Blandford's Old Cemetery, the Hill Cemetery, North Blandford Cemetery and the Stannard Road Cemetery are known to most people in Blandford.
Another town cemetery location is now under the water of Cobble Mountain Reservoir. This was on South Street, not far above the Granville line. The City of Springfield deposited a chart of that cemetery and the disposition made of the remains which were found there at the Porter Memorial Library in Blandford. There were 59 or 60 burials located. Perhaps more were there which were unmarked.
There is a Hastings cemetery on the Sperry Road which can be easily found. This is surrounded by a stone wall. Gravestones were found for:
John Hastings d. June 11, 1835 62 yrs.
Rachel Hastings, wife d. June 9, 1849-72 yrs.
Mary Hastings d. March 17, 1839-18 yrs.
Hiram A., son of King S. & Margaret A. Hastings drowned May 28, 1849-6 yrs..
Irvin, son of King & Margaret Hastings d. March 29, 1839-17 mos.
Another town cemetery location is now under the water of Cobble Mountain Reservoir. This was on South Street, not far above the Granville line. The City of Springfield deposited a chart of that cemetery and the disposition made of the remains which were found there at the Porter Memorial Library in Blandford. There were 59 or 60 burials located. Perhaps more were there which were unmarked.
There is a Hastings cemetery on the Sperry Road which can be easily found. This is surrounded by a stone wall. Gravestones were found for:
John Hastings d. June 11, 1835 62 yrs.
Rachel Hastings, wife d. June 9, 1849-72 yrs.
Mary Hastings d. March 17, 1839-18 yrs.
Hiram A., son of King S. & Margaret A. Hastings drowned May 28, 1849-6 yrs..
Irvin, son of King & Margaret Hastings d. March 29, 1839-17 mos.
Hezekiah, son of King & Margaret Hastings d. Sept. 13, 1833-3 yrs.
I am sure the following are here also, but with no headstones:
King Solomon Hastings Jan. 24, 1854.48 yrs., 6 mo., 3 days.
Margaret Hastings, wife d. March 22, 1867.
A broken stone in the front row is probably for:
Child of John Hastings d. Sept. 1810-14 mo., drowned. (Blandford Church rec.
Giles Dayton once lived at the east corner of the old Sperry road and Route 23. One stone was finally found flat on the ground. Two names appeared on it:
Mary Dayton d. July 16, 1833 91 94 yrs.
Maria E. Dayton d. Jan. 23, 1846 25 yrs., 5 mo., 29 days.
Later, indications of five or six other burials were seen. I am sure Giles Dayton is there, with others of his family. A few years ago a grader went in and probably destroyed all evidence of these burials.
I am sure the following are here also, but with no headstones:
King Solomon Hastings Jan. 24, 1854.48 yrs., 6 mo., 3 days.
Margaret Hastings, wife d. March 22, 1867.
A broken stone in the front row is probably for:
Child of John Hastings d. Sept. 1810-14 mo., drowned. (Blandford Church rec.
Giles Dayton once lived at the east corner of the old Sperry road and Route 23. One stone was finally found flat on the ground. Two names appeared on it:
Mary Dayton d. July 16, 1833 91 94 yrs.
Maria E. Dayton d. Jan. 23, 1846 25 yrs., 5 mo., 29 days.
Later, indications of five or six other burials were seen. I am sure Giles Dayton is there, with others of his family. A few years ago a grader went in and probably destroyed all evidence of these burials.
On the Huntington Road, where David Knox once lived, are other burials. Long ago I was told that the gravestones were on top of a pile of field stones on the property. I went there and found this was so. Apparently, when clearing the lot, these field stones were heaped in the middle of the lot and the gravestones tossed on top. I took these inscriptions:
David Knox d. March 18, 1852 aged 84 yrs.
Rebecca, wife of David Knox d. July 23, 1851- 82 yrs.
Carolene V., dau. of Maria M. Nye d. Apr. 8, 1839-32 mo.
Melissa M., dau. of Lester & Laura Knox d. May 19, 1835, aged 5 months.
In 1977, my daughter and I went again to this location. At that time, many broken and scattered pieces of gravestones were found near the David Knox cellar hole none whole. One, which was a footstone, with the letter "L" was found there. This was probably for Laura (Sackett) Knox, who married Lester Knox and died in Pittsfield Nov. 22, 1866.
I feel that these burials are on the hill, near the present house. We found indications of five burials, which square with the information above.
David Knox d. March 18, 1852 aged 84 yrs.
Rebecca, wife of David Knox d. July 23, 1851- 82 yrs.
Carolene V., dau. of Maria M. Nye d. Apr. 8, 1839-32 mo.
Melissa M., dau. of Lester & Laura Knox d. May 19, 1835, aged 5 months.
In 1977, my daughter and I went again to this location. At that time, many broken and scattered pieces of gravestones were found near the David Knox cellar hole none whole. One, which was a footstone, with the letter "L" was found there. This was probably for Laura (Sackett) Knox, who married Lester Knox and died in Pittsfield Nov. 22, 1866.
I feel that these burials are on the hill, near the present house. We found indications of five burials, which square with the information above.
In the Springfield Watershed area, on the lower part of Falls Road (now discontinued) there are three Sizer burials on Sizer property.
Anthony Sizer d. Oct. 17, 1840 - 78 yrs. Lucretia Sizer, wife d. Jan. 7, 1850 - 84 yrs., 7 mo., 25 days
Uri Sizer d. Feb. 13, 1839 - 1 yr., 9 mo.
Also on the Falls Road is a Warfield cemetery with a stone wall surrounding it. When I saw it, these stones were there:
Samuel Warfield d. Dec. 3, 1857-77 yrs.
Hannah Warfield, wife d. Sept. 27, 1862-76 yrs., 6 mo., 23 days
Henry H. Warfield d. Jan. 10, 1892-75 yrs., 11 days 8 mo.,
Cynthia M. Warfield, wife d. Jan. 24, 1881 - 62 yrs., 10 mo.
John Warfield d. May 29, 1835-3 yrs.
Martha E. Warfield d. Nov.-, 1845-6 days
Anthony Sizer d. Oct. 17, 1840 - 78 yrs. Lucretia Sizer, wife d. Jan. 7, 1850 - 84 yrs., 7 mo., 25 days
Uri Sizer d. Feb. 13, 1839 - 1 yr., 9 mo.
Also on the Falls Road is a Warfield cemetery with a stone wall surrounding it. When I saw it, these stones were there:
Samuel Warfield d. Dec. 3, 1857-77 yrs.
Hannah Warfield, wife d. Sept. 27, 1862-76 yrs., 6 mo., 23 days
Henry H. Warfield d. Jan. 10, 1892-75 yrs., 11 days 8 mo.,
Cynthia M. Warfield, wife d. Jan. 24, 1881 - 62 yrs., 10 mo.
John Warfield d. May 29, 1835-3 yrs.
Martha E. Warfield d. Nov.-, 1845-6 days
Depressions indicated other burials, but no gravestones were seen. I have been told that the cemetery is in bad shape now.
There were two Barker sisters, daughters of Thomas F. Barker, who were buried in North Blandford, according to information given me. Because they died of smallpox, it was said they were buried beside the road near the Charles Babb place. There were gravestones there at one time, so my informant said, but when the road was relocated, or repaired, the graves were covered. These graves will probably never be located.
Ida Barker d. March 14, 1870 - 10 yrs. smallpox
Lottie Barker d. March 21, 1870 - 3 yrs., 10 mo. smallpox
At the discontinued end of Millard Road, near Route 23, is or was a small stone.
Infant of Henry B. & Hannah W. Wadhams d. July 18, 1842 - 7 mo.
This burial was found opposite the cellar- hole which is on the west side of the road.
Lorenzo Franklin, a black, owned land opposite the Sanderson Brook Road. According to this death record:
John Ten Eyck, a mulatto d. Aug. 16, 1878 buried on land of Lorenzo Franklin.
If so, probably Lorenzo Franklin, who d. Feb. 21, 1899-73 yrs., and Lucinda Franklin, wife, who d. March 29, 1899-78 yrs., are buried on the same place.
Their death records say "buried in Blandford". I have found no markers anywhere.
Another burial is said to be in the lot opposite the former William Wyman house on Birch Hill Road. It is probably in back of the present Elwin Wyman home. No marker is to be found.
Estalla M. Crooks, dau. James & Sophronia (Wyman) Crooks d. July 29, 1869-1 mo., 29 days
Several years ago, I was told that there was a gravestone part way up Negro Hill Road. I made it a "must" to find it myself. I did with some difficulty. Later in my Blandford research, I came across this town record:
"March 11, 1833 Voted to accept half an acre of land for a burying ground of Giles Tracy on the condition of fencing the same at the expense of the town."
One day a man from Westfield asked me the whereabouts of miscellaneous outlying burials. He especially wanted to go to the Negro Hill site. At that time, Ralph Warfield had a vehicle with 4-wheel drive. He took us up the hill. The road had long been discontinued and was badly washed and rutted. What a ride! But we made it.
The Giles Tracy stone lies flat on the ground. Beside it is a depression which I assume is the resting place of his wife. At right angles were stubs of one or two gravestones, but nothing could be made of these.
Giles Tracy d. March 12, 1833-73 yrs.
I could find no markers of any kind for other burials, but my divining rods indicated burials as I have shown on the chart. Because of broken branches, etc. I could not be sure if I found all of them. (For unbelievers, see "Stone Walls" Vol. 2 #3 -1976).
Most of the negroes, who once were in Blandford, lived on this road. The town records of their deaths say "buried in Blandford". Since I find no gravestones for them elsewhere, I firmly believe these too, are buried here:
Vial Brewster d. March 25, 1823 supposed over 90
Lettice Brewster, wife d. March 8, 1830-87 yrs.
Jared Cables d. Aug. 14, 1857-92 yrs., 6 mo.
Mary Cables, wife d. June 12, 1819 - 42 yrs. Judah (Jones) (Martin) Cables d. Nov. 13, 1855-85 yrs.
Patty Foot d. April 8, 1825 - 70 yrs.
Jethro Jones d. Jan. 12, 1828 - 96 or 99 yrs.
Judah Jones, wife - d. Oct. 15, 1829-66 yrs.
William Martin d. Nov. 28, 1815 - 42 yrs.
Judith (or Judah) Martin d. Nov. 13, 1855 - 85 yrs.
David Miller d. Jan. 8, 1892-91 yrs., 9 mo. Jenny (Brewster) (Jones) Miller d. July 11, 1869
No stone wall surrounds the area and trees have grown up with a tangle of undergrowth. Since this land was accepted by the town, it is sad that nothing was ever done to preserve this small plot.
From Stone Walls Magazine, Spring, 1990
There were two Barker sisters, daughters of Thomas F. Barker, who were buried in North Blandford, according to information given me. Because they died of smallpox, it was said they were buried beside the road near the Charles Babb place. There were gravestones there at one time, so my informant said, but when the road was relocated, or repaired, the graves were covered. These graves will probably never be located.
Ida Barker d. March 14, 1870 - 10 yrs. smallpox
Lottie Barker d. March 21, 1870 - 3 yrs., 10 mo. smallpox
At the discontinued end of Millard Road, near Route 23, is or was a small stone.
Infant of Henry B. & Hannah W. Wadhams d. July 18, 1842 - 7 mo.
This burial was found opposite the cellar- hole which is on the west side of the road.
Lorenzo Franklin, a black, owned land opposite the Sanderson Brook Road. According to this death record:
John Ten Eyck, a mulatto d. Aug. 16, 1878 buried on land of Lorenzo Franklin.
If so, probably Lorenzo Franklin, who d. Feb. 21, 1899-73 yrs., and Lucinda Franklin, wife, who d. March 29, 1899-78 yrs., are buried on the same place.
Their death records say "buried in Blandford". I have found no markers anywhere.
Another burial is said to be in the lot opposite the former William Wyman house on Birch Hill Road. It is probably in back of the present Elwin Wyman home. No marker is to be found.
Estalla M. Crooks, dau. James & Sophronia (Wyman) Crooks d. July 29, 1869-1 mo., 29 days
Several years ago, I was told that there was a gravestone part way up Negro Hill Road. I made it a "must" to find it myself. I did with some difficulty. Later in my Blandford research, I came across this town record:
"March 11, 1833 Voted to accept half an acre of land for a burying ground of Giles Tracy on the condition of fencing the same at the expense of the town."
One day a man from Westfield asked me the whereabouts of miscellaneous outlying burials. He especially wanted to go to the Negro Hill site. At that time, Ralph Warfield had a vehicle with 4-wheel drive. He took us up the hill. The road had long been discontinued and was badly washed and rutted. What a ride! But we made it.
The Giles Tracy stone lies flat on the ground. Beside it is a depression which I assume is the resting place of his wife. At right angles were stubs of one or two gravestones, but nothing could be made of these.
Giles Tracy d. March 12, 1833-73 yrs.
I could find no markers of any kind for other burials, but my divining rods indicated burials as I have shown on the chart. Because of broken branches, etc. I could not be sure if I found all of them. (For unbelievers, see "Stone Walls" Vol. 2 #3 -1976).
Most of the negroes, who once were in Blandford, lived on this road. The town records of their deaths say "buried in Blandford". Since I find no gravestones for them elsewhere, I firmly believe these too, are buried here:
Vial Brewster d. March 25, 1823 supposed over 90
Lettice Brewster, wife d. March 8, 1830-87 yrs.
Jared Cables d. Aug. 14, 1857-92 yrs., 6 mo.
Mary Cables, wife d. June 12, 1819 - 42 yrs. Judah (Jones) (Martin) Cables d. Nov. 13, 1855-85 yrs.
Patty Foot d. April 8, 1825 - 70 yrs.
Jethro Jones d. Jan. 12, 1828 - 96 or 99 yrs.
Judah Jones, wife - d. Oct. 15, 1829-66 yrs.
William Martin d. Nov. 28, 1815 - 42 yrs.
Judith (or Judah) Martin d. Nov. 13, 1855 - 85 yrs.
David Miller d. Jan. 8, 1892-91 yrs., 9 mo. Jenny (Brewster) (Jones) Miller d. July 11, 1869
No stone wall surrounds the area and trees have grown up with a tangle of undergrowth. Since this land was accepted by the town, it is sad that nothing was ever done to preserve this small plot.
From Stone Walls Magazine, Spring, 1990