Christ Church Cemetery
&
Manlius Village Cemetery
A Cemetery within a Cemetery
Along the Cherry Valley Turnpike,
In the recently sectioned off section of land named
Manlius,
Would grow up a village of the same name,
Manlius where it connected with the Seneca Turnpike,
This road is labeled "Genesee Road"
on the above map.
Who was Manlius named after?
This Roman General:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Manlius_Capitolinus
This Roman General:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Manlius_Capitolinus
A military name for a village that would host a military academy
and whose cemetery would would keep the
remains of veterans from
many wars throughout US history.
Christ Church was incorporated in 1804.
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~nyononda/CHURCH/MANCHRCH.HTM
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~nyononda/CHURCH/MANCHRCH.HTM
It is the oldest original
Episcopal Congregation in Onondaga County,
meeting in this building since 1813
meeting in this building since 1813
and on this site since 1832.
The first location of the church building was next to the old cemetery.
The first location of the church building was next to the old cemetery.
But the question always comes when a new town is settled:
Where do we bury our dead?
"The Christ Church cemetery officially began on March 4, 1813 when Eleanor Mulholland and her son-in-law, Thomas Derbyshire, deeded 60 rods of land in lot 98 to the wardens and vestrymen of Christ's Church for a burying ground. They stipulated that this land was to be a public burying ground for the inhabitants of the village of Manlius and its vicinity. One half of the property was to be used for the interment of strangers and poor people."
~Find A Grave/ Christ Church Cemetery PDF
For more info:
So the land here would not solely be for church members only,
nor village residents,
But opened to all
as everyone deserves a respectful burial.
Now on the National Register of Historic places
this cemetery located within Manlius Village Cemetery.
But how did it get surrounded like a odd military conquest?
The Manlius Village Cemetery acquired land around it
over the years as the need for more land,
and a touch of the rural cemetery movement
made the need to expand this cemetery
and give it an access road.
"On March 12, 1813 James O. and Hannah Wattles and Ralph R. and Abigail Phelps conveyed identical lots to the wardens and vestrymen of Christ's Church. These properties were in lot 87 and lay directly north of the Mulholland/Derbyshire burial ground. Ten feet from the east portion of the Phelps' sale and an equal amount from the west side of the Wattles' property were to be used for a lane leading northerly from the south line of lot 87 to the Seneca Turnpike. The 427' lane was to be enclosed with a strong and decent fence. At the time the turnpike was farther south than it is today. Numerous alleys ranging from five to fifteen feet were created over time, and the 20' lane was extended southerly."
"On March 12, 1813 James O. and Hannah Wattles and Ralph R. and Abigail Phelps conveyed identical lots to the wardens and vestrymen of Christ's Church. These properties were in lot 87 and lay directly north of the Mulholland/Derbyshire burial ground. Ten feet from the east portion of the Phelps' sale and an equal amount from the west side of the Wattles' property were to be used for a lane leading northerly from the south line of lot 87 to the Seneca Turnpike. The 427' lane was to be enclosed with a strong and decent fence. At the time the turnpike was farther south than it is today. Numerous alleys ranging from five to fifteen feet were created over time, and the 20' lane was extended southerly."
Find-A Grave/ Christ Church Cemetery PDF
Being able to get into the cemetery is good for those to buried
and for those following the procession.
By 1874, access to the main road was more than just a laneway.
Eventually, the land would be acquired to the east and across the road
setting the boundaries of the Village Cemetery as they are today,
surrounding Christ Church Cemetery.
The oldest burials are within the boundaries of
Christ Church Cemetery
"The earliest burials in Christ Church cemetery area occurred before the church bought the property. They were Eliza Tousley, daughter of Betsey and Sylvanus Tousley, who died June 10, 1809, age seven months and an infant of Hannah and James O. Wattles, age seven hours who died March 25, 1809. According to Joshua Clark, a child of Abigail and Ralph R. Phelps also was buried in the Phelps' section before 1810. This would have been Mary F. Phelps, who died on March 29, 1806, age seven months. References to William Ward being the oldest burial in the cemetery are in error. The Ward cemetery originally was on W. Seneca St. in today's Kinloch Cemetery area. William Ward, who died in 1795, was reinterred in Christ Church cemetery sometime before 1821."
Life was hard for military tract settlers.
Outliving your children was a very real possibility and reality.
But still a hard thing to move forward
But still a hard thing to move forward
through.
Children were no less valued in times past.
They were the hope of the future.
While Sylvanus Tousley's name might not ring a bell with many,
One of the buildings he helped
One of the buildings he helped
build as a blacksmith is quite familiar:
He helped construct the First Onondaga Courthouse on Onondaga Hill!
There is the burial of Stoughton Morse whose name might not ring a bell,
but did crack one in death, sort of...
Morse "Was a quartermaster and served in the State militia and in War of 1812. He was in Lt. Col. Isaac Hall's regiment in 1809 and Lt. Col. Jacobus De Puy's regiment in 1811. After his move to Manlius, he again served as a quartermaster in 1814. He was an innkeeper at Mansion House from 1815 until his death. This well-known hotel site lies east of the Christ Episcopal Church parking lot. Around the time the Church was moved in 1832, the hotel became a residence. At his funeral, the church bell of Christ Episcopal Church cracked."
~Find A Grave
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/12961579/stoughton-morse
~Find A Grave
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/12961579/stoughton-morse
Another early settler and veteran was:
(pic by LaDon Brennan)
Dr William Taylor
"Dr. William Taylor as conspicuous among early physicians,
of whom there were several. He was six years in the legislature."
He even donated the funds for one of Christ Church's first stained glass windows.
Glass was expensive.
Stained glass was extremely costly.
Rarely would a church do all of their windows upon opening.
Slowly as the church could afford it
or parishioners paid for one in honor or in memory of someone,
only then could a church add stained glass.
Taylor's window and others that were added over the years can be seen here
A good read about the windows:
“If you would not be forgotten, as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things worth reading, or do things worth writing.” ~Ben Franklin
Azariah Smith took this proverb to heart.
Just a read of his biography shows a lot of living compacted into
61 years walking among his fellow men
61 years walking among his fellow men
And then there is the sweet epitaph of the couple who died but days apart:
Dr William Manlius Smith and his wife Frances
"Lovely and pleasant in their lives,
and in their death they were not divided"
Their son Allen is buried at Arlington.
In the Manlius Village Cemetery portion,
there is
Walter William Cheney,
businessman & public servant
Ralph and Ada Wheelock,
Dairy Farmers
And then there were those who died overseas
among his fellow soldiers
in service to our country
Jay E Cross was only 20,
Jay E Cross was only 20,
and died six months before the Armistice
and brought home three years later to be
buried among family.
He is buried with his parents.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/23912330/jay-e-cross
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/23912330/jay-e-cross
There is John Ryan
the banker and veteran
whose marker is on the left side behind the bush.
the banker and veteran
whose marker is on the left side behind the bush.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/24680929/john-r-ryan
The beautiful marker but sad tale of a family man gone too soon,
The beautiful marker but sad tale of a family man gone too soon,
Steve LeBeau
who owned a local hardwood company.
Also the newer section, there is a marker to an unknown
Revolutionary War Soldiers buried here.
Unknown, but still remembered.
Here is a Tour Guide put together by Christ Church
about some of the veterans interred here.
Stop by and check out their stories for yourself
And the tradition of personalized grave art
continues on in the Hagerty
monument.
While living to 91,
Patrick Heagerty spent those years doing things worth the writing:
"Patrick was foremost, a gentleman, devoted husband, father and grandfather. He was proud to serve our country. He was a decorated veteran of the US Army during WWII having received the Silver Star, Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts, The Combat Infantryman's Badge and was honored by the French Government in 2004 with the Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur. Pat was especially proud of belonging to his band of brothers, the Dogfaced Soldiers, who served in the 3rd Infantry Division, Company I, 15th Infantry....
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/169254965/patrick-donnel-heagerty
Patrick Heagerty spent those years doing things worth the writing:
"Patrick was foremost, a gentleman, devoted husband, father and grandfather. He was proud to serve our country. He was a decorated veteran of the US Army during WWII having received the Silver Star, Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts, The Combat Infantryman's Badge and was honored by the French Government in 2004 with the Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur. Pat was especially proud of belonging to his band of brothers, the Dogfaced Soldiers, who served in the 3rd Infantry Division, Company I, 15th Infantry....
Pat's deep passion for history made him a revered educator, impacting countless 8th graders during his 39 years of teaching, primarily at Wellwood Middle School in Fayetteville, NY.
Those who knew Pat well knew his kind, accepting way with people. He was a captivating storyteller. He loved reading the New York Times on a daily basis and attempted to complete the crossword puzzle in every issue right until his final days. Pat was a man of simple pleasures and was known to enjoy a pint of Guinness now and then with his friends at the "Duck" Pub in Manlius, or a hot chocolate at Barnes and Noble. With skilled and steady hands, he created beautiful, complex model ships. He was a communicant of St. Ann's Church."
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/169254965/patrick-donnel-heagerty
And then,
sometimes,
a temporary marker
becomes the permanent one.
Grief and life sometimes get in the way.
Grief and life sometimes get in the way.
The meaningfulness of our lives
are not accurately measured
in the number of days
lived,
but by breadth we are loved.
Little Robert Bullard only lived on this earth a day
and yet he was loved.
His life made a difference.
It was marked.
A stake in the ground as tiny as the young life
to say
"I was here, don't forget!"
His life is remembered in his daddy's obituary:
It was marked to remind people,
that no matter how fleeting,
he mattered:
He had been here among us.
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