Local History by the Sharon Historical Society - Sharon Historical Society Cemetery Project

The Sharon Historical Society Cemetery Research Project was a compilation of nine years of work from about 1998 to 2007. Committee members: Sandra Manko - Chairperson who coordinated the project, Bernadetta Vrooman who set up the data bases and compiled the information, Barbara Cousineau who checked tax records for ownership and obtained permission to visit sites, and Omer Cousineau who wrote directions to the sites and whose invaluable assistance in digging up and lifting fallen tombstones, cutting brush, plus chasing bugs and snakes, allowed us to complete this project. Many other people willingly volunteered their time to tromp through poison ivy and brush to help read the engravings from the gravestones.

As a starting point, the Committee used reports prepared in the 1930s by the Daughters of the American Revolution and recorded at the Old Stone Fort in Schoharie. The project expanded greatly from there. As local people heard of the project, they referred additional cemeteries to us to check out and research. What we thought would be a two-year job stretched over the next several years. 

The end report gives the location of each known cemetery and the data listed on each stone. If stones were not found that were included on the 1930s lists, we included the information but indicated the gravestone was not found by us. Many times we located stones that were not on the lists from the 1930s and included the additional information.

The cemeteries vary in size from as little as one stone in the Reformed Church Cemetery on Route 10 to the large Slate Hill Cemetery at Sharon Hill and Sharon Cemetery at Leesville. The Committee took hundreds of photographs of individual stones and the photographs are on file at the Sharon Springs Free Library. Anyone wishing information on a particular stone, family or cemetery can go the Sharon Springs Free Library and request a copy of the required information for a minimal copy fee. We are optimistic that within the next couple of years this cemetery documentation will be transferred to our new Museum facilities which will include 

a historical library and research center. 

We continue to document any cemeteries in the Town of Sharon as they are found. In total the

committee researched and documented the data from 68 cemeteries: Sharon Cemetery at Leesville, Slate Hill Cemetery in Sharon Hill, 40 small cemeteries within the Town of Sharon, in addition to cemeteries in adjacent communities which border the Town of Sharon: 4 cemeteries in the Town of Canajoharie, 5 cemeteries in the Town of Carlisle, 5 cemeteries in the Town of Cherry Valley, 6 cemeteries in the Town of Roseboom, and 6 cemeteries in the Town of Seward.  We are currently in the process of updating and reformatting the cemetery data in order to get the information added to the Historical Society website so it is easily accessible for people doing research. Following is information on a few cemeteries.

Gilbert’s Corners Cemetery is on White Road, just off Gilbert’s Corners Road. The cemetery is located in a clump of trees, not fenced in, and overgrown. There are no stones with writing that could be found, however, there are eight to ten fieldstones that appear to be used as grave markers. The graves are thought to be those of early settlers who lived in the Gilbert’s Corners area. No other information is available.

Honey Bee Road Cemetery was told to be located on Honey Bee Road. It was reported that the cemetery was at this location. No stones were found. Several people were contacted who have lived in this area for years. They do not remember the exact location of the cemetery nor do they remember seeing any stones.

It is thought that Indians had been buried in this area. No other information is available. If anyone has further information, please contact the Sharon Historical Society.

Peleg Barber Cemetery has an unusual history to it. Peleg Barber, a Revolutionary soldier, died 1837, and it is believed that he is buried on the Clausen Estate, Route 20, Sharon Springs. According to a letter from Emily Bell, dated May 25, 1902 to her cousin, Nancy Cross Engle, Mr. Barber enlisted at Hoverton R.I., served two years and was granted a pension, which he applied for in 1832. Peleg Barber bought the Peter G. Best farm in 1824 and when he died in 1837, his heirs transferred the farm to David Eldredge, later to be the Clausen Estate.

The letter also states two old men, life-long residents of Sharon Springs, knew Barber well and knew where he was buried. Both men (John Harper and Williard Hitchman) said Peleg was buried in the little plot on the knoll in back of the house at the Clausen place. Emily Bell went to see both men and they both told the exact spot. Also, the man who took care of the grounds told [to Emily Bell] the same.

There had been a large white marble slab with his name but it got broken. An uncle in Rhode Island told of an apple tree, sawed close to the ground, was at the head of Peleg’s grave.

It is believed that the grave was on the knoll between the water towers on the Clausen Estate and what was later Manor Home for Adults and what is now Country Manor Inn Bed and Breakfast, although the grave could not be located in 1902 and could not be found now.

Argusville Wives Cemetery There is a small cemetery in Argusville near the corner of Hoyt Road

and County Route 5A, called the Argusville Wives Cemetery for the four “wives” buried there.

Lydia, C. Wife of William I. Gardinier, Died 1849

Caroline, Wife of Albert Barns, Died 1852

Harriet, Wife of Gilbert L. Gordon, Died 1850

Susan, Wife of Henry J. Brown, Died 1851

The postcard shows the residence of the Clausen Estate, now Country Manor Inn Bed and Breakfast. Grave of Peleg Barber thought to be behind the Country Manor Inn Bed & Breakfast.

The Sharon Historical Society is now in the process of scanning all of the cemetery records in and around the Town of Sharon. These records will be placed on our website and will be searchable by name, cemetery, lot number, etc. Where available, the records will have photos of the tombstones, birth and death dates, maiden names, tombstone inscriptions, and GPS locations.