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Archiver > MDALLEGA > 2005-06 > 1117887727


From: "Pat Thompson" <>
Subject: (MDMONTGO) Point of Rocks -Cross, Nichols, Dean, Bush, Funey(Hill)
Date: Sat, 04 Jun 2005 08:23:50 -0400


Because I have seen queries about Cross and others looking for C & O Canal
workers, I thought I would post this interesting article.
-----------
Fellow Genealogists - for families related to both sides of the Potomac
River, up and down the B&O and C&O migration lines -

Recently, St. James Catholic Church building on Commerce St. along the
railroad tracks and near the Masonic Hall in Point of Rocks, was
demolished along
with the rest of the houses in that area (remaining only the Masonic
Hall) just
after the History in Motion May 7 event.

However, prior to any removals, Maryland State Transit Authority required
a
final archeological study of all the area before any disturbance of the
ground
would be made for the expansion of the MARC parking lot. The firm of
John
Milner Associates, Inc. of Alexandria, Va.

During what was considered a routine final survey and test dig of the
area
last September by JMA, Inc. - 4 unmarked graves were located in the back
of the
old Catholic Church. All construction plans for the parking lot were put
on
hold until the identification of these burials could be made and remains
re-interred.

Since that time, Sarah Traum, a researcher for this firm has been able to

identify 4 possibilities for the burials from records of the St. Francis
of
Assisi Church in Brunswick, St. Mary's Catholic Churchs in Petersville,
funeral
home records, and several local residents who remember either the graves
or talk
about the graves.

A serious attempt is now underway to locate any families of these burials

before the planned re-interment at St. Joseph's Catholic cemetery near
Buckeystown at the end of this month, June 2005.

The following is a list of those JMA has identified, with census
information
they could find about the families.

If you have any knowledge of any family member or background about the
following people, please contact me at your first convenience so that the
consulting
firm can be informed, and family members can be on hand for the services.
I
have been selected as the local contact point, but if you would like to
talk
directly to JMA, please let me know and I will forward it to you.

Thank you - and looking forward to learning more about this church and
families for these possible burials. For more information about the
individual
suspected burial families, please contact me.

If you could put as much information in an email - it would help to make
sure
I have the information correct, but if you want to call, please feel free
at
any time.

Pepper Scotto
301-834-9907

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Information from JMA, Inc. - Sarah Traum to Pepper Scotto - draft

Potential burials at St. James

As St. James was a mission church, any records for activities at St.
James
would likely be located among the records of other churches, such as St.
John in
Frederick, St. Joseph in Buckeystown, or other nearby churches. Burial
records from the late nineteenth century for St. Mary's in Petersville
Maryland (a
town approximately six miles northwest of Point of Rocks) list five
burials at
Point of Rocks:

September 18, 1895
Jessie Cross
13 years old, white
buried in Point of Rocks church [Lot]
(Burial Record of St. Mary's Cemetery (BRSMC):12-13)
Thomas-Elizabeth Cross family in POR in 1880, possible parents

August 21, 1898
Charles Nichols
2 yrs. 8 mos., burnt
buried in Point of Rocks Cemetery (BRSMCL:14-15)
Charles-Lillie Nichols family in POR in 1900, possible parents - "station

baggage"

December 31, 1898
Noble Samuel Deane
(no age or cause of death given)
buried in Point of Rocks (BRSMCL:14-15)
Wife Jane - and C&O boatman in 1860, later in 1870 to Washington Co., MD,

1880 in POR - children: Wm A., Noble Oscar, M. Effie. Member of Co B
Loudoun
Rangers - most probable identification for this burial.

March 24, 1899
George Bush
Typhoid Pneumonia
Cemetery Point of Rocks grave blessed in Prot. Cem.
(BRSMCL:16-17)
George Bush was evidently not buried on the St. James property, as his
grave
was blessed in a Protestant cemetery.

April 21, 1899
Margaret N. Funey
5 mos., bronchitis
Cemetery Point of Rocks
Charles-Emma Funey from Frederick District in 1900 on census - with
bro-in-law, William Hill, telegraph operator, living in same household -
possible
identification.

++++++++++
St. James Church closed for the last time in September 1978, and the two
lots
that are connected with the church were sold to Basil Whitaker of Point
of
Rocks in 1984.

If you, or anyone you may know, has information about any of these
possible
burials, or other possible people who could be or have been buried in
this
graveyard, please contact me at your earliest convenience. This is a
good time to
compile a history of this church and the congregation.

Anyone with knowledge of past members of this church, also, please contact
me.

Thank you,

Pepper Scotto
301-834-9907


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