52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy - Week 9: Cemeteries

Week 9 – Cemeteries: Genealogists understand the full value of cemeteries and appreciate them in ways most others can’t see. Share a cemetery or cemetery experience for which you are most thankful. What makes this place special? What does it mean to you and your family history?



A trip to a cemetery is one of my favorite genealogy activities.   Cemeteries are such a vital resource for those studying their family history.  I could spend hours wandering around looking at headstones and discovering interesting facts.  My friends think I'm crazy but I see it as a place full of so many stories and treasures just waiting to be told.

My favorite cemetery is the Smithfield Burying Grounds in Amenia,  NY.  I was so excited when I discovered the transcriptions of the headstones but when I got to visit it for the first time it became that much more of a treasure.  The Smithfield Burying Grounds is where my 3rd, 4th and 5th Great Grandfather's on the Haskins line are buried.  I have been able to piece a great deal of my family's history based on facts that I've gotten from this cemetery.

Here are the transcriptions of my family members that are buried in this cemetery as they appear on the Smithfield Burying Grounds website.

DRAKE, Edmund P., d. Nov. 16, 1842, ae. 68.
DRAKE, Sally Ann, wife of Edmund P., d. Sept. 4, 1857, ae. 75 yrs., 3 mos., 5 dys.

HASKINS, Comfort, wife of Jonah, d. Oct. 26, 1840, ae. 78 yrs., 9 mos., 20 dys.
HASKINS, Jonah, d. Jan. 29, 1816, ae. 54.

HASKINS, Frelove, d. Dec. 1, 1869, ae. 82 yrs., 7 mos.
HASKINS, Seymour, d. Jan 1, 1878, ae. 89.

HASKIN, George W., b. Sept. 17, 1820, d. March 21, 1882.
HASKIN, Mary E. MacFarland, b. Feb. 23, 1829, d. Feb. 20, 1863. Wife of G.W. Haskin from Sept. 9, 1847, to her death.
HASKIN, Mary E. dau. of G.W. and Mary E., d. March 26, 1863, ae. 2 mos.
HASKIN, Sarah A. MacFarland, b. Aug. 30, 1838, d. Feb. 25, 1881. Wife of George W. Haskin from May 27, 1864, to her death.

HASKINS, Edmund P., d. March 10, 1863, ae. 48 yrs., 1 mo., 9 dys.
HASKINS, Eliza Ann, d. Nov. 6, 1832, ae., 19 yrs., 11 mos., 25 dys.
HASKINS, Margaret, d. Oct. 17, 1863, ae. 66.
HASKINS, Phebe J., dau. of Levi and Laura, d. Dec. 5, 1850, ae. 2 yrs.
HASKINS, Sarah Ann, dau. of Levi and Laura Ann, d. Feb. 25, 1853, ae. 1 yr., 3 mos., 20 dys.