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HomeMy WebLinkAboutbrochure Driving Tour of Enfield Cemeteries1   Reference papers can be found in Cemetery records Town Clerk’s Office, Town of Enfield. NY. 1991 ​(Enfield Community Newsletter) ●January 1992 Cemetery Updike. Cemetery restoration begain in summer 1991 with community volunteers. 1992​ (Enfield Town Board Minutes) ●August 5, 1992 – Town Board appoints Cemetery Committee to create policy for Enfield Cemeteries. 1993 (​Cemetery Committee Minutes) ●January 27​ - ​Roger Laue reports expenses in cemeteries 1991 and 1992 ●April 28 –Cemetery Committee meets to draw up a job description of the person mowing and caring for the cemeteries. Greg Kirchgressner recommended to mow Rolfe Cemetery. Roger Laue handling burials requests, etc. Driving Tour of Town of Enfield Cemeteries Sue Thompson, Enfield Town Historian, 168 Enfield Main Road, Ithaca, NY 14850 – Historian@townofenfield.org​ 9/2015. STARTING POINT​: Enfield Elementary School - Millers Corners - 20 Enfield Main Road 1:Christian Cemetery Travel approximately 1/2 mile south on Enfield Main Road. The cemetery is on the right side of the road. Burials: Judah and Lydia Baker one of the first settlers of Enfield, and a revolutionary soldier. Oldest Recorded Headstone: Son of David and Rebecca Beach, who died September 7, 1827. Two unique headstones to look for are that of Rev. Jabez Chadwick and Lyman E. Brown-Both headstones have a photo cover plate on the head stone the photos are no longer there. This cemetery was associated with the Christian Church of Enfield (1821). This cemetery is the only “open” cemetery in the town. The Christian Church connected to the Christian cemetery was established in 1821. The church building was located in front of the cemetery its doors very close to what is now State Route 327, Enfield Main Road. You can see where the church was located by viewing an aerial photo at ​https://aerial-ny.library.cornell.edu​ photo ARU1-45, June 30, 1938. It is unclear if there were two church buildings or the first building was just 2     renovated in 1880. The building was sold and taken down in 1938 and transported to the west side of Cayuga Lake and converted into cottages and docks by Fred Frazer. Land was donated to the Christian Church in order to provide free burials to Town of Enfield residents by John r. Baker who was the son of Judah Baker (first resident of the Town of Enfield, a Revolutionary War vetranan ). 1 October 26, 1912 in Liber 176 of Deeads at page 518 and being that portion reserved in said deed to the parties of t he second part for a cemetery and for church purposes. Reference is here made to said deed for a particular descript. It being the Since the building was taken down the cemetery has been taken care of by families with relatives in the cemetery. More recently the Town of Enfield has supported the up keep of the cemetery by acquiring individuals to do the caretaker work. April 30, 1938 between Charles and Isabelle Teeter and the Christian Church and Cemetery Society (Tompkins County NY Deed 347 page 367) 2: Presbyterian Cemetery (Enfield Center Cemetery Association) (Enfield Center Continue 1-mile south on Enfield Main Road the cemetery will be on the left side of the road. Burials: The Bostwick family Andrew and Orson of Bostwick's Corners, settled in Enfield in 1820. John G. Wortman, settled in Enfield in 1816 their family owned Wortman Hall Enfield Center. This Hall was the original Presbyterian Church, which was located in front of this cemetery Oldest Recorded Headstone: Bethiah Newman, wife of James Newman died March 30,1828 Tompkins County Clerks Office Ithaca NY Incorportion book #1 page 55,. Incorporation of the Enfield Cemeteery Association of Enfield NY. June 11, 1888 - Attending the meeting were: James Marshall, Silas Harvey, John G. Wortman, Wm. M. Fisher, Joel Harvey, Wm. Barber, A. H. Porter, A.W. Griffin, Frank Barber, John W. Steele. 3: Harvey Cemetery Continue approximately 3/4 mile south on Enfield Main Road to Harvey Hill Road. Turn right onto Harvey Hill Road and go 3 miles till you come to Buck Hill Road. Turn right onto Buck Hill Road and continue for approximately 1/2 mile. The cemetery is on the left side of the road. Note: This cemetery is in the Town of Hector but Enfield community residents are buried here Burials: Samuel Harvey Family, settled in Enfield 1806. Oldest Recorded Headstone: John Ink who died August 28, 1815 1 Document written by Roger Laue, not dated, history of Christian Cemetery. Town of Enfield Cemetery Records, Enfield Town Clerk’s Office, Town Hall, Enfield Main Road Ithaca, NY 3         4: Rumsey Hill Cemetery Travel south on Buck Hill Road to Harvey Hill Road. Turn left onto Harvey Hill Road and go 3 miles till you come to Enfield Main Road. Turn right onto Enfield Main Road go approximately 1/2 mile to Trumbulls Corners Road. Turn right onto Trumbulls Corners Road go approximately 1/2 mile to Rumsey Hill Road. The cemetery is directly across from Rumsey Hill Road on the left side of Trumbulls Corners Road. Burials:​ The James and Martha Horton Rumsey Family, settled in Enfield in 1806 John and Elizabeth Nobles family, settled in Enfield in 1809. These families were connected through being neighbors and marriage. Oldest Recorded Headstone: George H. Nobles, 2 year old son of Squire J. and Hannah Nobles. He died 194 years ago, on September 20, 1821. Jacob and Jane Rumsey, son and daughter of Isaac Rumsey, who built one of the first known Mill at Enfield Falls in 1817 are buried here. Just a note that Isaac’s mill burned in the 1830’s and was replaced by Jared Treman, grandfather of Robert H. Treman and is the present Mill at Upper Treman State Park. There are 67 names recorded by Alan Chaffee, Newfield Town Historian in the 1980’s and Dora Pope Warden from the 1920’s. The first written reference for the ownership of the cemetery is found in the deed’s of the property dated January 1, 1900, property sold to Frank S. Stevenson from Lucy Gray (Deed book 153 page 571 Tompkins County Clerk’s Office, Ithaca, NY). It stated the a piece of land be “…reserved.. .. plot upon said premises formerly and now used as a burial ground”. This property was passed back forth between members of the Rumsey Family, Jonathan, James, Mary J. and others. Many of the owners are now buried in the cemetery. 5: Summerton Cemetery Continue approximately 3/4 miles on Trumbulls Corners Road till you get to Hines Road. Go straight on Hines Road. The cemetery is well hidden. This burial ground was originally marked with the existence of a vault. Unfortunately the vault is gone but the area is marked with a single headstone surrounded by many old varieties of trees and flowers. The stone has the following Summerton's listed as well as an Ervay John 1802-1891; Sally 1805-1890; Francis 1832-1913; Sophronia 1834-1906; E. Ervay 1865-1924 6: Woodard Cemetery Travel south on Hines Road to Woodard Road. The cemetery is on the right side of road almost to the State Park and not very visible. There are few head stones here. This cemetery is in relation to the Keturah and Charles Woodard family of Enfield Falls, 1821. Oldest Recorded Headstone: Potty Ogden who died October 13,1826. 7: Teeter Cemetery Travel east on Woodard Road turn left on to Upper Park Road go till you come to Enfield Falls Road. Turn right onto Enfield Fails Road go approximately 1 mile. The 4       cemetery is on the left side of road. Please note this cemetery is on private property and it would be a good idea to communicate with the owners before crossing their land. Thank you. This cemetery is in the Town of Ithaca however Enfield community residents are buried here. Oldest Recorded Headstone: Sarah Cook, wife of John Cook July 8, 1829. 8: Budd Cemetery Continue on Enfield Falls Road south to Gray Road turn left onto Gray Road go approximately 1 mile. The cemetery is on the left side of the road. Burials: John Budd Family, settled in Enfield in the early 1800's. Oldest Recorded Headstone: Gilbert L. Rightmire son of Daniel and Tamer who died February 26,1834. Unique Headstone: Henrietta Wickham grave is marked with tree trunk shaped headstone. Robert Wickham built and they operated the Enfield Falls Hotel. Budd School House was located at the front of the cemetery, closed in 1933. Deed July 2, 1835 between Gilbert Budd and the Trustees of the School District Number 20 of the town of Enfield for a public burying ground. Recorded April 24, 1859 Liber 68 of Deeds on page 463. Mary Gray wrote a will in 1929 leaving money for cemetery lot care. Tompkins County Trust Company started an account in September 16, 1941 with $300. The last date was June 1, 1954 with the amount of 345.22. 9: Gibbs Cemetery Travel south on Gray Road to Colegrove Road Turn left onto Colegrove Road go I mile to Bostwick Road. Turn right onto Bostwick Road go for 1 mile, go pass Sheffield Road. The cemetery is on the left side of the road. This cemetery is in the Town of Ithaca however Enfield community residents are buried here. Oldest Recorded Headstone: Oscar, son of Nelson and Mary Bowlby who died March 10, 1840 10: Rolfe Cemetery Travel west on Bostwick Road to Sheffield Road. Turn right onto Sheffield Road go 2 miles to Mecklenburg Road. Turn left onto Mecklenburg Road go 2 miles until you come to Applegate Road. Turn right onto Applegate Road go approximately 3/4 mile. The cemetery is on the right side of the road. Jonathan Rolfe, settled here in 1806, created this cemetery near his home (Applegate Road) for the town. On June 10,1876 a number of towns people met and elected nine trustees; and a society was organized and incorporated as Rolfe Cemetery Association. Burials: The Rolfe Family. John Applegate family of whom Applegate corners is named after. Oldest Recorded Headstone: Ephraim Rolfe, died May 27, 1818. Jonathan Rolfe (1773) came from South Amboy, N. J., in 1806, with his wife Susanna Ellison and four children, Reuben, Sally, Mary and Ephraim and settled in Enfield on a farm located on Applegate Road. He created a cemetery near his home now called Rolfe Cemetery. The oldest recorded headstone in the cemetery is that of Ephraim Rolfe dated May 27, 1818. Within the many books in the Town Vault is the Rolfe 5 Cemetery Treasurer’s Book and Rolfe Cemetery Secretary’s Book. The first date recorded in the treasurer’s book is July 18, 1873. By 1876 there was a recorded 154 burials in the cemetery. On June 10, 1876 the following residents met at the home of Ebenezer Haven to incorporate Rolfe Cemetery: Amos Lanning, James M. Lanning, Ebenezer Havens, Wesley Hulse, Leonard Murray, Squire B. Rolfe, Samuel Rolfe, Leroy H. VanKirk, Oscar Rolfe, L.B. Curry, Amos F. Curry, J.O. Carman. Amos Lanning was elected chairman and Amos Curry secretary. The trustees voted to meet annually the first Friday of June at 2 p.m. at the cemetery grounds. The trustees voted in were Ebenezer Havens, Samuel Rolfe, J.O. Carman, Simeon Rolfe, J.H. Thall, J.M. Lanning, A.F. Curry, Harrison Curry, and William Emley. 1879 the trustees voted to build steps at the gates of the cemetery, one at the old and at the new and also set post for tying teams. According to a deed dated August 16, 1893 from Squire B. Rolfe, grandson to Jonathan (1773) the land approximately 1 ½ acres, was legally given to the association. There was no note in the Secretary’s book referring to this transaction. It was also noted in 1894 that all lots were sold for cash only. Lots sold for $12 and were 154 feet in length. Throughout the years money was spent on repairing the fence around the cemetery, keeping the grounds in repair, and procuring salt to kill briers and weeds. In 1897 the trustees voted to set trees in the yard along the road. The road fence was sold in 1899 to Arthur Curry for $6.25, as part of the purchase he had to remove the fence and clear the ground for the new fence. On August 26, 1903, approximately 2 acres were sold to the association by Charles M. Clinton. A fence of American wire, bought from Biggs and Company, three feet high with a strand of barb wire was purchased to be placed around the cemetery in 1904. It was recorded that hay was taken from the cemetery every year. In 1904, four ton of hay was sold for $31.32 one half going to the cemetery. A map of the Cemetery was drawn in 1912 by Lynn B. Curry. The map was only a part of the cemetery. A work bee was held June 20, 1914 on the grounds of the cemetery to make needed repairs. E.L. Willis was authorized to finish the tool house at the cemetery. June 2, 1933 a motion was made and carried that the use of the strip of land owned by the association be given to someone in exchange for cutting brush and cleaning up the cemetery. A Motion was passed that the extra lot belonging to the association be sold if possible, June 1, 1934. On June 7, 1940 it was brought up again that the land south of the cemetery be sold. At a special meeting of the association on November 4, 1943 a motion was made and carried to have the incorporation be removed from the cemetery property. This was due to funds being insufficient to care for the cemetery. It was resolved to disincorporate the association so that the Town of Enfield could care for the cemetery. The last minutes recorded in the book were a meeting of the trustees June 2, 1944. The next page showed a statement that accounts were turned over to the Town of Enfield, S.H. Stevenson, supervisor, all cemetery books total of $635.78, this was not dated. On September 14, 1960 a special meeting of the Rolfe Cemetery Association held in the Town of Enfield a resolution was adopted by an affirmative vote of 2/3 of the members entitled to vote, the funds of the Rolfe Cemetery Association are not sufficient 6 to care for the cemetery and that the town of Enfield has agreed to take over and receive such funds as are on hand. Accounts were in the Ithaca Savings Bank, First National Bank, Tompkins County Trust Company. Listing of care of lots in the cemetery 2 were also listed. Further information: ​www.townofenfield.org​ – history The Enfield Town Historian's collection has a listing of burials for each of these cemeteries. Contact Sue Thompson, Town Historian REMINDER: Please be courteous and kind and obtain permission to cross private property to cemeteries. Although State Law says there is a right of way for access to these cemeteries, you should communicate with the property owners to find out what path to use. Thank you. Remember these cemeteries are our past, present and future records of history please be kind. . 2 Documentation of Cemetery Association September 14, 1960; Secretary Elsie Gould President Owen Rolfe; Pearl Rolfe. Enfield Town Clerk’s Office, Enfield Main Road. 7