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Gaines in Orleans County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
 

Orleans County Alms House Cemetery

 
 
Orleans County Alms House Cemetery Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Anton Schwarzmueller, May 23, 2020
1. Orleans County Alms House Cemetery Marker
Inscription. Orleans County Alms House Cemetery

The Orleans County Alms "Poor" House served the destitute, indigent, and infirmed of this community for over a century. For many, this cemetery became their final resting place, marked with either a simple stone and number, or no marker at all.

Here lie the nearly 250 "inmates" that are recorded as being buried either in this obscure "Potter's Field" or at the original "South Burying Grounds."

"Unfitted for the sacred purpose for which it is used, " the Board of Supervisors directed all remains and markers from the "South Burying grounds" moved to this location in 1890. Francis S. Dunham noted, "at all times the burial place is found saturated with water from numerous springs which there abound."

"The names of those who rest here are long forgotten, but their existence deserves respect and reverence. They no longer can speak for themselves. Hence we must note that buried here is someone's ancestor, a person once loved by those who cherished them in the rocking cradle and held trembling hand in sickness and old age at death's beckoning. These bodies now dust, are lived worth remembering
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because of the interdependent web of existence and the inherent worth and dignity of every person." - Orleans County Historian C.W. Lattin, June 20, 2011


*Current markers in bold [parenthesis] **After 1912 Supt. of Poor no longer lists burial locations in annual report.
NAME DEATH DATE Able, Joseph Oct. 7, 1895; Ail, Rebeck (4) May 8, 1873; Aker, Isaiah March 14, 1889; Alberts, George Oct. 30, 1900; Alger, Maggie May Nov. 24, 1903; Allen, Jerusha Dec. 30, 1893; Allen, William (74) June 4, 1882; Allison, Leona Dec. 13, 1902; Anderson, Christian Sept. 14, 1884; Bacon, E. Apr. 14, 1859; Ballou, Jacob Mar. 10, 1855; Barber, Robert May 1, 1901; Barns, David (45) Jan 31, 1879; Barroski, Stanislaus Dec. 26, 1907; Bass, Nancy (38) May 18, 1878; Bassett, John R. (63) March 17, 1881; Beardsley, John Aug. 2, 1899; Beebe, Sally Aug 7, 1856; Beekmore, William Nov. 25, 1902; Berry, Ned April 5, 1885; Bishop, H. Oct. 7, 1908; Blackwell, Spencer May 15, 1895; Bower, Henry (26) March 9, 1876; Boyd, Hugh Jan. 21, 1897; Boyd, John July 25, 1885; Bracken, Martha (41) July 28, 1878; Brackett, ___ May 22, 1857; Brackett, Merritt March 16, 1883; Brick,
Orleans County Alms House Cemetery & Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Anton Schwarzmueller, May 23, 2020
2. Orleans County Alms House Cemetery & Marker
John Jan. 8, 1856; Buck, Alanson June 10, 1894; Bullen, Benjamin (33) April 30, 1877; Burke, Mary Dec. 7, 1895; Burton, William Jan 27, 1901; Butterly, John Unknown; Cacy, George (3) April 5, 1873; Cain, Matilda (56) April 4, 1880; Cary, Thomas Sept. 30, 1859; Cassy, Larry (24) Jan. 10, 1876; Caton, John (32) April 17, 1877; Chambers, Maranda (1) Jan. 1, 1873; Chapman, Ernie (43) Unknown; Chapman, Nella (40) June 29, 1878; Cheseman, John (42) Sept. 8, 1878; Clark, Isaac March 21, 1892; Clute, Jacob (36) Dec. 31, 1877; Coffee, John Unknown; Cole, Kate Gordineer Mar. 28, 1900; Collins, Thomas (37) April 4, 1878; Comings, Hannah (55) April 13, 1880; Connell, Barney (65) Aug. 19, 1881; [2nd column] Connelly, Joseph May 23, 1887; Costello, Susan Oct. 5, 1857; Coulter, Hugh Oct. 1, 1886; Covill, Henry (10) April 12, 1874; Cox, Micheal Aug. 21, 1889; Crosby, Daniel Apr. 15, 1907; Crosby, Sally Feb. 17, 1891; Cumley, Joseph April 18, 1885; Danson, Thomas; April 10, 1900; Davis, George March 23, 1891; Davis, Martin June 9, 1896; Davis, Nathan Unknown; Dawson, Eliza March 16, 1897; Delong, Hiram May 29, 1906; Diedrick, Abram (60) Sept. 24, 1880;
Orleans County Alms House Cemetery image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Anton Schwarzmueller, May 23, 2020
3. Orleans County Alms House Cemetery
Durant, John July 31, 1890; Edinburg, George May 16, 1901; Edwards, Orrin June 30, 1900; Ensign, Horace Dec. 30, 1884; Fields, Solomon (70) May 23, 1882; Finch, Henry Nov. 15, 1898; Finigan, Orin (21) June 25, 1875; Finnegan, Barney Oct. 23, 1884; Flannery, Eliza Sept. 30, 1891; Flinn, James (59) Sept. 18, 1880; Foster, Edward May 17, 1909; Frink, Philip Unknown; Gaines, George L. Unknown; Gardner, David May 24, 1889; Geer, Charlotte (34) May 23, 1877; Gilbert, Henry (54) March 31, 1880; Gillett, Minerva Unknown; Gillettte, Miles Aug. 10, 1886; Gordineer, Richard Jan. 15, 1894; Gormerly, Thomas July 2, 1884; Grace, John (68) Jan 4, 1882; Gray, William Unknown; Green, John (47) May 16, 1879; Griswold, Ann (69) April 4, 1882; Gurr, Joseph Dec. 20, 1908; Hafner, Phillip Aug. 6, 1890; Hall, Ann (31) March 31, 1877; Hamilton, Harry April 16, 1888; Hammond, Ludwick Apr. 2, 1909; Harris, Rosanna (30) Sept. 21, 1876; Harrison, Mary Ann Nov. 16, 1854; Hart, Mary (35) Sept. 26, 1877; Hathaway, Viola Oct. 24, 1903; Hildebrandt, John Jan. 27, 1897; [3rd column] Hobler, Christopher Jan 22, 1887; Howland, Bessie (44) Jan. 31, 1879; Hurley, John Jun,
Orleans County Alms House Cemetery Roadside Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Anton Schwarzmueller, May 23, 2020
4. Orleans County Alms House Cemetery Roadside Marker
7, 1903; Hutchinson, Harold Dec. 15, 1894; Infant Child (55) Feb. 9, 1880; Jackson, Rosa (22) Oct. 15, 1875; Johnson, Charles Jul. 13, 1905; Johnson, Harriet (62) March 7, 1881; Keech, John (50) Dec. 12, 1879; Kelly, Lucius May 2, 1887; Kerwin, John Nov. 30, 1891; Kinney, George Unknown; Kirby, James (61) Nov. 21, 1880; Klausmann, Mathias (19) March 5, 1875; Lennon, Michael Nov. 1, 1895; Linsley, ____(2) March 5, 1873; Loomas, Epafroditus (52) April 29, 1880; Luke, Mary (70) May 9, 1882; Lynch, Hannah Jan. 29, 1900; Lysher, Jay July 22, 1901; Mace, Jane Unknown; Mahanna, Davis Unknown; Mahanna, John Dec. 1, 1854; Mahar, John May 8, 1858; Maher, Edward Feb. 1, 1883; Maloney, Richard (67) Jan. 4, 1882; Mathes, J.L. Unknown; Mathews, Darius Oct 3, 1885; McCabe, William April 13, 1900; McCane, James Jan. 13, 1854; McGill, Bridget March 26, 1856; McKane, Josiah Unknown; McMaster, Stephen Oct. 26, 1893; Mellmoth, Jacob March 29, 1892; Merrill, Ann Nov. 23, 1854; Miles, Thomas (23) Jan. 17, 1876; Millinger, Jacob June 12, 1885; Mitchell, Mary Sept. 21, 1899; Moren, William June 26, 1854; Morse, Martha Sept. 24, 1908; Murphy, John Aug. 19,
Orleans County Alms House Cemetery Roadside Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Anton Schwarzmueller, May 23, 2020
5. Orleans County Alms House Cemetery Roadside Marker
Note the Orleans County Emergency Management sign in background. View is westward.
1896; Murray, Joseph Unknown; Murray, Mary Unknown; Neass, Evanson (58) May 16, 1880; Newson, Sarah Unknown; Newton, Edward Dec. 13, 1888; Nickolds, Sally (15) Sept. 9, 1874; Norman, Samuel Nov. 6, 1897; Ort, Frank (57) April 16, 1880; [4th column] Ostrander, John Unknown; Palley, Sarah (28) July 21, 1876; Panghorn, Edward Aug. 18, 1907; Panghorn, Sophia May 9, 1901; Patterson, Charles May 24, 1893; Peck, Abraham Jan 2, 1884; Penold, Delphine July 14, 1894; Perry, Calvin June 30, 1891; Perry, Ella Unknown; Perry, Sanford Dec. 4, 1902; Plaint, John May 17, 1905; Pollard, Robert Aug. 20, 1890; Ratt, August Sept. 11, 1896; Ray, Edward Jun. 13, 1896; Raynell, Frank May 6, 1903; Renda, Kate (20) April 28, 1875; Reynolds, Mary Ann Oct. 24, 1891; Rice, Eliza Jan. 26, 1890; Riley, Thomas May 27, 1885; Roberts, Calop (16) Aug. 28, 1874; Roberts, John Mar. 9, 1855; Robinson, Calvin Aug. 21, 1890; Robinson, Lucy (39) June 10, 1878; Rollands, Nellie (46) Feb. 1, 1879; Roony, Francis Oct. 6, 1883; Root, Titus (27) April 23, 1876; Russell, Harriet Unknown; Rutherford, Oliver Jul. 21, 1911; Ryan, Charles May 10, 1890; Sanford, Joseph Unknown; Santer,
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John Aug. 28, 1906; Saul, Mary (29) Aug. 8, 1876; Sawyer, Salmon Unknown; Sawyer, Sebrina Unknown; Shaker, ____ Unknown; Shephard, Hilda Aug. 18, 1898; Shockaway, Murtie Sept. 27, 1898; Shoemaker, Arthur July 22, 1901; Shoemaker, Mary Nov. 28, 1887; Shoemaker, Sarah April 13, 1885; Shurley, Minna Loesia (17) Sept. 27, 1874; Sickolds, Maggie (8) Feb. 18, 1874; Simmons, Katie Oct. 25, 1900; Slade, Child Unknown; Slade, Nathan Aug. 9, 1856; Sleight, Peter Aug. 10, 1894; Smith Baby March 7, 1912; Smith, John M. Aug. 29, 1884; Smith, Margaret Dec. 1, 1887; Sommers, Henry Unknown; [5th column] Spencer, Emeline Sept. 10, 1886; Squires, Asa Unknown; Stafford, Hannah (64) May 10, 1881; Stephens, Fannie July 17, 1890; Stirman, James Nov. 17, 1909; Stoddard, E.M. Aug. 23, 1886; Straight, William (73) May 29, 1882; Strickner, George March 27, 1901; Talbot, Isaac Oct. 4, 1896; Taylor, William Unknown; Taylor, William Dec. 28, 1885; Thair, Julius Feb. 18, 1896; Thomas, William Feb. 3, 1894; Thompson, Calib (6) Dec. 15, 1873; Thompson, Ephram (7) Feb. 7, 1874; Thompson, Ezra June 20, 1910; Thompkins, Samuel Jan. 11, 1883; Tubbs, James (25) Feb. 11, 1876; Unknown (12); Unknown (13; Unknown (14); Unknown (little) Jan 4, 1897; Utley, John March 21, 1888; Wall, Andrew Aug. 9, 1893; Wall, Elijah July 23, 1892; Walsh, John N. Aug 20, 1910; Ward, J. Unknown; Waterhouse, Daniel Sept. 5, 1883; Weilhammer Baby June 11, 1879; Wells, Lucy (49) Jan. 28, 1890; Wemple, Kate March 16, 1880; West, Mattie (53) May 9, 1882; Wheat, Rhoda Unknown; White, E. Unknown; Whiting, Lucy (71) Oct. 23, 1887; Whitney, John Jan. 21, 1899; Whittleton, Ann June 14, 1873; Wilcox, Stephen (5) Dec. 25, 1881; Williams, Charles (66) May 31, 1879; Wilson, Sarah (48) Oct. 8, 1908; Wisner, Orrin Aug. 23, 1883; Wood, E. Unknown; Woodward, William (75) Dec. 31, 1883; Wright, James May 24, 1874; Wright, Mary (11) Unknown.

[roadside marker:]
Orleans County
Alms "Poor" House
and cemetery
(1833 - 1960)

 
Erected by Carl I. Bergerson Grade 7 Service Learning classes, Orleans Chapter DAR, Orleans County Historical Association.
 
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial SitesCharity & Public Work. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is June 20, 2011.
 
Location. 43° 12.731′ N, 78° 12.734′ W. Marker is in Gaines, New York, in Orleans County. It is on West County House Road 1.8 miles west of Oak Orchard Road (Route 98), on the left when traveling west. The marker is at the Orleans County Emergency Management site. It is at the actual cemetery, far south along a dirt and gravel driveway between farm fields. A simple yellow-on-blue marker is roadside. Consult a satellite view to see how to drive around and behind buildings to reach the long driveway to the cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 14064 West County House Road, Albion NY 14411, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Upstate New York, specifically in Western New York, in the Finger Lakes, and in the Rochester Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Northeast, on the Great Lakes, and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, New Netherland, and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: "Santa Claus" (approx. 1.8 miles away); First Lt. Bruce Martin (approx. 1.9 miles away); Indian Trail (approx. 2.1 miles away); House of Refuge (approx. 2.1 miles away); To the Memory of the Heroes (approx. 2.4 miles away); A Lasting Tribute (approx. 2.4 miles away); Childhood Home (approx. 2.4 miles away); Henry A. Spencer (approx. 2.4 miles away).
 
Regarding Orleans County Alms House Cemetery. There is no marker for Kelly, Lucius May 2, 1887. His last name is KELSEY, Lusius. He is my 4th Gr Grandfather and I have his death certificate. Also have the family Bible with his name written. ~Faith M. Tone of NC.
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on October 17, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 23, 2020, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York. This page has been viewed 1,787 times since then and 87 times this year. Last updated on August 9, 2021, by Faith M tone of Charlotte, North Carolina. Photos:   1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 23, 2020, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
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Jul. 27, 2026