HomeMy WebLinkAboutrolfe cemetery summer 2014 Sue thompson NL ArticleRolfe Cemetery by Sue Thompson, Enfield Town Historian
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 cemeteryis that of Ephraim Rolfe dated May 27, 1818.Within the
many books in the Town Vault is the Rolfe 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. Theall, 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 briersand weeds.
In 1897 the trustees voted to set trees in the yard along the road. The road fence was sold in 1899to 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 onehalf 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 againthat the land southof the cemetery be sold. At a special meeting of the association on November
4, 1943 a motion wasmade 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.