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.



52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy: Historical Documents

Which historical document in your possession are you happy to have? How did you acquire this item? What does it reveal about your ancestors?

I think the most prized historical document that I currently have in my possession are the military records of my fourth great grandfather, Seymour Haskins. 


Seymour Haskins was born January 1789 in New York as the fifth child of Jonah Haskins (Hoskins) and Comfort  (?). He had six siblings, namely: Unknown, Alexander, Levi, Jonas, Margaret, and Clorenda. He died January 1, 1878 in Amenia, NY. When he was 24, He married Freelove Mastin,daughter of Charles Mastin and Phebe Green,  They were married on July 4, 1813 in Amenia, NY.

Seymour Haskins was buried in Smithfield Burying Grounds, Amenia Town, Dutchess Co. NY. He lived around the Stanford-Amenia area of Dutchess county, New York, United States throughout his whole lifetime.

Seymour Haskins and Freelove Mastin had the following children:

1. Mary. She married Ralph Stockwell 25 Sep 1842.
2. Eliza Ann Haskins was born 12 Dec 1812. She died 06 Nov 1832.
3. Edmond P Haskins was born 01 Feb 1815. He died 10 Mar 1863.
4. George W. Haskins was born 17 Sep 1820. He died 21 Mar 1882 in Sharon, Connecticut. He married Mary E. McFarland 09 Sep 1847 in Smithfield Presbyterian Church. He married Sarah A. MacFarland 27 May 1864.
5. Velina Bockee Haskins was born 12 Mar 1829 in Amenia, Dutchess, New York, USA. She died 21 Oct 1919 in Baldwinsville, Onondaga, New York, USA. She married Joel Andrew Trowbridge 1845.
6. Frances E Haskins was born 1847.

I was able to obtain his War of 1812 Pension file from the National Archives based on a record that I found on Ancestry.com.  The record on Ancestry indicated that he was in the 2 Reg'T Artillery US Vols. company.  The file that I recieved contained 19 pages of information.  He was inducted as a Private and was discharged as a Corporal.

Some of the interesting things that the file included:

• His survivor's pension went into effect on February 14, 1871.  He was paid at a rate of eight dollars per month.
• There was a certification of his death which stated that he died in Amenia, Dutchess, New York on the January 1, 1878 leaving no widow or minor child and without sufficent assets to defray the expenses of his last sickness and burial and that the same were borne by George W. Haksins.
• It stated that George W. Haskins paid a sum of $30.00 to cover the expenses of his last sickness and burial.
• There is a record that states the solider Hoskins, Seymour ("Haskins") wife Hoskins, Freelove served in the Col 2 Reg. US Vols. It indicates he enlisted on November 20, 1812 and was discharged November 20, 1813.
• There is a record of the marriage of Freelove Mastin to Seymour on July 4, 1813. This means that they were married while he was in the military.

• There is a letter written by George W. Haskins identifying him as the son of Seymour Haskins which discusses the expenses that he paid related to his illness and burial.
• It includes the signature of George W. Haskins. (My third great grandfather).

• There is a record for Allowance From Arrears Due a Deceased Pensioner to Defray Expenses of Last Sickness and Burial.  Costs included:
• Sickness - $20.00
• Doctors - $ 15.00
• Grave - $5.00
• Undertakers -$34.00
• Total Costs = $74.00

• It includes Seymour Haskins' signature.

As far as what these document tell me about my family, I guess I can conclude that both my 3rd and 4th great grandfathers could read and write, which wold have been common for New England males during that time period. 

I would also conclude that Seymour died without having wealth or property.  I have never been able to find a will, maybe that is because he didn't have anything to will as his estate was unable to pay for full burial expenses.

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy : Week 1 Blogs

Blogging is a great way for genealogists to share information with family members, potential cousins and each other. For which blog are you most thankful? Is it one of the earliest blogs you read, or a current one? What is special about the blog and why should others read it?

What an interesting question?  There are so many different blogs that I enjoy reading.  I read most of my blogs on my ipad using my Flipboard app which is a wonderful way to read and enjoy different posts.  I'm not sure I can narrow it down to just one so....I am going to list a few of my favorites in no particular order.

Genealogy Tip of the Day
I am thankful for all of the little words of wisdom that Michael John Neill provides.  Each day there is something new to think about that can help guide your genealogy and family history research.  I can always take something away to help me be better.

Climbing My Family Tree
I am thankful for this blog because it is enjoyable to read and to get ideas.  The photos are beautiful and her design in creative.  I get ideas and use this as a tool for linking to other great blogs.

The We Tree Genealogy Blog
I love Amy Coffin's blog.  I get a lot of great ideas and advice.  I recently purchased her e-book entitled The Big Genealogy Blog Book which I have incorporated into my 2012 genealogy goals.  I hope her tips will help me improve my blog.  It was one of the first blogs that I read and still enjoy.

Geneabloggers
This is my go to website to find new blogs, blogging ideas and general information about genealogy and family  history blogs.  If it wasn't for this site my blog probably wouldn't exists. 

Genea-Musings
I am thankful for this blog especially for its Saturday Night Genealogy Fun events.  Every Saturday a new challenge is posted related to an activity related to genealogy and family history.  These tasks have helped me to work on my own family research.  One of my favorite posts that pushed my research was The Ancestor's Geneameme.