Restoration of family Cemetery
Donation protected
 I have been doing genealogy since 1995. I looked 22 years to find My 3rd G.G. F. , which led to my 4th GGF Worden Babcock who died (abt 1854) and is buried in a family graveyard with 5 of his family members in Scipio, NY on a farm off Hunter Road and Rice Road. I went to NY, found that the cemetery had been plowed under. The tombstones were moved and discarded only a farm field is left. The farmer died about 5 years ago and his two sons took over. The cemetery was created by my Grandfather Worden Babcock's will, so there was no actual deed. I had to go to the county courthouse and look up the other deeds that surrounded the cemetery. (to make sure it wasn't deeded out.) It measures 42.25 ft x 42.25 ft square.
Talking to the present owner of the land surrounding, he has reluctantly agreed to let me do things that I am legally entitled to do. Like visit cemetery, have it surveyed. Slowly I am re-establishing the cemetery. He claims no knowledge of cemetery and he is not helping any way he can.
New York is rich in American history. Our family is part of that history. Worden organized his own company to fight in the 1812 war. He was extremely active in starting his Methodist church. His son fought in the civil war.
The estimated expense:
I saved $1500 to $2000 by doing my own title work) I have ALL the deeds of the surrounding land, each having the cemetery exception in them. Ownership is still in the Babcock family.
Surveying, marking and filing with the county - $750-$1000 (surveyed but not registered, waiting on advice from an attorney.)
Ground scanning (to find actual 5 to 7 graves in the cemetery) - $1600/day, I Hope to do it in fall 2018.
Install cement grave caps over the graves for protection.
Grave Markers (Boulders with Bronze Plaques) 5 graves x $2500 for $12,500 or one big monument. It depends how they laid out the graves.
FindaGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2404869
This is not including any legal cost which will be billed at $250/hr. I have retained an excellent local attorney.
I would like to thank Bernie Corcoran, for all the expert help he has provided me with endless hours of support! More family history, deeds etc. can be found at http://www.cayugagenealogy.org/Babcock/
Thanks to other cousins who gave clues and effort!
What's next?
Well, I cannot do much planning or design if I do not know how they laid out the graves. This is my main focus now to move forward. I would like to see the preservation of the actual graves and historical monument located somewhere acknowledging graves.
Side note: I am not a Charity, I am a direct descendant. To set up a cemetery board... I would have to get an attorney and 4-5 people to be on board.
(more cost and in a state far away for me to do the maintenance. Too much of a hassle, but I and you can donate to the cemetery) ALL LEFT OVER FUNDS NOT USED WILL GO FOR PERPETUAL MAINTENANCE township of Scipio
I live in Minnesota, New York stipulates that all cemeteries are non-profits and are tax-exempt charities. If you have questions on that or anything pertaining to a legal tax question, (as to if these donations are tax-deductible, please contact the state of NY. https://www.dos.ny.gov/cmty/
Just think how you would feel if your deceased loved one's grave was plowed under. It is a helpless feeling. I just hope that they buried them far enough down that the farming has not disturbed them. I am going back in October to start reconstruction. (Even if I have to start with a shovel and a wheel barrel.) If you can, please help with any amount. It is a worthy cause.
And one final note, the present farmer, a descendant of the family that bought the farm from my family during the depression, claims to have no knowledge of cemetery (even though he signed a deed in the 80's). As I tried to explain, I am not trying to hurt their family. They are nice people. They have the point of view that they are protecting their land. I am trying to resurrect the dead! (the cemetery - Babcock humor). They, in my opinion, are obstructionist.
Thank you
Talking to the present owner of the land surrounding, he has reluctantly agreed to let me do things that I am legally entitled to do. Like visit cemetery, have it surveyed. Slowly I am re-establishing the cemetery. He claims no knowledge of cemetery and he is not helping any way he can.
New York is rich in American history. Our family is part of that history. Worden organized his own company to fight in the 1812 war. He was extremely active in starting his Methodist church. His son fought in the civil war.
The estimated expense:
I saved $1500 to $2000 by doing my own title work) I have ALL the deeds of the surrounding land, each having the cemetery exception in them. Ownership is still in the Babcock family.
Surveying, marking and filing with the county - $750-$1000 (surveyed but not registered, waiting on advice from an attorney.)
Ground scanning (to find actual 5 to 7 graves in the cemetery) - $1600/day, I Hope to do it in fall 2018.
Install cement grave caps over the graves for protection.
Grave Markers (Boulders with Bronze Plaques) 5 graves x $2500 for $12,500 or one big monument. It depends how they laid out the graves.
FindaGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2404869
This is not including any legal cost which will be billed at $250/hr. I have retained an excellent local attorney.
I would like to thank Bernie Corcoran, for all the expert help he has provided me with endless hours of support! More family history, deeds etc. can be found at http://www.cayugagenealogy.org/Babcock/
Thanks to other cousins who gave clues and effort!
What's next?
Well, I cannot do much planning or design if I do not know how they laid out the graves. This is my main focus now to move forward. I would like to see the preservation of the actual graves and historical monument located somewhere acknowledging graves.
Side note: I am not a Charity, I am a direct descendant. To set up a cemetery board... I would have to get an attorney and 4-5 people to be on board.
(more cost and in a state far away for me to do the maintenance. Too much of a hassle, but I and you can donate to the cemetery) ALL LEFT OVER FUNDS NOT USED WILL GO FOR PERPETUAL MAINTENANCE township of Scipio
I live in Minnesota, New York stipulates that all cemeteries are non-profits and are tax-exempt charities. If you have questions on that or anything pertaining to a legal tax question, (as to if these donations are tax-deductible, please contact the state of NY. https://www.dos.ny.gov/cmty/
Just think how you would feel if your deceased loved one's grave was plowed under. It is a helpless feeling. I just hope that they buried them far enough down that the farming has not disturbed them. I am going back in October to start reconstruction. (Even if I have to start with a shovel and a wheel barrel.) If you can, please help with any amount. It is a worthy cause.
And one final note, the present farmer, a descendant of the family that bought the farm from my family during the depression, claims to have no knowledge of cemetery (even though he signed a deed in the 80's). As I tried to explain, I am not trying to hurt their family. They are nice people. They have the point of view that they are protecting their land. I am trying to resurrect the dead! (the cemetery - Babcock humor). They, in my opinion, are obstructionist.
Thank you
Organizer
Stephen C Babcock
Organizer
Merrifield, NY
