Regarding this message from Jan. 2002: --- Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2002 14:28:55 -0800 From: "Anita Hayes" <[email protected]> Subject: [NYWYOMIN] Town of Sheldon Cemeteries St. Mary Queen of the Rosary RC Church Cemetery, Strykersville, Town of Sheldon: This cemetery is associated with St. Mary's which was organized in November 1885. Two acres of land southwest of the village was purchased in 1887 for a cemetery. --- County Historian Harry S. Douglass wrote ("Strykersville Sketches", 1958): "Doubtless at the formation of the church, a cemetery was laid out just to the west of the Strykersville community burying grounds. The earliest tombstone death found is that of Andrew Kuster who died October 30, 1885, a few days before the formation of the parish." My gr-gr-gr-grandparents (Metzger) died in July and September 1885 and are buried at St. Mary's (their gravestone is still very readable; Douglass probably missed it in 1958). Their funerals (and Kuster's) are in the records of St. Cecilia's in nearby Sheldon - which do not mention burial in Strykersville, but it seems that priests often "forgot" to document burials not made in their own cemetery. The LDS microfilm of funeral records for St. Mary's begins in April 1886. If anyone is familiar with St. Mary's Parish and can help me sort this out, please let me know. I would like to establish whether the Metzgers were buried there in 1885, or buried elsewhere and moved to St. Mary's later. Thanks.