
No longer found upon modern-day maps, this forgotten cemetery on the border of Hanson, Pembroke, and Halifax had become my Holy Grail during the past year. I came upon a document from the late 1800s detailing it’s location and also found a map from 1879 which had it’s location marked.
For photographs and more info, see my USGenWeb Hanson cemeteries page.
Armed with lots of bug-spray and long sleeves, my mother (an avid supporter of these graveyard wanderings, one of the blesssed few to be enthusiastic about such ventures!) and I trekked down past the railroad tracks, cranberry bogs and airport, searching in hopes of stumbling across the cemetery. Eventually a piece of broken slate was spotted amongst the underbrush, and further exploration revealed a decent spread of stones, terribly overgrown, neglected – a dismal sight to see.
I recorded with paper and pencil as well as camera all of the stones I could find, although I know for certain that there are a number of stones which I missed – either lost in the brush or stolen along the years.
Update:
It seems that many years back my grandmother had also done some research here, and recorded what stones she could, including one that I did not see in my journey there. The epitaph (for Soviah, widow of Bethuel White, who died 12 MAR 1859, aged 81 years, 5 months, and 22 days) creepily reads:
My children dear, I pray draw near
A mother’s grave to see
Not long ago I was with you
And soon you’ll be with me.
Interesting to see that epitaph in 1859, echoing the oft-quoted older version:
Remember me as you pass by
As you are now so once was I
As I am now so you will be
Prepare for death and follow me