Quakers, or Friends, seldom have gravestones. I am working on a difficult to prove line of my family who lived in Adams and North Adams, Massachusetts. Before I go on a summer or fall adventure, I want to make sure that I know as much as I can about my family that lived there.
The Adams Historical Society has put a lovely page of information about the Meeting House. The Aylsworth genealogy published in 1887 states that this family and some descendants are buried in the Friend's cemetery at South Adams, MA. [p.132]
In small letters on the Meeting House page, it says Maple St. Cemetery, Adams. When I look at Find A Grave, I find a list of people buried there but not my ancestors. But, it may mean that there is a list of those buried without markers.
The genealogy simply says that "quite a few of the descendants of Warner and Susanna Aylesworth were buried in the Friend's Cemetery at South Adams, MA. A large natural granite rock affords a mark for the resting place of several of the family."
2 comments:
I have a lot of Quaker ancestors from Mass. and Maine. You need to see if anyone (historical society, library, etc) has the Friends meeting minutes for the area. It will show deaths, and removals, because it was recorded where folks moved to, which makes an excellent paper trail.
Midge - Haven't visited too many Quaker Burial grounds in NE, but have in PA and MD. Found lots of records, but few headstones. I know that if / when I want to research Quaker records, I head, physically or online, to Swathmore College in PA.
The headstone tradition, as I understand it, is no higher then 6 inches above the ground. Most of mine, in the 1700's and 1800's are now below the grass line. May or may not be visible. I was disappointed, but then looked into the tradition.
As Heather said "excellent paper trail". Not sure where you might find a collection in New England though.
Russ
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