cemeteries in Monroe County could be considered abandoned. If the cemetery is abandoned and the Town wants to move it they must publish In a newspaper for two weeks: (1) the names of the persons to be removed, if known; (2) the name and location of the cemetery; (3) the name of the cemetery to which the bodies will be moved; and (4) the facts showing the reasons for the removal. If there are objections, a judge will decide whether the bodies will be removed. According to the law, any tombstones must be moved but that does not always happen.
The New York cemetery laws specify that all cemeteries must be fenced in and the grass and weeds cut at least twice a year. It is assumed that there is a board of trustees to care for the cemetery, but if there is not, the cemetery is the responsibility of the Town.
What really got me started in all reseach was the 1984 discovery of the Poor House Cemetery in Highland Park. What became of the bones dug up there? They are being studied at the University of Buffalo. They will be there until at least 1989 when they will be brought back to Rochester and buried in Mt. Hope Cemetery.
(Editors note: Another cemetery moved several years ago was the Bradstreet Family plot in Sea Breeze to make way for parking for "Sal's Hotdog Stand," corner of Culver Road and the then Irondequoit Street in the Town of Irondequoit.)
September - "THE CATHOLIC CHURCH RECORDS FOR THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINT'S (MORMAN) LIBRARY" - Dr. Roger Adams
At the time, in 1982. when St. Barnard's Seminary was sold to the Eastman Kodak Company, many parish priests were trying to keep up with the increasing requests for genealogical information from the public. Nazareth College was asked to become the repository for any archival material from the seminary and the parishes were finding it very expensive to microfilm their records. An idea was born - an agreement with the LDS Library allowed them to film the records in exchange for a free copy to be given to the diocese. The massive project was started in 1983 and completed in 1987. Some 120 parishes contributed their "books" by either hand carrying them from the newer churches or by crates that had to moved with fork lift from the other churches. Filming was allowed to include up to the year 1915, but some go further so as to complete a book. Nazareth College Library now contains 18 rolls of 90 thousand pages of records and is open to the public until midnight. A visitors parking pass is required. The film is located downstairs in the Media Center.
October - "ALLEGANY COUNTY, NY, HISTORY AND ITS PEOPLE" - Craig Braack
Craig Braack, Allegany County Historian, gave a talk and slide presentation on the history of the formation of Allegany County during the time when the settlers arrived from areas of Pennsylvania and also those known as "Yankees." Records for years prior to the 1880's are often not available as they were kept in the home of the town clerk and either lost due to fires or just misplaced. There is though, a tremendous amount of genealogical material at the library at the SUNY Ag. & Tech., in Alfred, NY. Mr. Braack also provided us with a handout listing the county's public libraries, the material contained in the county historian's office and the material in the county clerks office,
November - "COMING TO AMERICA" - Plimoth Plantation Pilgrims
The year was 16 and 27 and "we were there." Edward Winslow and his wife Susanna told of their religious discontent, a search for a new home and the journey that brought them to New England and the Cape of Cods in the year of 16 and 20. The presentation was done in the dress and dialect of the time and brought us thru the hardships incountered by this small band of settlers over a seven year period. Questions and answers followed the talk and were also kept to that particular time period. This very informative and often humorous program was given by Cindy and David Olsen of the Plimoth Plantation. They eventually did bring themselves into the present day, a difficult thing to do while still in costume, and spoke of their work at the Plimoth Plantation.
|
A SMALL NOTE Jim Roome This message is for those who send information in for the HEAR YE which is taken from recent publications, newspapers or genealogical publications. Please obtain permission from that particular journal that their material may be used in the HEAR YE. In this day and age one has to be careful of legel action being taken for infraction of copyright laws. As the Rochester Genealogical Society is not yet incorporated, the burden of suit would fall on the HEAR YE editor. |
ITEM OF INTEREST Alberta F. Young, Arlington, VA 22207 Subject: Death of Edwin Eleazer HOWARD Source: The Examiner, New York, Thursday, March 1, 1883 HOWARD - In Clifton, NY, Feb. 3rd, Mr. Edwin E. HOWARD in his 66th year. He was born in East Henrietta, NY Sep. 10, 1817, and had always resided in Monroe County. About twenty-five years ago he came to Clifton, where he continued to reside, conducting his merchantile business and performing his duties as postmaster, until the day of his death, He leaves a wife and two married daughters to mourn their loss; his only son, Lyman E. Howard, orderly sargeant in the Thirteenth New York Volunteeers, having given his life in his country's service at the battle of Gaines Mill in 1862. The deceased cherished a hope in Christ when quite young, and was baptized into the Clifton Baptist Church about nine years ago, dying in full faith in the hope he had held so long, and greatly beloved in the church and community. |
DORIS J. ANDRUS
Members of the Rochester Genealogical Society saddened to learn of the death on September 13th, 1988, of Doris J. Andrus. She had been hospitalized for a short time due to heart problems in Ormond Beach, Florida, where she and her husband had been retired for several years.
Doris will be remembered for her active participation in our society starting in 1975 and continuing until she moved to Florida, still retaining her membership.
Her involvement included: publicity chairperson in 1978-79, corresponding secretary 1979-1980 and president during 1980-1982. Doris was one of the people instrumental in initiating RGS service projects, such as indexing St. Luke's and St. Paul's church records.
Under her presidency she also introduced: (a) The "Buddy system" for those who would like help in researching and for those who would like to give help, (b) "Survey sheets;" a listing of members books and personal resources which they would be willing to lend, and (c) The publishing and sale of St. Paul's and St. Luke's church records.
Her dedication to genealogy was felt by everyone in our society. She will be missed by all of us who know her and by those who benefited so much from the work and knowledge which she generously shared.
VITAL RECORDS FROM THE MONROE REPUBLICAN (Rochester, NY) (continued from last issue)
Dick Halsey
(Note: Date refers to date that paper was published.
inst. = instant; ult. = ultimo = in or of the month before the present.)
One Cent Reward - Notice is hereby given that Jane SEELEY; has absconded from my service, on the 7th day of June. I hereby forbid all persons harbouring, or trusting her on my accounts, as I shall pay no debts of her contracting after this date.
Mary MATTHEWS, Pittsford
End of Vital Records from the MONROE REPUBLICAN
VITAL RECORDS FROM THE BROCKPORT FREE PRESS, Brockport, NY
Dick Halsey
(Note: Date refers to date that paper was published.
inst. = instant; ult. = ultimo = in or of the month before the present.)
Married in Clarendon on the 4th inst. by E. WARREN, Esq.; Mr. Sidney LOWEL of Sweden to Miss Mary Ann WHITNEY of the former place.
Married also on the 7th by the Rev. C. BATEMAN; Mr. Reuben LUCUS of Sweden to Miss Belinda FINCHER.
Died in Clarkson on Friday last, Mr. Eliphalet T. YOUNG, aged about 50 years.
Married in Bergen on the 20th inst. by SPAFFORD, Esq.; Mr. Thos. M. WICKS of this village to Miss Jennett BURT of the former place.
Died in this village on the 25th inst., an infant child of Aaron BUDLONG.
Married on the same day by the Rev. Mr. CLAPP; Mr. George BRYANT to Miss Sarah STAPLES, both of Sweden.
Married at the Baptist Church in this village on Sunday evening last by the Rev. H. DAVIS; Mr. Jonas WOODARD of Palmyra to Miss Eliza S. DAVIS.
Married in this village last evening by C. STAPLES, Esq.; Mr. Ezra H. GRAVES to Miss Phebe BROCKWAY.
Married in LeRoy on the 28th ult. by the Rev. Mr. MASON; Mr. Alanson MUNGER of Clarkson to Miss Margaret CULVER of Bergen, Genesee County.
Died in this village on Sunday last, Mr. Job HEACOCK, aged 69 years.
Married in Greece on the 23rd by the same; Mr. John PETERSON to Miss Jemima HENCHER.
Married likewise on the same day, in the same town and by the same; Mr. Preston PHILIPS to Miss Christiana GITCHELL.
Died in Ogden on Saturday 29th; George, infant son of Rev. Mr. SEDGWICK.
Married at the Brockport Hotel on the 16th inst. by the Rev. H. DAVIS; Mr. Alfred W. ATKINS to Miss Fidelia BROWN, both of Byron.
Married in Clarkson on the 24th ult. by John E. PATTERSON, Esq.; Mr. Horace WEISNER of Parma to Miss Ann BARTLESON.
Married in this village on the 24th ult. by the Rev. C. V. ADGATE; Mr. Isaac FAILING to Miss Paulina HOVEY, both of this place.
Married in Clarkson on Sunday evening last, by S. MEAD; Mr. Alfred COOK of this village to Miss Elsa REDMAN of the former place.
Married in Parma on the 23rd by Rev. C. V. ADGATE; Mr. Newton SMITH, Jr. of Eaton, Pa. to Miss Parmelia ATCHINSON of the former place.
Married in Churchville on the 24th ult. by the Rev. J. COPELAND; Mr. Philander HOWARD of this village to Miss Emily UTTER of Canandaigua.
Died in this village on Monday last, Mr. William G. J. BENNETT, aged 25, a native of the Isle of Wight, England.
(to be continued)
|
BRIGGS . . . PIERCE Aaron BRIGGS, Revolutionary War Pensioner, died likely in Ontario County, New York. Need date and place of death of
Aaron and wife, Rhoda Bowen BRIGGS? Also names of Children? Believe Aaron was my fourth great grandfather. Joshua BRIGGS, probably
son of Aaron and Rhoda Bowen BRIGGS shown above. When and where was Joshua born and where and when did he die? Names of children and siblings? His wife was Phoebe ----- who apparently died in Kalamazoo County, Michigan, 8 Mar. 1854. Believe Joshua was my third great grandfather. Sylvester BRIGGS, likely son of Joshua and Phoebe BRIGGS, died 30 Jun. 1869, Newaygo County, Michigan. Names of siblings?
His wife was Emma or Eunice PIERCE who apparently died in Ontario or Livingston County, New York as Emma or Eunice PIERCE BRIGGS prior to 1850. Need her date and place of death and burial? They were my great great grandparents.
Ervan J. Amidon, Lt.Col. USAF (Ret), 3782 Inchopee Trail, Traverse City, Michigan, 49684 |
CAUDLE My great grandparents resided in the Town of Gates and Rochester, NY. Henry CAUDLE died 6 Oct. 1913, his wife, May Allen
CAUDLE died 20 May 1910 in Rochester. Henry was a farmer and sold milk in town. They had five children:
Charles, Frank, Clara, Ida and my grandfather John Allen CAUDLE. John left home at age 18 after his mother died and didnt keep in close contact wit~h his family and nver talked much about them. Hes gone now so I am having quite a time tracing that side of the family. Kris McGregor, 626 13th N.E., East Wenatchee, WA 98802 |
| SAGE ... BROWN ... ARNOLD ... DUNHAM Seeking information on: (1) Julia Ann SAGE, born 9 Sep. 1818, New
York, died 10 June 1876, Bangor (Van Buren), Michigan. She was the wife of John S. purple, born 28 Feb.
1814, New York, died 4 Feb. 1892, Bangor (Van Buren), Michigan, married 14 Dec. 1837, in Cass County,
Michigan; (2) Lorenzo A. DUNHAM, born about 1810, New York, died 1 Feb. 1891, Coldwater (Branch)
Michigan, married to Ruth -----, born about 1817, New York; (3) Edwin John ARNOLD, born about 1836,
New York, died 25 June 1910, Edwardsburg (Cass), Michigan, was husband of Carolyn Julia BROWN,
born 9 Apr. 1846, Edwardsburge (Cass), Michigan, married 13 Sep. 1863 in Edwardsburg (Cass),
Michigan.
Marilyn Lane, 201 Flynn Avenue #3, Moutain View, CA 94043 |
To Volume 9, Number 3
To Volume 10, Number 2
Back to Hear Ye Archives page
