Cooke's Burial Ground, South Strabane Twp, Washington County, PA This is a very small & old burial ground and I'm wondering how it would be determined "where" to bury the person in the 1900's?? Who might have been the mortuary to handle the last burials in Cooke's Burial Ground: 1930 - Samuel Mull 1939 - Sarah J White Appreciate any help.

Burials kind of follow this unwritten, unofficial "process": 1. Families first made "burial grounds" on their own properties. Maybe a corner of unused land... maybe a quiet or beautiful spot on the acreage.... maybe the "favorite place" of the (first) deceased....or maybe the "first" to die picked out the exact spot before death, stating "Well, Mary, that's where we'll be laid to rest together" as husband and wife looked over the spot. 2. Family members want to stay with "family". The "first" to die likely told other close family of the wish that other close family would be buried "with" them (with the first to die). So the first to die were maybe grandparents or parents. The second to die were parents or children (eg. grandchildren of the "first" died). 3. Babies who died before or at birth with a mother during or near labor were often buried "together" in one coffin or side by side, in the "family plot". The family plot continues to grow/enlarge. 4. Stillborns, babies who died shortly after death, and the very young begin to be added. 5. While the "family burial ground" usually continued as "somehow related", sometimes someone "close to" the family died but that person had no family. Maybe the "friend" rented land (so no permanent burial space). Maybe the friend was a boarder/laborer who worked on the "family's" farm but had no where to "go". The "family" decided to bury this friend/worker in the "family burial ground". That New Orleans fellow in Cooke may fit this scenerio, as a boarder working the "family's" land. 6. As long as history goes back, there was always transient people. They "came from" here, moved to there and there and there, and were at whatever place when they died. At the same time, human emotions have hardly changed throughout history. So whether from pity, compassion, Christian "duty", or to look good to the neighbors/community, a family may have been asked or outright gave permission to allow a non-family burial in the family burial ground. That New Orleans fellow in Cooke may fit this scenerio. 7. The original land owner may have started the "family burial ground." Let's call that family SMITH and married-ins of GEORGE, McMICHAELS, THOMAS, and McMURRY. But eventually the Smith's homestead with "burying ground" is sold to a non-relative, the TICKLE family. The "burying ground" is already started from the SMITH's and all their burials. So when the TICKLE family starts to die, they decide the original burying ground will expand. 8. At different years in mostly the late 1700s-early 1800s, churches were built. They were often built near the burying ground of the original land owner. So "The Jesus Methodist Church" simply applied its name to "The Chestnut Burying Ground".... and church members started to be added to that cemetery. The "Non-Profit statue did not begin until the early 1900s so churches were "organized" at one date but were not legally "chartered" until the early 1900s. As a layman, the cemetery always belonged to X church... but were only legally associated in the early 1900s---- unless an earlier deed specifically stated the "burying ground" as part of the sale. NOTE: Not all burying grounds were taken over by churches; Some lands were privately bought so the cemetery may or may not have been mentioned in the private deed. Church plots were sold "by subscription" to church members ONLY, usually a lower price than at city cemeteries. Exceptions were made though by church vote to accept a burial under certain circumstances. 9. Communities began "official" cemeteries in the mid to late 1800s. There may OR may not have been any first burial before a City bought land and declared it to be a cemetery. Many did include a "first burial" of the original landowner. These cemeteries were for: a) people whose churches had no cemetery; (b) people who did not care about being buried in a ceme connected to their church of worship; (c) people who weren't church members (d) poor or indigent (e) unidentified dead (f) mass casualty (ex. miners). City cemeteries were easier to get to than rural cemeteries; they were within the city limits; the roads were better; equipment was kept on site; the dead could be stored in a mausoleum if the ground was too frozen to dig the grave; etc. City cemeteries often charged higher rates for plots though than "church affiliated" ones. Families often needed to pick out plots at younger ages; plots were sold "first come first served". 10. Anyone can request a burial, even NOW, in any cemetery that still has an overseer or board. You ask, pay the plot fee, and "own" a piece of land (or the location retains "ownership" but agree you'll be buried there for the price you paid as a contract rather than a "deed". So in terms of choices, these factors also played a role, especially before: 1. Distance - When rural farms were the norm, burial was from the house to the field. As cities grew, city cemeteries were more convenient. Church affiliated cemes versus City Cemes is personal choice if the person is/was affiliated with a certain church. When trains came, people could transport the dead from another city or state to go "back home" if it was a (a) personal wish (b) plot was already bought (c) or, family wishes. NOW, planes transport bodied. Ex. A relative of mine was born in PA where she "owns" a plot next to her parents' graves in PA; She wishes to be buried with them; she moved to Florida; when she dies, family will tell the mortuary to arrange transport by plane to PA and arrange a mortician to pick up the body at the airport; services can be anywhere... burial will be with her parents. 2. Available transportation - includes road conditions, weather, which season, money, (wagon to now cars), etc. 3. Available money for burial -- Burial is the least planned for, least saved for, expected expenditure in life. More people need to save for their own burials, but few do. 4. Family interest or involvement - No family, the person is buried locally, often in the cheapest way. If family and money, options are endless. I'm sure other people can think of more factors. These are ones I can think of now. Judy