Wayne County PAGenWeb Cemeteries -
A Brief History
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Taken from the book titled, A History of Sterling, Wayne County, Pennsylvania, by Rev Garford F. Williams, pages 35-36 The first cemetery or burying ground known to be in the present township, was the Methodist Church yard. This was the site of the home of Matthew Bortree, and it is thought that he is buried (approx. 1807) on this spot with several of the early settlers and their families. The second burying ground in Sterling is on the farm of George A. Howe, on the turnpike, south of the barn on the left of the road. The only distinguishing thing of the spot now is the slight knoll where perhaps thirty of the first settlers and their families are interred. George Stevens, David Noble and wife, Valentine Stevens and wife, and others were re-interred in the present Sterling Cemetery, or their marble slabs were removed if the bodies were not. Some of the Cliffs and Stevens as well as others are still buried here. The third burying ground in Sterling is the present one, which was begun in 1860. The money used to purchase this "God's acre" was given by the Trustees at the Methodist Church out of the estate left by Edward Mullensford. The Gilpin Cemetery, now in Dreher Township, situated northeast of the East Sterling Church was begun in 1823. The earliest grave stone is that of James Dobson who died January 23, 1823, aged 41 years. Richard Gilpin St., gave the land for this cemetery and is buried here. The Hazelton Cemetery is just over the line in Dreher township. It was donated as a private cemetery in 1857 by Abram Hazelton who was buried there in that year. The Catterson Cemetery is located in Sterling Township, on the road west from the village. The .land for the cemetery was given by Robert Catterson...The oldest stone is that of Matilda, wife of John Sheerer who died April 19, 1839. The Zion Cemetery was begun in 1846...Aaron Nelson and family, colored, are buried in this cemetery. Rev. Mendenhall is buried here. The oldest stone is marked 1846. The Mullensford family is buried in this cemetery. They were English and died without heirs and left their entire property to the Methodist Church in Nobletown. ------end Compilation Copyright Linda Blum-Barton August 2008 - Present - All Rights Reserved.
This site was last updated on -05/29/2009
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