This year has seen a surge in the volunteer effort at the Rossville Cemetery beginning with the New York State Division’s Caring for Your Cemetery Day. Beginning that Saturday, one family plot, the Aderton family, became the passion of a good friend and dedicated individual.

Overgrown with brambles, dotted with small and large trees, and poison ivy, it was a challenge to say the least. As the clearing progressed, beneath the thick layer of periwinkle and lilies of the valley, it was evident that possibly some grave markers lying flat had been hidden during the decades of plant growth.

Clearing around an unknown requires patience and time. What was found will definitely aid some families in adding missing information to their genealogies. While it is heartwarming, it is was sad to see the memorials of two, tiny young ladies who never reached their teenage years, Adah Elizabeth Aderton and Ellen Maria Aderton, sisters in life and side by side in eternity.

The Rossville Cemetery Association has included on their website an online research page where you will find the records of the Rossville Church with others being added as time permits if you’re seeking more details on this family.

What is interesting here is that other children in the family had a commonality in their names, perhaps in remembrance by the parents of their babies who had passed on. The main plot grave marker has the names of the others who reached maturity, but it appears these two little ladies have been quietly sleeping beneath the gentle covering of periwinkle and lilies of the valley for decades, waiting for someone to provide them with a bit of sunlight again.

So, for those of you who are seeking missing genealogical information on the Aderton family, one of the earliest and staunch supporters of the Rossville Church, here you are.

“In Memory of Ellen Maria, daughter of John L and Isabella Aderton, died Aug. 22, 1850, aged 5 yr’s 6 mo’s and 10 days”

Estimated Birth Date, based on inscription: February 12th, 1845

“Adah Elizabeth, daughter of John & Isabella Aderton, died March 13, 1832, aged 1 year, 9 Mo.’s and 8 D”
Estimated Birth Date, based on inscription: June 5th, 1830

As the cleanup continues, perhaps we’ll discover other forgotten individuals from the early days of our Town. Thanks, Bud, for revealing these two markers.