Fellow Genealogists - for families related to both sides of the Potomac River, up and down the B&O and C&O migration lines - Recently, St. James Catholic Church building on Commerce St. along the railroad tracks and near the Masonic Hall in Point of Rocks, was demolished along with the rest of the houses in that area (remaining only the Masonic Hall) just after the History in Motion May 7 event. However, prior to any removals, Maryland State Transit Authority required a final archeological study of all the area before any disturbance of the ground would be made for the expansion of the MARC parking lot. The firm of John Milner Associates, Inc. of Alexandria, Va. During what was considered a routine final survey and test dig of the area last September by JMA, Inc. - 4 unmarked graves were located in the back of the old Catholic Church. All construction plans for the parking lot were put on hold until the identification of these burials could be made and remains re-interred. Since that time, Sarah Traum, a researcher for this firm has been able to identify 4 possibilities for the burials from records of the St. Francis of Assisi Church in Brunswick, St. Mary's Catholic Churchs in Petersville, funeral home records, and several local residents who remember either the graves or talk about the graves. A serious attempt is now underway to locate any families of these burials before the planned re-interment at St. Joseph's Catholic cemetery near Buckeystown at the end of this month, June 2005. The following is a list of those JMA has identified, with census information they could find about the families. If you have any knowledge of any family member or background about the following people, please contact me at your first convenience so that the consulting firm can be informed, and family members can be on hand for the services. I have been selected as the local contact point, but if you would like to talk directly to JMA, please let me know and I will forward it to you. Thank you - and looking forward to learning more about this church and families for these possible burials. For more information about the individual suspected burial families, please contact me. If you could put as much information in an email - it would help to make sure I have the information correct, but if you want to call, please feel free at any time. Pepper Scotto 301-834-9907 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Information from JMA, Inc. - Sarah Traum to Pepper Scotto - draft Potential burials at St. James As St. James was a mission church, any records for activities at St. James would likely be located among the records of other churches, such as St. John in Frederick, St. Joseph in Buckeystown, or other nearby churches. Burial records from the late nineteenth century for St. Mary’s in Petersville Maryland (a town approximately six miles northwest of Point of Rocks) list five burials at Point of Rocks: September 18, 1895 Jessie Cross 13 years old, white “buried in Point of Rocks church [Lot]” (Burial Record of St. Mary’s Cemetery (BRSMC):12-13) Thomas-Elizabeth Cross family in POR in 1880, possible parents August 21, 1898 Charles Nichols 2 yrs. 8 mos., burnt buried in Point of Rocks Cemetery (BRSMCL:14-15) Charles-Lillie Nichols family in POR in 1900, possible parents - "station baggage" December 31, 1898 Noble Samuel Deane (no age or cause of death given) buried in Point of Rocks (BRSMCL:14-15) Wife Jane - and C&O boatman in 1860, later in 1870 to Washington Co., MD, 1880 in POR - children: Wm A., Noble Oscar, M. Effie. Member of Co B Loudoun Rangers - most probable identification for this burial. March 24, 1899 George Bush Typhoid Pneumonia Cemetery – “Point of Rocks – grave blessed in Prot. Cem.” (BRSMCL:16-17) George Bush was evidently not buried on the St. James property, as his grave was blessed in a Protestant cemetery. April 21, 1899 Margaret N. Funey 5 mos., bronchitis Cemetery – Point of Rocks Charles-Emma Funey from Frederick District in 1900 on census - with bro-in-law, William Hill, telegraph operator, living in same household - possible identification. ++++++++++ St. James Church closed for the last time in September 1978, and the two lots that are connected with the church were sold to Basil Whitaker of Point of Rocks in 1984. If you, or anyone you may know, has information about any of these possible burials, or other possible people who could be or have been buried in this graveyard, please contact me at your earliest convenience. This is a good time to compile a history of this church and the congregation. Anyone with knowlege of past members of this church, also, please contact me. Thank you, Pepper Scotto 301-834-9907