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Early 1900s Postcard of Ashland Cemetery at left |
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Notes on the History of Ashland Cemetery (a.k.a. Mountinview) submitted by Sylvia DENTON Smith, Town of Ashland Historian
Wellsburg, April 14th, 1873
At a meeting held in the Fishler Block on the evening of Monday April 14th, 1873 for the purpose of forming a Cemetery Association. Upon motion John Lowman was unanimously chosen Chairman ands. J. Kress, Secretary.
E. H. Goodwin moved that the name of the proposed cemetery be “Ashland
Cemetery”. Seconded by Jud Smith, the same was carried Ayes, John
Lowman, S. J. Kress, E. H. Goodwin, Jud Smith, J. V. Fishler, A. Aldrich,
E. F. Lummis.
Nays – None
Upon montion it was resolved that there shall be six Trustees elected
Upon a ballot the following were elected Trustees
John Lowman
John V. Fishler
Jud Smith
E. H. Goodwin
C. M. Stringer
A. J. Finch
Upon a drawing by the Chairman and Secretary the following classification was made. For the 1st. year, Jud Smith and Charles M. Stringer. 2nd year, John V. Fishler and E. H. Goodwin, 3rd year John Lowman and A. J. Finch
Upon motion it was unanimously voted that the Election for Trustees
shall be held on Easter Monday of each year.
The following were elected officers for the ensuing year
President John Lowman
Vice President John V. Fishler
Secretary E. H. Goodwin
Treasurer Jud Smith
Presne Jud Smith, John V. Fishler, John Lowman,, S. J. Kress, H. Goodwin, A. Aldrich, E. F. Lummis
John Lowman, Chariman
S. J. Kress, Secretary
A “List of Owners of Plots” is in the possession of the Association,
going back to the first, however, the date acquired is missing on may early
records. (Size and price paid is given).
A book of RECORD OF INTERNMENTS has been faithfully kept since about
the year 1912-3 (Any prior to this date are lost, destroyed or the location
of such record unknown).
The above information was gathered from Record Books, other loose material,
and conversation with present officers of the Ashland Cemetery Association
at the annual meeting held in the Wellsburg Fire Dept. Hall this 10th day
of April, 1950.
(Signature)
Harry B. Kelsey
Ashland Town Historian.
(This cemetery was sometimes erroneously referred to at times as Mountain-View
Cemetery)….H.B.K.
Handwritten: also equally in error as Old S….s Cemetery
Handwritten:
Cemetery Name
History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins & Schuyler Counties, New York
H. B. Peirce & D. Hamilton Hurt
Pub. 1878
Pg. 305:
The first burying ground was the one referred to above as the Baptist
grave-yard, which was purchased by the Baptist Society of Henry Wells,
for the sum of fifty center, January 4, 1812. It originally contained
“3 rods and 5 poles”. It has since been added to, and is now known
as the “Wellsburg Cemetery”. In it repose the ashes of many of the
old pioneers, notably those of Judge Henry Wells, the donor of the lot,
and his wife; Nathan Roberts and wife, interred in 1830 & 1818 respectively;
Joanna Parshall, aunt of Asa Parshall, of Chemung; Richard Comfort and
Charity, his wife; James Roberts and Mary, his wife; David Bush (this was
a misprint- Burt), and Hannah, his wife’ May A., daughter of Keziah Bently,
and many others. “Alpheus Gillett, a soldier of the Revolution, died
20th June, 1841, 81, 5, 9” is an inscription upon one of the old stones.
“May they rest in peace!”
Handwritten:
1803 Log Schoolhouse
H. B. K. in a letter to Mary Pashlya (Princeton Unies)
dated 11/4/51 -
The Land of the old Baptist church and cemetery was deeded to them
in 1812 by Abner’s (Wells) son Henry. (originally knows as the Chemung
Baptist Church” this society was organized in 1789 and believed to
be the first white man’s church – of any denomination west of the Delaware
river in New York State) however I fail to find the family connected
(in red “?”) with this church. The consideration for this land was
50 cents. One year price the family sold a log schoolhouse (erected
1803) and acre of the land to the trustees of Dist. 1, Town of Elmira,
(same vicinity) for 10 dollars.” (Margin Note: SEE OVER)
It appears that, at the time Harry Kelsey wrote the above in 1951 to
Princeton University, he was not aware of the information in the “ History
of 4 Counties” by Peirce and Hurd concerning the “… burying ground”.
I have always understood that the “old” cemetery was to be maintained
by the Baptist Church, - the “new” cemetery was the responsibility
of The Town of Ashland.
More research should be done here. A deed from the Church to
the Town should turn – else, does the Church still own the old cemetery?
The 1812 deed should be located too, for clarification of the Baptist Church
site land.
Sylvia DENTON. Smith
Location…Wellsburg, N.Y.; South of Baptist Church & South of old graveyard, West of present Ashland Cemetery;, North of entrance thereto, and East of present highway that forks to ascend “Cowell Hill” or south along the east side of Bentley creek. (At thime of deed this road lead to “Baldwin’s Mill---a sawmill(handwritten: ? grist) just over Penna. Line on Bentley creek.)
Grantors…Jonathan Roberts & his wife Mary, who resided in a house located just north of old graveyard and (then not yet erected) Baptist church, and east of highway (now Terrace St.).
Grantees…Abner Wells, Vine Baldwin and Henry Wells, Turstees and owners of the school house already reposing upon that location.
Date…December 3, 1811.
Consideration…$ 10.00 (Ten Dollars)
Witnesses…William Roberts and Henry Baldwin.
THE ORGINAL DEED READS AS FOLLOWS……..
“This Indenture made this third day of December in the year of our
Lord one thousand Eight hundred and Eleven between Jonathan Roberts and
Mary his wife of the town of Elmira County of Tioga and State of New york
of the first part and Abner Wells Vine Baldwin and Henry Wells trustees
appointed by the subscribers and owners of the School house in the first
district in the town of Elmira County and State aforesaid to receive a
deed in trust for said school house Ground witnesseth that for and in consideration
of the sum of ten dollars to them in hand paid the receipt whereof is her
by acknowledge have given Granted bargained and sold one certain piece
or pecel of land situate lying and being in the town of Elmira where the
School house now stands beginning at a bunch of hickory sapling standing
on the west side of the road that leads to Baldwins mills and running from
thence East two chains and forty eight links to a stake and stones thence
south one chain and nineteen links to a stake and stones then west one
chain and ninety four links to a shoemake thence northerly along the said
road one chain and forty links to the place of beginning containing one
forth of an acre of land be the same more or less together with all the
priviledges and advantages thereunto belonging or in anywise appertaining
to have and to hold the above mentioned piece or parcel of land as good
and sure and perfect estate of inheritance in fee simple for the s…l and
only use of the said school district to the said Abner Wells, Vine Baldwin
and Henry Wells trustees abovementioned and their sucessors accepting
(above accepting is word office) as is excepted in the orginal patent from
the State of New York and I the said Jonathan Roberts do bind myself and
my heirs Executors Administrators and assigns forever to warrant and defend
in witness whereof have hereunto set there hands and Seals the day and
year above written…
… the word Hundred above first line noton Before Sign sealed and the
words in office likewise.
Jonathan Roberts (seal)
…presents of
Mary Roberts (seal)
…liam Roberts
…ry Baldwin
Handwritten: This deed to the first schoolhouse deed (?) is included
only as a referral if ever needed to boundaries around graveyard.
S.D.S.
Roberts, Jonathan, son of Nathan, one of the first settlers of Wellsburg and a native of Ornage County, N.Y., was born in 1782 and came to Ashland ten years before his marriage. He cleared a farm near Wellsburg and died at the age of forty-five years. He served in the War of 1812. Mrs. Roberts married Mary, daughter of Abner and Catura Wells, and his children were Jasper, Henry, George W., John, Guy N., Abner, William, Isaac, Sally, and Caroline. George W. Roberts was born at Big Flats, November 5, 1808, and in 1834 married Sally Ann, daughter of Phineas and Polly Squires by whom he had these children; Phineas S., Addison P., George H., and Sarah F. His firs wife, Mrs. Roberts (handwritten margin note: Sally Ann), died February 21, 1886, at the age of sixty-eight years, and he married, second, Huldah Rathbun. Mr. Roberts is a resident of Wellsburg. He has served as justice of the peace in Chemung for four years and in Southport two years. He is eighty-one years of age.
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