2 historic markers unveiled at pioneer cemetery in Murray
Pierce-Smith Pioneer Cemetery on Hulberton Road includes burials of Revolutionary War soldier, Civil War vets and many early residents
Photos by Tom Rivers
MURRAY – About 75 people attended a program today at the Pierce-Smith Pioneer Cemetery at 3960 Hulberton Rd. in Murray. Two historical markers were unveiled at the cemetery.
The markers were part of an effort by Albion middle school students and their teacher Tim Archer, who researched Orleans County’s Revolutionary War soldiers.
The “Early Cemetery” marker recognizes the approximately 135 early citizens of the Pierce-Smith Pioneer Cemetery, with burials dating back to 1818.
Sutton Sanders, an eighth-grader who has been working on project since last summer with classmate Luci Borello, thanked local officials for their assistance researching and recognizing the Revolutionary War soldiers.
There are 65 proven burials, but Sanders said there are likely more, but cannot be proven. There are 30 cemeteries with a Revolutionary War veteran.
The Daughter of the American Revolution purchased 13 bronze Revolutionary War flag markers for those who had none, she said.
The students also secured a new headstone from the Veterans Administration in Washington, DC for Revolutionary War veteran Lott Smith at the East Barre Cemetery. It replaces a broken headstone. Another headstone for the Revolutionary War veteran will be replaced in Medina this fall.
Besides the two historical markers at the cemetery on Hulberton Road, the students secured markers that have been placed in Albion at Annis Cemetery on Riches Corners Road and Tanner Road on Route 31 across from Mount Albion.
Luci Borello shared about the historical marker for Robinson Smith, who died on Aug. 27, 1828 at the age of 66.
Smith is buried at the cemetery with his wife Mariam. He enlisted as a private in August 1782 in New Hampshire and served several months in General Washington’s Commander-in-Chief’s Life Guard.
Known to many as Elder Robinson Smith, he was one of a group forming the “Christian Society,” which started in Murray in 1815. Smith had seven children and at least 16 grandchildren.
The other namesake of the cemetery originates with Aretas Pierce. Upon his arrival to the natural wilderness of Western New York, the family lived in a log schoolhouse where they would later construct a simple log cabin.
Aretas was their school teacher. Nine Pierce family members are buried at the cemetery. Prior to their arrival to New York from Vermont, Aretas served as a captain in the Vermont state militia.
Another Pierce family member, Darwin, was a Civil War solider in a New York cavalry. He died at the Andersonville Prison in George on Oct. 30, 1864. Andersonville was a notorious Confederate prison at Camp Sumter where over 45,000 Union soldiers were held captive, and 13,000 died from disease, malnutrition and exposure. The cemetery on Hulberton Road includes headstones for four Civil War soldiers.
Tim Archer welcomes the group. He worked with students on the project. It is among many service-learning projects he has been a part of in the past two decades, connecting students with community services efforts. In the back are regiment flags from the Revolutionary War. They were brought by the Rochester chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution.
Caleb Wolfe, standing next to Tim Archer, provided some details about the two new historical markers. He read a letter from the Pomeroy Foundation, which paid for the markers. The two markers represent over two centuries of history in Albion and Murray, and memorialize Revolutionary War and Civil War veterans and also early residents who are interred at the cemetery.
The foundation praised the Albion School District and the students for worked with teacher Tim Archer on the project. The foundation congratulated them for identifying one of General George Washington’s special unit “Life Guards” who protected the Commander-in-Chief during battle.
Sutton Sanders, left, and Luci Borello, right, presented folders of their research to Elizabeth Haibach, assistant director at Hoag Library; Catherine Cooper, Orleans County historian; Patrice Birner of the Orleans County chapter of the DAR; and Sue Starkweather Miller, Village of Albion historian.
The folders include information about the 65 Revolutionary War soldiers in the county. The document lists the soldiers by town and cemetery. There’s a master list with the service record of each of the soldiers, when they served, where they served, wife’s name, birth and death date. The folder includes some of the records that were used to prove they were Revolutionary War soldiers – enlistment papers, pension records that showed their wives were trying to get a pension after their husband’s death, and census records. The students collected the data since last summer.
Albion student Lucas Palone read an excerpt from the Declaration of Independence.
Civil War re-enactors, including retired Albion teacher Doug Mergler, do a military volley during today’s program.
These Sons of the American Revolution members from Rochester and Buffalo were part of the service. They said they have a busy schedule this year as part of the country’s 250th anniversary. They plan to attend other marker unveilings, parades and special events throughout the year.
Ron Boyd of Holley is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, Rochester chapter.
