Some Small Cemeteries by Mill Point

Notes about this cemetery from Dr. Charles Hoff, December 1, 1998: "Subject: Hoff Family Cemetery near Mill Point":

For some reason, I had not looked at the section on the Hoff Family Cemetery near Mill Point for some time and I was heartened to see from the attached notes that the site had achieved some interests among descendants of those buried there -- nearly all of whom were related by blood or marriage. I am calling it the Hoff Family Cemetery, since this used to be Hoff property and the Hoff graves are some of the oldest and certainly the most numerous. I visited the cemetery in the Summer of 1996 and found it pretty much as described by Jack Williams and Florence Millar. The Hoff's and collateral relatives tend to be buried in the southern and southwestern corner of the cemetary close to the periphery. Of course, I am assuming that the bulldozing in the 90's didn't displace these stones very much. Many of the Hoff names and dates on the stones are legible. Only one stone had been completely defaced by the elements and since this was next to the stone for Richard Hoff, Jr., it is possible it is the stone of his father, Richard Hoff, Sr. The latter was the first of the Hoff family to emigrate from Holland. I suspect this is Richard, Sr.'s stone because both he and Richard, Jr. are often coupled in historical records (e.g., they served together in the Tryon County Militia during the Revolutionary War). Anyway, since this site contains the remains of more than one veteran of the Revolutionary War, one hopes that the D.A.R. or some other organization will take an interest in preserving the site. [note: Dr. Charles Hoff passed away in 2005.]

Notes about this cemetery from Florence K. Millar, June 6, 1998: "Subject: Mill Pt Graveyard Re-visited ":

On May 18, 1998, several members of my family explored the graveyard on the Glen Road by the Mill Pt Bridge. Conditions were as described before by Jack Williams and myself. This time we forged in with clippers and found the area relatively open once we got past past the fringe of sumac. We were able to identify a number of stones and to set them upright. In particular, we located those of my own ancestors named on the Glen Cemetery web page (Garret and Rebecca Putman and Margaret Newkirk). The writing was remarkably clear, once we had scrubbed away the moss with sticks and ice, the only water we had on hand! We took a few pictures and determined to come back soon.

It looks as though there is enough interest in this graveyard to start some action toward at least preservation from further damage, if not full restoration. I have the name of the local DAR chapter head and will try to make contact with her this summer (Garret Putman is recognized for his service in the Revolution). I understand that New York townships are obligated to "keep up" these small private cemeteries and learned from a local resident that the Town of Glen had indeed cut the sumac several years ago. (Of course it's back now, bigger and better than ever.)

Notes about this cemetery from Jack Williams, June 6, 1997: Re: "Graveyard by Mill Point Bridge, Glen Road, on Farm Before Reaching Old Schoolhouse", Alice Shelp of Glen, my 5th cousin, and I explored the Hoff Cemetery on 5-26-97 and found it in a clump of sumac in the middle of a hay field. The one standing monument is of Henry Shelp 7-30-1789/10-5-1869 and his wife Lydia Parkes 9-9-1794/7-19-1837. All the rest of the stones are more or less horizontal, frequently face down and fragmented with sumac growing up densely through the pieces.

We also explored another small cemetery "Pruyne and Faulknor" on a bluff overlooking Schoharie Creek on Hughes Road. It is beautifully maintained by the present owner of the Van Horne property although he has no direct interest in the residents. Among the stones is that of Elizabeth Shelp, wife of Schuyler Van Horne, who died 3-6-1893.

The one I most wanted to find was not found. Henry's grandfather Christian, who is said to have been buried "between Shelp's four corners and Mill Point", which is where the Hoff cemetery is. Henry's mother, Catherine Connelly, is said to be buried in the Hoff Cemetery as well but neither Alice or I are mobile enough to have found her stone in the sumac wilderness. Jack Williams.

Notes about this cemetery from Florence K. Millar, August 22, 1997: "Re: the fourth small graveyard in the Town of Glen, for which information was requested - "Graveyard by Mill Point Bridge, on Glen Road":

I located this graveyard in May, 1990. The farm on which it is located is 3.1 miles from Glen on the north side of the road to the Mill Point Bridge, in the field east of the house there. The area of the graveyard had been bulldozed so that stones were piled up among trees and shrubs, and only a few could be distinguished and identified. The tall pillar of Henry Shelp could be seen from the road as the field was unplanted and hence empty in early May.

On a later visit it was not possible to see the pillar and thus to located the area without searching. No one was at the house on either occasion so I could make no enquiries.

My interest in this graveyard is because several of my ancestors are buried there:

GARRET PUTMAN (Captain in the Revolution)
REBECCA (GARRISON) PUTMAN (wife of Garret)
JACOB PUTMAN (son of Garret & Rebecca)
MARGARET (MOSCHEL) PUTMAN NEWKIRK (wife of Jacob; later re-married to John Newkirk)

I'll add these names and others to the surname list. Sincerely, Florence K. Millar