Since
there are at least 17 communities named Troy in the U.S., this title page-page
specifies exactly which one is meant.
The inscriptions from St Mary’s,
St Peter’s, and St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Cemeteries are excerpts from a 1972 two-volume
type-script work by this compiler.
Inscriptions from St John’s Roman Catholic Cemetery are excerpts from a
1976 larger typescript volume also by this compiler. Both have been deposited in the Troy Public Library. With the exception of the few reprinted here
from published sources, all the remaining were copied in the summer of 1976.
In accordance with the rules published in THE IRISH
GENEALOGIST, Nov 1972, the phrase “on back” has been used, when appropriate, to
show that a stone was examined on all sides.
Question marks have been added freely when a reading is doubtful. The sides of a monument also have been
numbered when required. The letter procedure is of great help when re-checking
a cemetery and one knows that a 4-sided stone is sought. Stones flat on the ground are so marked in
order to guide the eye when re-checking.
Most of the stones now (1976) in the Catholic
section of the Pawling Avenue cemetery are flat on the ground and sod had to be
removed before they could be read.
There are only five still upright; three or four are inscription side
down, and another two or three have crumbled to dust. Forty-seven stones in this section were uncovered, twenty-two of
which did not state a place of origin and are not included here. Although the many rows in the “Corporation”
part of the cemetery were searched, only two stones mentioning a foreign origin
were found as listed in a 1923 publication by the Daughters of the American
Revolution.
The best example of a genealogical monument, in my
opinion, is in the New Mt. Ida Cemetery re Baumeister. It proves that an elaborate monument is not
necessary. This comparatively small
stone with an economy of words tells a very complete history of a family.
While compiling this work it was noticed that, of
all the stones with Italian names, not a single one in any of the cemeteries
states a place of origin.
Descendants
now living in other States may not remember in which cemetery their
great-grandparents are buried. It there fore was though desirable to combine
the lists for all cemeteries in one alphabet.
In order not to break genealogical continuity, all names on the stones
have been recorded and cross-references made for any surnames occurring
incidentally.
No attempt has been made
systematically to record who these people were, where they lived, or what their
occupations were. The pleasure of that
research is left to the families involved.
The odd bits of information from newspapers, census, and naturalization
records included here were on hand from previous research.
No
inscriptions with a foreign place of origin were found in the Jewish Cemetery
east of St Jean’s, nor in St Nicholas’s Cem. on the east side of Vandenburg
Avenue. The old Sixth Ward Cem. on the
west side of Vandenburg Avenue apparently no longer exists. Although I am told it is still there among
the weeds and tall brush. I failed to
find the Forest Hill Cemetery established 1918, see Deeds vol. 376 p. 87 and p.
89 as well as v. 417 p. 129. Permission
was not received to enter the Jewish Cemetery next to New Mt Ida.
Some
inscriptions are very difficult to read, especially if the stonecutter used a
script alphabet and the stone now is broken or worn. Also it may take two or three visits before learning when the sun
will reach the correct angle for a particular stone. For editorial purposes, the phrase “who departed this life” has
been shortened to “died.” “In memory
of” at the beginning of an inscription bas been omitted as well as adjectives
such as “affectionate,” daughter and “beloved” wife. Only the bare statistics were copied in most cases. Spacing has been arranged, where possible,
to make Christian names easier to notice.
If
anyone is interested in a particular inscription, it is suggested he visit the
cemetery and take a rubbing if necessary.
While every endeavor was made to copy correctly all inscriptions herein
listed, human nature is subject to error.
One never can accept information from one source only; all sources must
be checked to assure they all agree. Corrections
or additions will be gratefully received.
Only the oldest sections were searched in St Mary’s and Oakwood
Cemeteries; additional inscriptions may be in the newer sections.
Any
typographical errors are my sole responsibility. To show they are not typographical errors, discrepancies are
noted by underlining or using the word “sic.”
Underlining also has been used for emphasis. Death dates prior to the opening of a cemetery are brought to the
reader’s attention by adding the opening date in the right margin.*
Such stones usually indicated a removal from an older cemetery or that the
stone was erected at a later date.
Deepest
gratitude goes to Mrs. Marjorie Leonard for her help in having this booklet
published. Mr. and Mrs. Arch L. Oram of
Arkansas deserve particular mention for their valuable suggestions in
clarifying the text. My special thanks
go to the many employees in the cemeteries visited for their kindness in
stopping to see that my car had not broken down and in directing me to monuments
that met the requirements.
Abbreviations
used:
‘Burgh = Lansingburgh
DAR + Daughters of the American Revolution
n.f.p.
= no further particulars
O.S.A.
= Order of St Augustine
R.C.
= Roman Catholic
Rens.
Co. + Rensselaer County
R.P.I.
= Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Loretta M. Nial
October 1976
* N.B. this will be found under the cemetery name in the on-line edition. MMH