My understanding is that in New Jersey, family cemeteries are protected by State Law. I know in Montgomery Twp. that they certianly are, however annoyed a business or condo is that owns the property it sits on. You will find that most of these organizations are very ignorant about them, unless someone actually is associated with a family cemetery. Family cemeteries are also protected in PA. Many years ago, the woman who owned the land that the northern cemetery at Conewago near Gettysburg tried to sell or auction this as a "Historic Cemetery" and the law stepped in and stopped the sale. NC protects their family cemeteries, you see them everywhere in the middle of fields. I believe it is important that everyone who has family members buried in one of the cemeteries, even if there are only three stones standing, should become familiar with the laws of that state and township. It is very difficult when you live, even as I do here near Philadelphia, to keep an eye on the Dorland cemetery. We were once told it had been destroyed when a septic system was put in, however, that was not true. Farmers, builders, businesses, really hate family cemeteries unfortunately and they are often destroyed before any family member knows about it. Now sometimes, there is an agreement, especially in cities, to more the stones and bodies to a different location. In Ill. such a cemetery exists for the Steers family in the middle of the golf course and the golf course owner's maintain it beautifully. I am very sorry to hear about this destruction. Did they just remove the stones, or did they dig up family members also. If it is only the stones, which it can be difficult to reset them back in the correct location, you still might be able to check and see if any one has taken photo's and use those for restoration. Often people are extremely supersititous about cemeteries. When Lambert Dorlands family on Sunset Road, in Skillman, NJ was owned by a family back in the 1940's, they used it as a trash dump, and went out of their way to avoid it, best as they could. Family maintaining your cemetery in an attractive way, is essential, but doesn't always work. One year, a major company in NJ volunteered and came out to restore and clean up our Dorland cemetery, however, due to lack of interest of the family, distance from the cemetery, and the location of the cemetery its self as well as the rapid grown of tall grass, wild canes, it is back to dissappearing under a jungle ! of growth. Truthfully when the farmer who once grazed his cows there, departed, it all went down hill. At one time, we did have a descendant who was willing to provide an iron fence, but the woman in charge went about it in a way that took so long, he died before it was acomplished. The local boy scouts came out and put up a fence and a lovely sign but the farmer's cows knocked it down and destroyed it. Sometimes it is simply and completely frustrating. I know that Walter Baker of the Van Harlingen Society, made a map and completed brief sketches of all the local family owned cemeteries in Montgomery Twp., Somerset County, NJ. They really got to bat for their local cemeteries in that community. On the other hand the small Dutch cemetery in Park County Indiana where my grandfather Dorland is buried in on a farmers land, high on a hill over looking the Raccoon Creek and the only way we even found the location was because that farmer was kind enough to take us up there, w! here only two stones were left, Abraham Darlands and a Smock s! tone, pr obably gone now. But we have a map. I don't know whether or not, local historical societies are willing to become watch dogs over these cemeteries, when family members live a great distance away or not, but I was also under the impression, that family members do have access to them, and don't have to rely on "permission" to visit. Perhaps this is an area we all need to become familiar with, especially for NY, NJ, and PA. Judy Cassidy Oct 11, 2010 02:14:44 AM, [email protected] wrote: =========================================== In case you haven't heard, I wanted to share some sad news. About a month >ago, I received phone calls from the Asbury Park Press. Our Hendricks(on) family >300-year-old private cemetery in Holmdel, Monmouth County, NJ was completely destroyed >on the orders of the Board of Directors of the Beau Ridge Homeowners Assocation > (HOA). Even though this is a private, one acre lot on the old Daniel Hendrickson >farm restricted by will as a cemetery, the Board had most of the cemetery stones >removed and destroyed around August 24, 2010. Apparently, one of the Beau Ridge >Board members did not like looking at a cemetery from her 2nd floor condo window. > > > The whole Monmouth County community is outraged by the destruction of >the Hendricks(on) Cemetery. This is the same cemetery that some of you visited >with me on a bus tour during our 1999 Hendricks and Hendrickson Family Reunion to >celebrate the 300th Anniversary of Old Brick Church. Our family members William >Hendricks(on) and his brother, Daniel, are buried in the cemetery. They were among >the first settlers in Monmouth County, NJ in 1693 and were among the founders of >Old Brick Church in Marlboro, NJ (also known as Dutch Reformed Church of the Navesink >later Dutch Reformed Church of Freehold and Middletown. > >Attached are two front page Asbury Park Press articles: >target="_blank">http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20109120350 >target="_blank">http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20109070344 > >Apparently, NJ does not have laws which protect private cemeteries, only public >cemeteries. > >I am planning a Hendricks and Hendrickson Family Association meeting on a Saturday, > November 13, 2010. We will have a luncheon / picnic between 3-4 PM at >Old Brick Church in Marlboro, NJ. This will be followed by a lecture from 5- 6 >PM on New Netherland and the recent discovery of the Origins of the Hendricks(on) >family of Monmouth County, NJ. We will then have a family meeting from 6 PM onward >to discuss what to do about the destruction of the cemetery. The President of >the Holmdel Historical Society, George Joynson, believes that the cemetery can be >replicated based on photos and prevous studies of the cemetery. I hope you will >be able make this meeting. A church service at Old Brick Church will follow the >next day on Sunday, November 14th at 10 PM. > >A formal invitation will follow. Anyone interested in the Hendrickson Cemetery >is invited.. > >Andrew A. Hendricks, MD >President, Hendricks and Hendrickson Family Association > of Monmouth County, NJ > >------------------------------- >To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the >body of the message >