Gravestones for Hugh and Bathsheba Canedy. Gate to Christian Hill Cemetery. Colrain Township Franklin County, Massachusetts

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Gravestones for Hugh and Bathsheba Canedy. Gate to Christian Hill Cemetery. Colrain Township Franklin County, Massachusetts"

Penelope Ami Willis
5 years ago
Views:

Gravestones for Hugh and Bathsheba Canedy Christian Hill Cemetery Colrain Township Franklin County, Massachusetts Photos: Loren Caneday, October 2004 Both photos look westward Gate to Christian Hill

Identification sign just to the right of the gate The stone fence is typical of the enclosure of old cemeteries in New England as well as property boundaries of fields.

1 Gravestones for Hugh and Bathsheba Canedy Christian Hill Cemetery Colrain Township Franklin County, Massachusetts Photos: Loren Caneday, October 2004 Both photos look westward Gate to Christian Hill Cemetery The first two tall white stones to the left of the gate are Hugh and Bathsheba s. Identification sign just to the right of the gate The stone fence is typical of the enclosure of old cemeteries in New England as well as property boundaries of fields. The cemetery is well maintained. Ed Clark Road is just to the left of the stone fence and parallel to the rock wall. Click here for an aerial view of the cemetery to the west (left) side of Ed Clark Road. While in the Google map, zoom out to observe the rugged terrain of the area. Note: it is best to save this pdf file to your hard drive and then access the Google map from there. Otherwise, while at the web site, the pdf file will reload after exiting from the Google map.

Gravestone for Hugh Canedy Christian Hill Cemetery Colrain Township Franklin County, Massachusetts Transcription Hugh Canedy Died July 14 1808 Aged 66 Years Photo: Loren Caneday, October 2004 The

2 Gravestone for Hugh Canedy Christian Hill Cemetery Colrain Township Franklin County, Massachusetts Transcription Hugh Canedy Died July Aged 66 Years Photo: Loren Caneday, October 2004 The vital records of Middleborough, Massachusetts, give Hugh s birth date as June 6, Thus at death, he was a month over sixty-four, not sixty-six as chiseled on the gravestone. The stonecutter may have made a mistake or he may have been instructed incorrectly by Hugh s children. -2-

Gravestone for Bashebe Canedy Christian Hill Cemetery Colrain Township Franklin County, Massachusetts Transcription Bashebe Wife of Hugh Canedy Died Dec 10, 1805 Aged 70 years Photo: Loren Caneday,

3 Gravestone for Bashebe Canedy Christian Hill Cemetery Colrain Township Franklin County, Massachusetts Transcription Bashebe Wife of Hugh Canedy Died Dec 10, 1805 Aged 70 years Photo: Loren Caneday, October Bathsheba s birth date is given as August 5, If this date is correct, Bathsheba was sixty-five years and four months old when she died rather than the stated seventy years on the gravestone. Based on their birth dates, she was four years older than Hugh, but the gravestone would indicate she was nine years older, which is not likely. The age carved on the gravestone is likely a mistake. 1 Compiled and indexed by Leonard H. Smith, Jr., C.G., Cape Cod Library of Local History and Genealogy, (Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1912), Vol. 2,

4 Looking from Christian Hill Cemetery eastward across Ed Clark Road. Christian Hill Cemetery is aptly placed on a hillside on a ridge with a spectacular view of a valley and undulating hills in the distance. This peaceful place is tucked away at the end of the world. It is about an hour s drive from Greenfield, Massachusetts, down in the valley on the Connecticut River. About a mile north of the cemetery, the paved road ends and a one lane, gravel road begins to wind its way through the woods into Vermont. Tree branches arch across the path to touch the trees on the other side. Fall leaves carpet the road with color. A very few homesteads are tucked away in the woods on some small spots of level ground in a terrain that is up and down. To the northeast a valley begins to drop away into a widening gulch, giving clear view of the next mountain beyond. This spot is on top of the world and at the end of the world quiet and serene. It is a favorite place of mine. I am drawn to visit this favored place again and again. While I have passed through these haunts of Hugh and Bathsheba a mere handful of times, I often enjoy its serenity and beauty in the solitude of my mind or look at my pictures of the area. -4-

5 Hugh and Bathsheba Canedy A clear day and a foggy morning. Photos: Loren Caneday, October

About two miles north of Christian Hill Cemetery is the Massachusetts/Vermont state line.

From here, a short way north into Halifax, the gravel road leads down a steep hill to route 114, a main road between Halifax and Colrain along the North River.

Climbing the hill was work and walking down the other side was hard on the legs. And then there was always the next hill.

6 About two miles north of Christian Hill Cemetery is the Massachusetts/Vermont state line. After crossing into Halifax, Vermont, we look back south at the sign post that marks the division between Halifax, Vermont and Colrain, Massachusetts. From here, a short way north into Halifax, the gravel road leads down a steep hill to route 114, a main road between Halifax and Colrain along the North River. This gravel road is so steep, horses must have had great difficulty pulling a load up or holding a load back while walking down hill. Climbing the hill was work and walking down the other side was hard on the legs. And then there was always the next hill. Hugh and Bathsheba traversed this hill countless times, for their homestead was on the north side of it in Halifax and their church was in Colrain on the south side just a mile from Christian Hill Cemetery. Hugh and Bathsheba attended this Baptist Church which is located on the west side of Ed Clark Road just a mile north of Christian Hill Cemetery. Photos: Loren Caneday, November 2008 The sign over the door indicates the church was built in Our ancestors contributed toward the construction of this church and worshiped God with the congregation. It is generally in good repair today and is used once a year for a community get together. -6-

7 Photo: Loren Caneday, November 2008 The location of the church can be found on this map. It is the building on the west side of Christian Hill Road with the light colored roof in the lower left corner of the map. Click and drag the map to find Christian Hill Cemetery down the road. The lingering touches of color are giving way to the drab gray of winter, which is about ready to arrive in this isolated part of the world. Stacks of cordwood are everywhere in this area of Massachusetts and Vermont. Doing some genealogical research by a roaring fire sounds mighty fine. -7-

APPENDIX A GLOSSARY. Appendix A.1

APPENDIX A GLOSSARY. Appendix A.1 APPENDIX A GLOSSARY Appendix A.1 Appendix A.2 Back Bearing A back bearing is measured from the object to your position. It is the exact opposite of a direct bearing. Base Line An imaginary line on the