Friends Burial Ground at Rayville
Friends Burial Ground at Rayville
Columbia County Hamlet of Rayville County Route 13
Old Chatham, New York 12136
Columbia County Hamlet of Rayville County Route 13
Old Chatham, New York 12136
Some History of Friends at Rayville
Friends Burial Ground at Rayville has been a part of the community and in continuous use since its establishment in conjunction with the earliest Friends Meeting. Quakers first arrived in the area, then known as the King’s District, Albany, in 1760, from the Nine Partners District in Duchess County, having come there from Nantucket, and originally from England. Their settlement, known variously as New Britton or Britain, Green River or Green Brook, Pumpkin Hook, and Quakertown, was eventually named Rayville in honor of Francis Ray, a cooper and “prominent citizen” born in 1776.
First worshipping in their homes, the Friends built a log meeting house in a corner of the current burial ground. The nearby meeting house was constructed in 1801 with Palmer Holmes credited as builder, and was used for Quaker worship until Rayville Meeting was laid down (discontinued) in 1902. It then served as a barn until 1956 when it was restored for use as a private home as it is currently enjoyed.
Early Quaker burials, reflecting a testimony of simplicity, were often in unmarked graves. Though the burial ground was established in 1782, the earliest grave stone is dated 1822. Those buried in simple wooden caskets at a depth of five feet in unmarked graves remain undisturbed beneath the soil.
The current governance of the Friends Burial began in 1902 when by-laws were adopted and Wilson M. Powell served as chair of a board of local citizens.
Friends Burial Ground at Rayville has been a part of the community and in continuous use since its establishment in conjunction with the earliest Friends Meeting. Quakers first arrived in the area, then known as the King’s District, Albany, in 1760, from the Nine Partners District in Duchess County, having come there from Nantucket, and originally from England. Their settlement, known variously as New Britton or Britain, Green River or Green Brook, Pumpkin Hook, and Quakertown, was eventually named Rayville in honor of Francis Ray, a cooper and “prominent citizen” born in 1776.
First worshipping in their homes, the Friends built a log meeting house in a corner of the current burial ground. The nearby meeting house was constructed in 1801 with Palmer Holmes credited as builder, and was used for Quaker worship until Rayville Meeting was laid down (discontinued) in 1902. It then served as a barn until 1956 when it was restored for use as a private home as it is currently enjoyed.
Early Quaker burials, reflecting a testimony of simplicity, were often in unmarked graves. Though the burial ground was established in 1782, the earliest grave stone is dated 1822. Those buried in simple wooden caskets at a depth of five feet in unmarked graves remain undisturbed beneath the soil.
The current governance of the Friends Burial began in 1902 when by-laws were adopted and Wilson M. Powell served as chair of a board of local citizens.
Neighbors of Note Buried at Rayville
Each person is unique and every life a story. Some early Friends who were buried in unmarked graves are remembered in the archived records of the Rayville Meeting, often in memorial minutes. Among the earliest Friends were the Wilbur, Finch, Reynolds, Mosher and Coffin families.
Later graves were marked with simple stones usually giving only names and dates, often in Quaker style, “1st month” rather than “January,” for example. Local histories yield more detailed accounts of relationships and occupations, and place names in and around Rayville echo the names on stones in the Burial Ground. There are roads named for the Ashley, Cady, Dorland, Finch, Gale, Haddock, Rider and Thorne families, and Rider’s Mills was originally called Mosher’s Mills. Elijah Cornell and Eunice Barnard, the parents of Ezra Cornell, co-founder of the university, were married in 1805 in the meetinghouse just down the road.
We welcome any information from family records to add to these stories.
Each person is unique and every life a story. Some early Friends who were buried in unmarked graves are remembered in the archived records of the Rayville Meeting, often in memorial minutes. Among the earliest Friends were the Wilbur, Finch, Reynolds, Mosher and Coffin families.
Later graves were marked with simple stones usually giving only names and dates, often in Quaker style, “1st month” rather than “January,” for example. Local histories yield more detailed accounts of relationships and occupations, and place names in and around Rayville echo the names on stones in the Burial Ground. There are roads named for the Ashley, Cady, Dorland, Finch, Gale, Haddock, Rider and Thorne families, and Rider’s Mills was originally called Mosher’s Mills. Elijah Cornell and Eunice Barnard, the parents of Ezra Cornell, co-founder of the university, were married in 1805 in the meetinghouse just down the road.
We welcome any information from family records to add to these stories.
Organizational and Contact Information
Care and maintenance of the burial ground, carried out faithfully by a community board for many years, later grew lax for a time. Members of Old Chatham Friends Meeting, organized soon after the establishment of Powell House in the 1960’s, took a renewed interest in the condition of the burial ground. A committee of local residents and Quakers began meeting regularly, and the current board was organized.
The annual meeting of the corporation is open to all lot owners -- those who have family members buried there.
Current and Future Projects at Rayville
The trustees of Friends Burial Ground at Rayville invite participation and support from neighbors and others interested in helping preserve this historic site and enabling it to continue serving the community into the next centuries.
We would like to rebuild the stone walls and continue restoring the wrought iron fence and gates. We need to stabilize many of the grave markers, which have tipped or cracked with weather and age. We hope to complete a survey of the property in preparation for making additional burial sites available. We would like to explore with neighbors the possibility of creating an historic district to include the burial ground and the former Quaker meeting house.
We Are an Active Burial Ground
Burial sites are available by contacting the Superintendent. In as much as we do not require concrete burial vaults, we do offer the option of “green” burials.
Privileges of Interment: Without discrimination, any person having a permit and proof of lot ownership from the Superintendent, or other officer of the Corporation, shall be allowed to use the grounds of this Corporation for burial purposes. All lot owners shall be provided a copy of the current Rules and Regulations for the Use of the Burial Ground
Working together as a community, we will be able to honor the historic significance and enhance the beauty of the Friends Burial Ground at Rayville. Elias Hicks, a renowned Quaker leader, found a vibrant community here when he first visited in 1781; we have the
responsibility there centuries later to preserve some part of this early heritage.
Do you have skills at wall and foundation work? Might you be able to bring tools for a work day and join in a project of routine upkeep such as cutting back the overgrowth? Could you help with mapping and charting?
Financial support will enable us to move forward on the projects we have planned. The Friends Burial Ground at Rayville is a not for profit corporation, and all contributions are fully tax-deductible under Section 501(c)13 of the IRS code. Checks may be mailed to ocmmtreasurer@gmail.com
Care and maintenance of the burial ground, carried out faithfully by a community board for many years, later grew lax for a time. Members of Old Chatham Friends Meeting, organized soon after the establishment of Powell House in the 1960’s, took a renewed interest in the condition of the burial ground. A committee of local residents and Quakers began meeting regularly, and the current board was organized.
The annual meeting of the corporation is open to all lot owners -- those who have family members buried there.
Current and Future Projects at Rayville
The trustees of Friends Burial Ground at Rayville invite participation and support from neighbors and others interested in helping preserve this historic site and enabling it to continue serving the community into the next centuries.
We would like to rebuild the stone walls and continue restoring the wrought iron fence and gates. We need to stabilize many of the grave markers, which have tipped or cracked with weather and age. We hope to complete a survey of the property in preparation for making additional burial sites available. We would like to explore with neighbors the possibility of creating an historic district to include the burial ground and the former Quaker meeting house.
We Are an Active Burial Ground
Burial sites are available by contacting the Superintendent. In as much as we do not require concrete burial vaults, we do offer the option of “green” burials.
Privileges of Interment: Without discrimination, any person having a permit and proof of lot ownership from the Superintendent, or other officer of the Corporation, shall be allowed to use the grounds of this Corporation for burial purposes. All lot owners shall be provided a copy of the current Rules and Regulations for the Use of the Burial Ground
Working together as a community, we will be able to honor the historic significance and enhance the beauty of the Friends Burial Ground at Rayville. Elias Hicks, a renowned Quaker leader, found a vibrant community here when he first visited in 1781; we have the
responsibility there centuries later to preserve some part of this early heritage.
Do you have skills at wall and foundation work? Might you be able to bring tools for a work day and join in a project of routine upkeep such as cutting back the overgrowth? Could you help with mapping and charting?
Financial support will enable us to move forward on the projects we have planned. The Friends Burial Ground at Rayville is a not for profit corporation, and all contributions are fully tax-deductible under Section 501(c)13 of the IRS code. Checks may be mailed to ocmmtreasurer@gmail.com