Brooklyn Daily Eagle 3 December 1874DESECRATION _____ Premature Resurrection in the Cannon Street Baptist Cemetery, E. D.
Have the Dead Any Rights the Living are Bound to Respect?- Ruthless and Forcible Removal of Remains- Horrible Scene- Indignation of the Relatives and Friends- Threatened Violence- Some Ancient Human Relics- Names of the Dead- Valuable Information for the Lot Owners.__________________
There is considerable excitement and much talk in the Eastern District and particularly in Bushwick, or Dutchtown, over the removal of the remains of the dead that have lain in a graveyard there for many years past. About thirty-tree years ago a corporate society known as the Cannon Street Baptist Church Society, purchased a portion of a track of land known as the Old CONSELYEA farm in the old town of Bushwick. This land they used as a burial ground, and it is known as the Cannon Street Baptist Burial Ground. It is situated on Humboldt, Withers and Frost streets, but when it was first purchased no streets had yet been cut through and no enterprising real estate speculators were in existence, to lay out imaginary streets, and give high sounding names to imaginary avenues. In these days Williamsburgh could only boast of one church, the Dutch Protestant Reformed Church, which is still in existence, and instead of streets there was one main avenue, known as the Old Road, where North Second street now is, leading from the only ferry to New York. Therefore when Mr. CONSELYEA was offered what he considered a high price for this tract of land, he did not refuse this offer, although it was to be converted into a graveyard. What mattered it to him whether it was to be tenanted by the living or dead, so long as he got his price for it? The price paid was about $400, although the church society now refuses to state the exact amount. Immediately after the purchase, in 1841 or 1842, the lot was fenced in an opened as a burial place for Baptists generally. As the church was then a very powerful one, the graves were quickly bought, and it became aPOPULAR PLACE OF INTERMENT
Indeed, it became such a favorite that in the poor ground they had to pile in corpses from seven to twelve feet high in each grave. As time wore on, naturally enough the neighborhood became more thickly settled and streets began to be opened, and Dutch groceries and an occasional lager beer saloon popped up here and there, until finally Williamsburgh was incorporated with Brooklyn. After the union the streets already mentioned as bounding the graveyard were cut, and houses erected on all side. The result was that the stench from the ground became so obnoxious that the property holders petitioned the authorities and an ordinance was put in force prohibiting the burial of any corpses within the city limits. This action did not in the least annoy the Society, as all the graves were sold. It only affected the grave holders. With a few exceptions where permits were granted, no corpse was allowed to be interred there, and as a consequence the place was permitted to go to ruin, the fences to be broken down, and it has for the past fourteen years been a pasture ground for cows, goats, hogs, ducks and chickens. On the east end a small house was built for a keeper, and a portion of the graveyard was fenced in around the house. In this enclosure were many tombstones which had once been headstones before they were effaced by the youngsters who also made it a playground. In the less favored portions of the graveyard many of the headstones were broken and the names on them defaced, while the holes made by the hogs were suggestive of something terrible. Since the new keeper took hold some time ago, however, things were kept in better order. The causes immediately leading to the removal of the remains from the ground were that since it became unremunerated for the Society they neglected paying the taxes, and, it was, of course, sold. Taxes accumulated again and again within the last sixteen years, and it was again and again sold, the last time being about two years ago. The parties who purchased it are said to be members of the Baptist Society. At any rate, these parties hold claim against it under the purchase, as the city could not give a title for a sale for taxes. The incorporators put their heads together last year, or early this year, to see how they could dispose of the property of the grave holders.THE FIRST STEP
was to go to Albany, and procure the passage of an act giving them permission to remove the corpses. Before doing this they ascertained that only a few of the lot holders had deeds, and of those probably had the deeds recorded. It is a well established fact in law that no person's title to a grave or any other property is good, except if it is recorded with the Register. The Baptist Society took advantage of this fact, and began the removal of the remains under the Legislature about eleven days ago. Before doing this, however, like keen business men, they advertised the contract for the removal, and after many bids, it is, as stated by the sexton of the church, that it was awarded to the Cypress Hills Cemetery Office Company for $8,000, not before, however, they had contracted with the Cemetery Trustees for ground to put the remains in for $4,000 more, making in all the removal and ground, $12,000. Now, the graveyard, which the Trustees, by a technicality of law, wrested from the real owners, measures 200 (transcribers note: could be 260) feet front on Humboldt street, (late Smith), 430 on Withers and 300 on Frost. At the lowest valuation, this property will be worth $35,000, leaving a net profit to the company of $23,000. The employees of the Cypress Hills Office Company, as before stated, commenced work about ten or eleven days ago. There are six or seven men at present employed, under the superintendence of Mr. John BOWLEY. The first two days were spent in stripping the northwest corner, taking in a space of about 100 by 75 feet, and exclusively devoted to colored people. This was a kind of Potter's Field for them. After the second day, the workmen began toRAISE THE BONES OF THE DEAD.
Here a sickening sight presented itself, as the skull and bones of the corpse of a poor darkey would be tossed out of the fresh earth, with as much nonchalance as Shakespeare's Grave Digger in "Hamlet" would do it. No sooner were the bones of the poor fellow consigned to the plain, short and deep deal box stationed there ready to receive them, then the skeleton of another and still another from the same grave would also be deposited there. It was found that fromSIX TO TWELVE CORPSES
had been buried in each grave. From early morning, when work commenced there were thousands of spectators present, including men, women, boys and girls, and the latter especially when school was over. The eager curiosity which they evinced in looking at the horrible sights of the skulls and the hair, or wool, adhering to them although the flesh had decayed, was disgusting. In one case part of the flesh was still on limbs when one of the grave diggers exclaimed: "boys, you see it was the whiskey that preserved him." This was followed by laughter. In every case the Superintendent looks at the plates where they are to be found and records the names &c., in a small account book. The number so far raised uo to Saturday night was 450. Some of these names are very strange ones. One old plate was picked up with the inscription: "Daniel FRANCIS, died October the 30th, 1853.AGED ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN YEARS"
Out of all the bodies so far raised only forty-five plates have been found, and therefore the other 400 must be forever lost sight of their relatives, if they have any. If no plate is found in a grave the remains are huddled into the same box with the ones in the next grave, there being in many instances the remains ofTWENTY HUMAN BEINGS IN ONE BOX.
This will forever efface any trace as to where they are buried. The reporter asked the Superintendent why he did not bury those in each grave separately and get the names, but the official significantly shook his head. The old residents express much dissatisfaction with the method of the removal. First, they allege that no grave owner has been notified and that the books are not to be found, the old sexton or keeper having detained most of them $50 due him. He resides somewhere in the State of New York at present. Others say that the books are detained fearing that if they had them they would be able to identify the various remains, and consequently would have to provide a separate box for them. This theory is generally credited, as the keeper is usually able to point out single graves where the white people are buried from the book in his possession. Indeed there are some very strange rumors afloat about jobbery in human remains in connection with this affair, not the least of which is that they want to economize the graves in Cypress Hills also by bunching the bones of twenty or so in one box. By this means some $2,000, it is alleged, can be saved. The following areTHE INSCRIPTIONS
on some of the plates picked up : Transcribers Note: Together names do NOT mean they are related. I chose to put the list in alphabetical order.
|
Surname, Name |
Date of Death |
Age in years, unless stated |
|
18 April 1855 |
8 |
|
25 Oct 1855 |
39 |
|
20 Dec 1853 |
31 |
|
20 Feb 1852 |
6mth |
|
22 Feb 1852 |
23 |
|
6 Dec 1853 |
1y 11mth |
|
15 Oct 1854 |
35 |
|
9 March 1853 |
45 |
|
2 Dec 1851 |
28 |
|
15 May 1856 |
25 |
|
20 March 1853 |
4mth 27dy |
|
26 Jan 1854 |
40 |
|
23 July 1850 |
60 |
|
26 Jan 1856 |
68 |
|
3 Jan 1852 |
3mth 8dy |
|
23 March 1853 |
46 |
If any of the relatives of these persons should desire further information they can they can call on the Superintendent, and as the plate on the box is numbered with a corresponding one in his book, he can point it out, but it is very questionable if even the intuitive instinct of a mother's affection could recognize the remains of a departed loved one from the jingling, rattling bones and skulls of the fifteen or twenty others in the same box. If she was desirous of erecting a tombstone, the one would have to cover all. As things are already getting a little warm for the Cannon street Society, as will appear further on, the friends of the persons whose names are mentioned in this
ADDITIONAL LIST,
will very likely demand further explanations. The names and dates of death are given, but the ages could not be obtained. How the names were procured the reporter is not at liberty to state, but it will be readily inferred that the Cannon street Baptist Society has nothing to do with it :|
Surname, Name |
Date of Death |
|
23 Sept. 1855 |
|
29 March 1853 |
|
26 July 1853 |
|
12 Jan. 1853 |
|
17 Jan. 1855 |
|
10 July 1855 |
|
16 Oct. 1855 |
|
14 Feb. 1853 |
|
30 Oct. 1855 |
|
1 Feb. 1855 |
|
18 Feb. 1857 |
|
10 July 1855 |
|
21 Jan. 1855 |
|
18 Feb. 1857 |
|
24 Aug.1855 |
|
4 March 1853 |
|
27 June 1855 |
|
28 July 1853 |
|
7 Oct. 1854 |
|
1 Jan. 1855 |
|
8 Aug.1855 |
|
13 Aug. 1853 |
|
14 Aug. 1853 |
|
26 March 1855 |
|
16 Feb. 1855 |
|
26 Nov. 1854 |
|
22 Dec. 1855 |
|
4 March 1855 |
|
5 Feb. 1855 |
|
2 Jan. 1857 |
|
2 Jan. 1857 |
|
12 Sept. 1855 |
|
20 Feb. 1855 |
|
5 Feb. 1853 |
|
24 Nov. 1854 |
|
1 May 1855 |
|
8 July 1855 |
|
2 July 1853 |
|
5 Sept. 1855 |
|
22 June 1855 |
|
16 Dec. 1855 |
|
26 Nov. 1854 |
|
21 Nov. 1854 |
|
1 Jan. 1855 |
|
4 June 1853 |
|
25 July 1855 |
|
12 June 1853 |
|
24 Oct. 1854 |
|
26 Dec. 1855 |
|
20 March 1853 |
|
15 Jan. 1857 |
|
16 May 1855 |
|
19 Feb. 1855 |
|
13 Nov. 1854 |
|
8 July 1853 |
|
4 Jan. 1853 |
|
2 Aug. 1853 |
|
2 July 1853 |
|
13 March 1853 |
|
7 Oct. 1854 |
|
12 Dec. 1854 |
|
2 July 1853 |
|
31 Aug.1855 |
|
27 Dec. 1855 |
|
7 Oct. 1854 |
|
21 Feb. 1855 |
|
26 March 1853 |
|
15 Feb. 1855 |
|
26 June 1853 |
|
9 Oct. 1855 |
|
14 Aug. 1853 |
|
27 Aug. 1853 |
|
6 Jan. 1853 |
|
11 Feb. 1855 |
|
4 Feb. 1857 |
|
26 Feb. 1857 |
|
19 Dec. 1854 |
|
25 March 1855 |
|
17 Oct. 1855 |
|
27 Aug. 1853 |
|
7 Aug. 1853 |
|
2 May 1855 |
|
5 March 1853 |
|
29 Sept. 1855 |
|
28 Dec. 1854 |
|
23 Sept. 1854 |
|
20 Nov. 1854 |
|
7 Oct. 1854 |
|
22 Nov. 1855 |
|
4 Jan 1853 |
|
1 June 1853 |
|
4 Feb. 1853 |
|
6 Feb. 1853 |
|
28 Feb. 1855 |
|
11 Jan. 1855 |
|
10 Oct. 1854 |
|
8 Jan. 1853 |
|
29 Oct. 1855 |
|
21 Aug. 1853 |
|
4 Feb. 1853 |
|
21 Aug. 1853 |
|
7 March 1855 |
|
27 Jan. 1855 |
|
11 Oct. 1854 |
|
7 Aug. 1853 |
|
27 Dec. 1854 |
|
8 Feb. 1857 |
|
17 Jan. 1855 |
|
25 Jan. 1853 |
|
1 May 1855 |
|
11 March 1855 |
|
1 Feb. 1853 |
|
2 Oct. 1854 |
|
22 Sept. 1854 |
|
18 Oct. 1854 |
|
18 Aug. 1853 |
|
19 May 1855 |
|
3 June 1853 |
|
10 June 1855 |
|
29 Jan. 1855 |
|
22 Sept. 1854 |
|
26 March 1855 |
|
25 Jan. 1855 |
|
1 March 1855 |
|
24 Dec. 1855 |
|
4 March 1855 |
|
21 Feb. 1853 |
|
27 July 1853 |
|
7 Oct. 1854 |
|
23 Aug. 1853 |
|
19 Feb. 1857 |
|
4 June 1853 |
The disinterring will probably take ten days more before all are removed. As before stated, the work commenced secretly, and the friends of the dead were in no instance notified. They did not, it is said, dare remove the white people first, but tried the Negroes to feel their way. For three days the work went on quietly, but on the fourth, anxious children, and brothers and sisters of the deceased white people began to make their appearance, and as all joined in
LOUD AND DEEP DEPRECATIONS
against the Cannon Street Society, the men in charge kept away. It was certainly heartening to see fond relatives, some of them tottering old men and women, who expected that their bones would one day lie in peace beside a departed child, cry aloud at the sacrilege. But it was not confined to tears and lamentations, for some of the more vigorous ones vowed vengeance on the first man who would dare to open the grave which belonged to them. The sexton told such that his orders were to do so when he came to them, and he would obey them. Among the plots is one where the remains of an old sea captain, named, J. E. TURNER, are interred. The plot is inclosed, by an iron fence, and the gate was broken open. There is no headstone or slab in the plot, but simply the name TURNER on the gate. This the gravediggers were laying their hands on, when the deceased Captain's brother, who lives in New York, came over, and just found them in the act of despoiling the grave. He instantly ordered them away, but they at first refused, until he threatened personal violence. A fight was about to ensue, and the hundreds of sympathizers who were present would gladly have joined but, the workmen left, and Mr. Turner went and purchased a new lock and has put it on the gate. He defied then to remove the corpse. As Mr. TURNER is one of the few men who have recorded deeds of their lots, the Superintendent concedes that he thinks he cannot remove the remains. Numerous others also will contest the right of the removal, and until the colored remains are gone through with the real fight will not commence. The few who have recorded deeds will procure an injunction if necessary, while those who have not say that they will die before they see the bones of their people removed. Possibly not more then one thirtieth of the grave owners have heard of the removal yet. Recently several came from New York, and instantly sought the keeper to find where their grave was. The names happened to be in the books he had, and after much trouble it was found out. The two men gesticulated wildly about disturbing the remains, but the keeper explained that he had nothing to do with it. They quickly got a small deal board and a marking pot, and printed in large letters : "IF YOU ATTEMPT TO OPEN THIS GRAVE let me know at least. Thomas GRAHAM No. 39 Hester street, N. Y." This he stuck in the ground. His friend put up a similar one. There are several of these up at present, one reading : "Don't open this grave until seen by W. SHERER, No. 381 South First street." One poor old man about eighty years of age came tottering along and asked the reporter if he was the keeper. Being answered in the negative he inquired for him. When pointed out he wanted to find the grave of his wife; he had forgotten the place being sick for some time and the goats tore up the mark he had placed there. The keeper easily pointed it out to him, having seen him praying there before. Tears again came to his eyes and he sobbed aloud. He said he could not stand it to remove her remains, as he had moved there on purpose to be near them. It was heartrending to see him. He turned to the reporter and said that he had heard strange rumors about how they were managing things there, and how books were gone, and how they were packing all the remains in deal boxes and burying them together. The reporter assured him it was correct and he again burst into tears and said he would watch his grave andCURSE THE MEN
who would desecrate it. Many scenes like this occur daily, and it is questionable whether they will be able to complete the work they have undertaken. Five or six parties brought their own undertakers and had the corpses removed at their own expense, fearing that they would be taken away during their absence. The names on the plates of two taken away were: James HUNT and SUSAN EDWARDS. There are manyHANDSOME TOMBSTONES
in the ground, one being a square granite inclosed by iron chains in a plot, and bearing the inscription : "John DUNCAN, native of Rothsey, Scotland ; born February 5, 1760, died March 2, 1848, aged 88 years." There are thirty or forty other pretty stones inclosed in iron and railings but some of them are now broken down and the names are not discernible. There is one at the west end, near Humboldt street, which is remarkable as the inscription recalls a sad explosion which occurred on the 4th of February, 1853, in a printing establishment on Hague street, near Pearl, New York. The boiler burst and killed and wounded all in the building, including Joseph HAMPSON, the man whose remains lie under the handsome tombstone. There are many other handsome stones, and some of them possess quaint and practical verses. On the tombstone of : Thomas MOWBRAY, died June 22, 1848 aged 34 years, 8 months and 6 days is the following : "Weep not, my wife and children dear, To mourn is now in vain ; But trust in God, and do not fear, For we shall meet again." Charles GOULD died January 16, 1847 aged 78 years and the inscription reads : "My flesh shall slumber in the ground, Till the last trumpets joyful sound; Then burst the chains with sweet surprise, And in my Savior's image rise." Rather expressive lines were on the tombstone of : Sarah Jane LEE died July 25, 1856 aged 20 years. and the inscription reads : "With silent lip, and faded eye, She sleeps to wake no more on earth: But in our hearts lamenting sigh, Sweet lives the memory of her worth. The task was hard performed that day, Where one so lovely to dust was given; But still we hope to see her smile, And hear her talk again in heaven. "Like a flower she faded away, Destroyed in all it's bloom; She left the world and all her friends, To moulder in the tomb. Live near to God, prepare to meet, Your loved friend at Jesus' feet." Wm. H. SLOCUM died December 13, 1852 aged 24 years and the inscription reads : "Farewell my friends, my race is run, My toils are over, my labors done. My years, as few, have sped their flight, To live in Heaven's eternal light." The widow of Thomas MILOS, had the following engraved on the slab covering the remains of her husband: "Rest in Heaven, my husband dear, And you, my darkling boy; From earth's sorrow thou art free, And entered the Saviour's joy." The touching lines here inserted were in the stone placed over the grave of Wm. M. CALLENDER died December 25, 1845 aged 37 years. and the inscription reads : "Adieu to earth, with all its woes, Its sufferings, grief and fears; I go where purest pleasure flows, Unspoiled by sorrows tears. "O happy state, released from pain, No more by grief oppressed; Who but would gladly die to gain That sweet and heavenly rest? "Ye tender babes, suppress your tears, Your father's gone before, To hail you in that world of bliss, Where ye may weep no more." Jane, wife of John CORSELL died July 6, 1845 aged 34 years. John CORNELL, the husband, has a separate slab, mentioning that he died June 4, 1847, aged 39 years. Abbey, the wife of Albert ROGERS died November 11, 1855 No age given. John W. C. COUNT the son of Thomas and Sarah died May 28, 1857, aged 27 years "A devoted son and erring brother." Mr. Joseph MERRILL'S, daughter, died May 14, 1851, aged 30 years. Jacob WESTLAKE died April 27, 1848 aged 55 years A handsome stone that was once inclosed in what once was an iron fence, bears the simple inscription : "In Memory of Phoebe McCARTHY" "I see the still." Abraham STORMS died October 26, 1833 aged 65 years William C. PHILLIPS died January 21, 1849 "He being dead, yet speaketh." Lucy Ann HALLENBECK died June 26, 1848 aged 31 years. Samuel D. FERNALD died July 1, 1849 aged 53 years. John JAMISON a native of Faughinwell, County Derry, Ireland died March 20, 1850 aged 24 years. His sister Margaret erected the pretty granite square monument inclosed in a lot. Ellen wife of Joseph W. STANLEY died June 30, 1846 aged 44 years. Ann Elizabeth JONES died March 27, 1855 Wm. Levi SLACK died April 19, 1855 aged 49 years. Caroline Louise Frederika LOWE July 23, 1853 aged 23 years Frederick HALSEY died October 12, 1854 aged 61 years. Thomas NATHAWAY died February 26, 1845 aged 17 years. Captain John V. PETER died January 13, 1846 no age. Oakey and Chartres BEEMERS children of Oakey and May died in 1849 and '51 respectively. Frederick William KNIPS died 1859 Thomas SANFORD died September 25, 1836 aged 63 years, lacking 3 days. Eliza SANFORD JAQUES died March 9, 1853 aged 15 years. Maria L. BUCKLEY died October 22, 1848 aged 38 years Edward and Oakley children of Wm. and Elizabeth CLAPPER died April 12, 1842 and February 1, 1848 in the order named. Joshua HAMPSON father of the man who was killed at the Hague street explosion, died August 31, 1849 aged 72 years. His widow died in the same year, at the age of 62. Margaret Ann, wife of Henry KNOBELAUCHY died December 17, 1868 aged 26 years. Ann Jane, the wife of F. G. DEAR died November 14, 1857 aged 36 years. Sarah Ann HUNT (on the bottom) "Mother" (on the top) is the only inscription on the tomb of Mrs. HUNT. Samuel Francis BUREN died January 10, 1844 Richard and Catherine BRADFORD'S son R. J. died November 4, 1844 aged 4 years. Ebenezer CLARK, Sr. died January 29, 1844 aged 78 years, 10 months and 14 days. Wife of Charles J. BETTS died May 24, 1846 aged 29 years. "She was all that a woman should be." In a grave beside her the remains of Charles J.'s second wife, Catherine S. died May 23, 1853 aged 25 years. "She was a friend, wife and mother." Mary Ann S. daughter of Daniel JACKSON died November 9, 1845 Benjamin LYNN died January 21, 1838 aged 28 years. Raphael A. SKINNER died January 19, 1851 Sarah Ann HERSEE died January 22, 1852 aged 1 year and 6 months. Martha Ann TOWNSEND died October 25, 1850 aged 33 years. Charlotte the wife of Joseph BRIGGS died October 10, 1850 aged 25 years George W. SPELLMAN died May 22, 1853 aged 14 years. Thomas EVANS died October 3, 1849 aged 30 years. Alanson HOWARD died September 28, 1850 aged 46 years. Joel JONES died January 31, 1848 aged 61 years. Charles DOBBS died August 18, 1849 aged 39 years. Lucy Ann wife of Morris LYNN died January 1, 1847 aged 31 years Jeremiah B. TRIPP died May 2, 1847 aged 28 years. Frances wife of John MILLEN died May 28, 1849 aged 45 years Joseph H. son of E. P. and M. H. CHAFFEE died April 11, 1849. The majority of the names on the tombstones at present standing are given above. For the information of the hundreds of people who may read this article and have relatives interred in this burial ground, it may be stated that the keeper expressed his readiness to assist them in pointing out the grave they may seek with the assistance of the few books taking in only seven years, at his command. Back to CEMETERY INDEX Back to CEMETERY INDEX Back to BROOKLYN Page Main