Batterson Burial Plot
GPS# 42.020754,-76.668025
The Batterson Cemetery is a small family burial plot situated on private property. It cannot be seen from the road. It is located at the Abijah Batterson Property, Approximately 700 feet from the road behind the barn. The property is located on the north side of the Wilawana Road in the Town of Chemung, N.Y. and is 3 & 2/10's miles east of the Village of Wellsburg and 2 & 3/10's miles west of the NY/PA. According to area residents, most of the markers have been removed. As far as we know, the first grave, belonging to Abijah was in 1835, the latest grave was in 1848. A listing of the graves in the plot can be viewed at http://www.joycetice.com/cemc/battersn.htm
Abijah's grave was the original grave to this burial plot in January 1833. What is unique to this plot are the foot markers that are still intact. Some of the markers are falling and the plot is in disrepair but the markers have survived the test of time, some looking new as they sit on the knoll exposed to the northwest winds. Photos taken by Mary Ellen P. Kunst
It was December 5th, 2015, that a group of people decided it was too nice a day to sit inside so we went treking through hills and dales and took photos. My husband Ron and myself, along with Chemung County Historian, J. Kelsey Jones and a photographer and volunteer at the Steele Memorial Library in Elmira, in the history department, John White. The set below are my photos. They are no contest to the photos John took as seen in the second set. He did a great job. We need to preserve the images today as they will outlast the grave markers, for future generations.
Please note, we contacted the property owners ahead of time and received permission to walk in to these burial plots. Remember, it is private property. Just because a cemetery or burial plot exists, it's still private property and the necessary permission is needed before you enter.
Please note, we contacted the property owners ahead of time and received permission to walk in to these burial plots. Remember, it is private property. Just because a cemetery or burial plot exists, it's still private property and the necessary permission is needed before you enter.
This set of photos was taken by photographer, John White. He uses a technique with a detached and off set flash that produces vivid images of the grave markers, providing visible text and engraving. Kudos to John White!