NY-IRISH-L Archives

Archiver > NY-IRISH > 2007-07 > 1184972258


From: "Clare Higgins" <>
Subject: Re: [NY-IRISH] expirences at graveyards...
Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2007 18:57:38 -0400
In-Reply-To: <5D1EAE80-34D2-11DC-A279-000A95875C8C@bellsouth.net>


Hi, Pat. Boy, that's some story. I admire your persistence. My father
never told me anything about his ancestors. It was my mother who told me
just a few facts. The biggest help to me was my grandfather, because after
he and both my parents had passed away I inherited all his family history
research notes, and they have been the launching pad for my own research. So
I had some help, but it sounds like you had to start from scratch!

My great-grandfather had three kids (my grandfather was the second of them)
and there was an eldest son named William. I suspect William, as the eldest,
may have been in charge of the burial. I've been in touch with William's
grandson, who is my age, and I'm going to write to him again and ask if he
has the original cemetery deed. Maybe there's a diagram showing who is
resting where!

-----Original Message-----
From: [mailto:]
On Behalf Of pat lewis
Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2007 9:58 PM
To:
Subject: [NY-IRISH] expirences at graveyards...

Prehaps an experience at grave yard where a little sign/rock was with
Mother -Father written was put there by the child or grand child, and
hopefully overlooked by groundskeepers who often take away anything
NOT supposedly given permission by Cemetery personel.

When I finally found out where my grand parents were buried ( Calvery
in NYC) it was in the 90's long after my Father had died and never had
told me where either of them were. Only thru my own search and finding
of death record did I find Grandmother who died in 1914, and sent for
her death cerificate, did I find she was buried there. It took a few
years to find the right match for my Grandfather ( 6 tries getting the
right one) since I got no answer at Calvery by phone ( from Florida), I
was told when I got the info to call back. Granfather died in 1926 it
seems, and yep, there he is in Calvery with Grandma -neither had I ever
known. A few years later a trip to NY/NJ, I was able to drive out to
the cemeteries and check headstones at Calvery and St. Johns. I found
all I looked for at St. Johns except one headstone with a missing name
on it that was paid for but never done of an aunt, there.
Not the cemetary fault, it was the funeral director who kept the money
because there were no direct relative to claim the body, mourn at
service etc. She had no children and only 3 nieces who found out days
later that she had died from the nursing home who notified us all in
different states. She had prepaid for all of the necessary things,
casket, 2 days of viewing, mass and trip from NJ to St. Johns in
Queen, NY, and the stone, paying $10,000, back in 1988. I have no idea
what she got for her money, but I can guess.

When I got to Calvery, I fully expected to find at least 2 headstones,
(hoping to glean some info as to where in Ireland they had come from)
on the 4 people I knew to be there....I
The other 2 people had no stones either, both females that died very
young. I found the area, and aisle and walked to and from a couple of
times reading the stones,, to find just empty ground, no stone, or
marker of any kind and Grandfather was a veteran of Sp/Am War so would
think,they would supply something by the VA.
Asking the cemetary i was told unless overdue back dues for keeping
grounds clean, by the owner of the graves, etc were paid no stone
could be put on the property, and so it is still. I did write to the VA
but never got an answer, but I now will do so again. Maybe they can do
something.
Calvery is noted for sending out bills to any inquiry about who is in
plot hoping you will pay.

So don't be surprised in going to visit if no stone is there.......and
good luck with your search
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