"The Anderson Plot" -- Oak Hill Cemetery

Resetting the grave monuments of maternal Great-Great-Grandparents James and Caroline Anderson

Information on completion of monument work at Oak Hill Cemetery, West German Street, Herkimer, Herkimer County, New York, USA. The Anderson Plot is recorded in cemetery record as Section NC0648; whereas, the plot is physically located near centered in the old part of the cemetery. Take the center road northwesterly from the administration building toward the rear of the cemetery, this access road basically runs perpendicular to West German Street, Herkimer, NY. Then take a left side fork in the road about 250 yards from the administration building. Note the reddish-brown gravestone in the photo background -- this is the grave of Peter Anderson and his wives, Peter the son of James and Caroline (Kiernan) Anderson. Peter Anderson's gravestone really stands out as visitors pass the Anderson Plot. Note that Caroline's given name is spelled Carolina, probably misspelled as inscribed on her monument. The cemetery staff refers to this area as the Crandall plot – there are several Crandall graves in this more properly named cemetery Anderson Section (since Caroline and James Anderson are the parents or parents-in-law of most souls interred here).  Daughter Minnie Anderson married Charles Henry Crandall, all Crandall interments descend from this couple. It is the Crandall branch of the family that populates a significant portion of the Anderson Plot, along with the large Gilbert branch and Shore branch that grew from the marriage of other Anderson daughters Selina (and her husband William Gilbert) and Elizabeth (and her husband Herbert Shore).

Project specifics:

BEFORE

This image by Great-Great-Grandson DJ Paul, dated from about 2011, clearly shows both monuments listing about twenty degrees left; whereas, both monuments are slowly further slipping on their pedestal a couple inches to the left.  A gravestone foundation exists under each pedestal, perhaps sinking 20-to-24 inches into the graves.  No attempt was made to level the original foundations. Monuments had each listed another couple inches left before this restoration work began in early June 2018.    

AFTER

This image by DJ Paul, dated 20 Jun 2018, shows the Anderson gravesite finished product.  The monument pedestals were first leveled using a pea gravel bedding, placing the gravel base between the sunken original foundation and the pedestal.  A form was configured to engage each pedestal and 1/2 inch rebar reinforcements were added front, back, sides, and center.  The concrete collar is four-to-six inches thick and clearly engages both monument pedestals.  The monuments were each persuaded an inch+ to the right to be more centered on their respective pedestals.  Monuments were cleaned using water and a soft brush only.

    

Look Who Is Coming To Dinner

We suspected there was a pup or two...

https://geeksbwe.blogspot.com/2018/07/uninvited-guests-show-up-for-dinner.html

Remembering the above post of 20 July 2018... well the little one traveled with mom and pop last evening, Sunday, 12 August 2018.

We usually toss out some bird food for our resident American Crows... and I guess some might wonder why.  We've had a half-dozen of these black winged beauties since owning our lands for over a dozen years -- the current crop is likely the grandchildren+ of our original bunch.  What can be said, there is some pleasure watching our Crows patroling this property they seem to own.  

But it now seems some at a higher rung on the food chain ladder have joined the food-fest, the young Grey Fox now traveling with parents to find some food and perhaps learn to hunt rodents.  They seem to enjoy the Crow's food. 

Now perhaps aged four and a half months, the youngster in center enjoys some crow food.   

Note:  Image of the young Grey Fox Family was shot through the mirrored one-way window in our walkout basement door.

"Red Sky In The Morning, Sailor Take Warning..."

Beautiful early morning fog rises over the Mohawk River as Ma Nature displays her red-sky warning of the coming storms... and we really need the rains.  Area maps dated in the 1770s list the river as Mohawk's River... a historical fact to remember... our current lands belonged to the Iroquois Nation "Guardians of the East" -- the Mohawk Indian people.  

And Here The Words Evidently From An Early Meteorologist:  “When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: For the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather today; for the sky is red and lowering.” -- Jesus (Matthew XVI: 2-3).      

  

Image shot: 0510, 20 July 2018, from the west deck of our home, one mile south of Fort Herkimer, German Flatts, Herkimer County, NY, USA. 

Uninvited Guests Show Up For Dinner...

Tossed out some old bread yesterday for our Great American Crows to enjoy... but these guests showed up and "wolfed-down" those old scraps.  The presumed Grey Fox couple lives somewhere near our home... we see them afar from time-to-time... along with a good variety of several local wild animals.  The image of these "doggies" -- an apparent couple perhaps with a young family -- was shot through the mirrored one-way window in our walkout basement door.  Interesting animals to watch for sure -- the smaller presumed female (vixen) seems to be in charge of this late afternoon dinner, where the larger presumed male (dog) seemingly knows his place and eventually takes a mouthful of old bread and runs off to the woods to take pleasure in eating his prize untethered by permission from his dominant female better half.  We hope to see the pups if she chooses someday to let her family follow.

 

Multiple DNA Ethnicity Analysis

The directly below image was prepared for sharing on July 15, 2018, by AncestryDNA at www.Ancestry.com.  Not much has changed since their original estimate was calculated in 2012/2013.  DNA doesn't change, but AncestryDNA claims their analysis techniques frequently change and update as DNA technology and science advances.  These updates seem to have little impact in our original case. 

Note: the above ethnicity estimate tracks fairly close to our paper genealogical research.  We are as close to 100% European as statistically probable -- and must say -- very proud to be among the largest American minority group -- a true European-American! 

18 September 2018

UPDATE... Newer Ethnicity Estimates, where percentage change by AncestryDNA alleged due to better DNA scientific analysis. 

23andMe DNA results on left, new AncestryDNA on right:

Establishes again that my likely ethnicity remains close -- very close -- to 100% European origin, a true "European American."

26 September 2018

The Latest and Last Update:  Received a marketing email from MyHeritage DNA a couple of days ago announcing the firm's improved ability to accept uploaded 23andMe-DNA raw data (genotyping chip--version 5) for ethnicity evaluation under MyHeritage analysis methodology.

Presented here are the MyHeritage DNA Ethnicity Estimates:

       

An individual's DNA clearly does not change. 😏But raw data evaluation methods seem significantly variable.  The 26 Sep 2018 analysis of my 23andMe raw DNA data done by MyHeritage shows some strong variation relative to other DNA analysis firms, in particular with my estimated personal French and UK ancestry previously suggested under both AncestryDNA and 23andMe-DNA methodologies.

Cemetery Upkeep Unacceptable

Stevens Cemetery Front Gate Signage

Six southern Schoharie County and northern Delaware County cemeteries (New York State) were visited on Traditional Memorial Day, May 30, 2018.  I'm happy to report that our many ancestor's monuments located here remain in good shape.  And all but one cemetery seem to be well-maintained by highly concerned caretakers.  The single exception is Harpersfield Rural Cemetery (aka: Stevens Cemetery).  Stevens Cemetery is found in a neglected state; whereas, it is apparent the grounds have not been mowed in 2018.  Further, several mounds of autumn leaves are piled along the southern high rock wall fence, likely left there since late fall 2017.  The good news here is that the several known U.S. Miltary Veterans interred at Stevens Cemetery all had an earned freshly placed new American Flag affixed to their graves.  But the high grasses of this cemetery lawn fundamentally and disgustingly nearly cover these earned American Flags. This condition represents a high dishonor to those many Revolutionary War, Civil War, and various World War Veterans interred here. 

Cemetery view from inside front gate, dated 30 May 2018.

Stevens Cemetery maintenance is supported by a significant endowment for perpetual care of cemetery grounds.  The cited cemetery care endowment is presumed administered by some appointed competent authority, an authority who has failed in presumed cemetery oversight responsibility.

Marginal cemetery maintenance at Stevens is an ongoing problem noted over the past several years, but this year has reached a totally unacceptable level of neglect.  The cemetery perpetual care administrators are respectfully and forcefully asked to take swift action to engage a more patriotic and care-minded paid cemetery maintenance crew. The current Stevens Cemetery maintenance situation is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!  Simply put, for goodness sake -- a detailed cemetery lawn maintenance activity must be done about one week (+/- a couple days) PRIOR to Memorial Day!

Presented below are a few gravesite photos dated 30 May 2018.  Note:  The weed-eating noted was done by the post author using a limited battery-operated device on the morning of Traditional Memorial Day 2018.  

Revolutionary Soldier Captain James Smith, his wife Mary Hubbard, their son Nehemiah and wife Hannah Guernsey and family.

Graves of Colonel Joel Mack and wife Susannah.
.

Revolutionary War Soldier James Smith Jr. and wife Elizabeth Shailer.  James is the son of aforementioned Captain James and Mary Hubbard Smith. 

Respectfully submitted,

DJ Paul, CWO4 (ret.)

United States Navy

German Flatts, NY, USA

  

**------** GO GO GO Goooo "Jedi Judge" **------**

"May The Fourth Be With You..."

ALL RISE!