More Small Cemeteries

Town of Charleston

Montgomery County, NY

Can anyone confirm the location of the small Town of Charleston cemeteries listed below and if they are still in existence? All of the lists, except two, were collected in the early 1920s by Edith (Van Heusen) Becker and Melvin W. Lethbridge. We'd also appreciate having information about any of the individuals listed.

1/2/09  Information about the Montanye's in Rockwell Farm Graveyard.

Contributed by Clarence Putman   "This cemetery, also in the town of Charleston, is located on Gordon Road, approximately 1 1/2 miles from NYS Route 30A. The cemetery is located on a small knoll to the right of the road. This is an old cemetery and some of the stones are difficult to read."

1. In Memory of Ezra Hillman
who died March 2, 1860
Aged ____ years 10 months ___ days

2. Permelia
wife of Ezra Hillman
Died Jan 25, 18__

3. In memory of
Shadrach Hillman
who died July 12, 1831
aged 63? years, 9 mo, 26 days

4. In memory of Prudence
wife of Shadrach Hillman
who died Feb 5, 1838
aged 65 years, 10 months and 19 days

5. In memory of
Sarah?
Wife of Joshua S____?(Shiff?)
who died Feb 4, 1834
aged 5_ years, 11 months ____ days

6. In memory of
Martha? Carey
who departed this life
May 5, 1833
aged 23 years & 12? days

7. Ruth L
wife of
C(G?) V Pul_ver
who died
Aug __, 1861
age _9 ys, 8 m, _9 ds

There are also 2 or three unreadable stones and several field stones.

Contributed by Clarence Putman   "This cemetery, also in the Town of Charleston, is located off the old Shibley Road, about 2 miles east of Logtown Road. There is a "Rural Grove State Forest" sign at the turn off Logtown Road onto Shibley Road. Shibley Road is a rough road. Adjacent to Shibley Road, 2 miles east of Logtown Road, there is a blue CEM painted on a tree. The cemetery is located about 700 feet south of this point following a small path from Shibley Road."

1. George R Shibley
Died May 31,1870
Aged 75 years, 1 mo & 13 days

2. David Shibley
Died April 23, 1872
in his 73 year

3. Clarissa
wife of David Shibley
died aged 57 years _ mos & 28 ds

4. Mahala Shibley
Died ___ 27, 187_
aged 82 years

5. Cyrena Shibley
Died May 21, 1899
Aged 86 years 1 mo. & 24 ds

6. Henry Shibley
(Broken Stone)
aged 91?years, 1 mo, __ ds

7. Caroline
wife of Henry Shibley
died May 3, 1878
aged 66 years & 16 ds

8. Between Henry and Caroline
unreadable stone

9. Small Stone
G.R.S.

10. Small Stone
J.S.

There were also a couple of unreadable stones and some field stones in this cemetery.

3/5/00  A more recent reading of the Quaker Graveyard was found in Vol. 253 of miscellaneous D.A.R. records from around NY State donated to the New York City Public Library in 1965. This second reading was made sometime in the early/mid 1960s by Mrs. Herschel C. Kilts of the Caughnawaga Chapter NSDAR of Fonda, N.Y. The reader will see missing family groups or persons whose names may have been on single stones in the early 1920s, e.g. Frances and Solomon Sharp. Although one shouldn't take for granted that absence of a previously-noted name on the new list means that the stone was gone, I'm going to make assumptions that 40 years later some stones were indeed gone, some were there but unreadable, others tipped over, and that persons might have been re-interred in other cemeteries during the interim. Mrs. Kilts tried to be thorough with this reading, including several field stones missed by Mr. Lethbridge, as well as making an effort to record accurate dates, ages, and inscriptions.

Notation for differences between readings:
** stone observed during 1960s reading that was present on 1920s list
++ stone not noted on 1920s reading
-- stone not noted on 1960s reading
[notes in brackets are commentary of mine, including info from the 2nd reading]

10/12/98 by Clarence Putman: "To find this cemetery go approximately 2 miles east from NYS Route 30A on Burtonsville Road to Goewey Road. Go 2 1/2 miles on Goewey Road to the end. The cemetery is located to the left of the road just before the turn around. I have nothing to add to the information already posted except some of the stones are in poor condition. The stone next to Rowland I had listed as unreadable now, with a footstone with M.B.B. I did not see the Mary Jane Bell Stone, so it may have been unreadable. Also, some of the dates on the other stones that were readable in the 1920's are now unreadable. "

1/2/09  "I went to see if you had any further information on the cemetery on the Rockwell farm that includes Abram Montanye and Hannah Conover and saw that you said to write if had further information. Hannah Conover/Covenhoven was the daughter of Abram Conover and Mary - she was b. 20 Dec 1806 in NY and d. 29 Nov 1888 in Charleston, Montgomery Co., NY. I have a copy of her death cert - although it is almost unreadable.

Just a FYI - Abram C. Montanye was the son of James and Keziah Montanye. Abram's brother was Edward S. Montanye who was married to Miriam Rockwell. All four were buried at that farm cemetery - Miram was the daughter of Rufus Rockwell and Hannah Abbey. Perhaps that might help you find the location of the cemetery. I would love to know if you every do find any further information. I am descended from Abram Montanye and Hannah Conover's daughter, Phoebe Ann Montanye - she was my great-great-great grandmother. I am also descended from the Gage, Gallup, Zeh, Montanye, Allen, & Swan families that were prevalent in that part of NY. My great grandfather (who I knew very well) was born in Duanesburg and moved to NE after the death of his parents in 1908 bring his siblings out to Phoebe Montanye Gallup. He eventually ended up in ID then OR. They (my great-grandparents) had 10 children - 8 of who are still alive. I look forward to seeing more improvements on the site!"

Carmen Johnson
My Genealogy Page

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