Last Stop: St. Monica's Cemetery, Jamaica, Queens - The Hinches

This is the last cemetery Cousin Peter and I visited on our cemetery marathon on Saturday April 23, 2021. St. Monica's Cemetery is located on the southwest corner of Liberty Avenue and 160th Street in Jamaica, Queens, New York.

The cemetery was once the burial yard for a Catholic parish of the same name. The church was built in the mid-1850s but was deconsecrated in 1973. It had been damaged by a series of fires. All that remains today is the facade and steeple which were incorporated into the construction of a child care center for York College in about 2005; just about the time that I got a job at nearby St. John's University. 

The church had once been the parish of Mario Cuomo who was the Governor of New York State from 1983 to 1994. He and I are both graduates of St. John's University. (Go Red Storm!) It was also once the parish of my Hinch ancestors who lived in Jamaica; ancestors Peter and I share.

Annette "Anne" Hinch-Henry is our great-great grandmother. Annette was born in Barnamelia, County Wicklow, Ireland on February 22,1868. I often reflect on her life in my blog. It was tough. Her mother died in Ireland, her paternal uncle brought the family over to America. Her husband, Victor Henry, committed a murder-suicide in 1908. He murdered Annette's cousin. Annette had three small children to raise on her own after she had already buried three infants. She took in foundlings, or orphans as we would call them. One of them died of appendicitis while in her care. Then she wound up burying two of her adult children; her youngest son Victor Henry drown in a boating accident at the age of 38 and her older son, my great grandfather Charles Henry, died of cancer at 54.

Her father, my 3rd great grandfather, James Hinch was born in about 1816 in Ireland. James died January 29, 1886 in Jamaica, Queens, NY. He is buried in St. Monica's Cemetery. As are Annette's three infant children: Mary "Annie" Henry (8 December 1897 - 6 April 1899), James Henry (24 June 1904 - 16 July 1905), and Robert Henry (7 February 1906 - 10 February 1906).

I also know that her uncle, Charles Hinch, is buried there as well. Charles was slightly younger than James and I get the sense Charles was a bit better financially. Charles died on January 24, 1895. It was his daughter who Victor Henry murdered; Mary Ann Hinch-Cassidy. She is buried in St. Monica's cemetery too.

I don't know what other Hinch relatives might be in that graveyard because I have not been able to track down who has St. Monica's records. I know these burials because their New York City death certificates state the cemetery.

We also could not get into the cemetery which was locked. We could only peer through the chain-link fence at the spot I know is marked for them. They are that cluster of stones framed by the fence.

The stones are no longer legible but I know it is the spot based on content listed on FindAGrave.com. FindAGrave lists 458 photographed headstones in this cemetery. That is about 84% of the stone in the cemetery, not to mention all the unmarked burials there may be. So its a tiny cemetery. Not the tiniest I've been to but still small. In the whole church yard, the Hinches' stones are the only ones that butt up against each other.

FindAGrave only shows the headstone for Charles Hinch. But from family I have heard that my 3rd great grandfather James is buried right next to his brother. 

On my call to the Catholic Cemeteries of Brooklyn, I was told they do not maintain that cemetery. Someone does. I think it's them but I have  also contacted York College to see if I they are able to let me into the cemetery but I have received no reply.

Fifth Stop: Evergreens Cemetery, Brooklyn - The Prinzes

Cemetery of the Evergreens, more commonly referred to as Evergreens Cemetery, is a beautiful cemetery in Brooklyn, New York. It is the resting place of my great-great-great grandparents, Johan Prinz (14 May 1826 - 22 May 1888, New York) and Franciscka "Frances" Pruess-Prinz (17 November 1830 - 29 November 1902); and it is stop number 5 on my marathon through cemeteries with Cousin Peter. 

The Prinzes are interred in the section called North Mead in grave # 4534. Almost every cemetery is laid out differently. They might call certain areas plots or lots or sections. You might get a combination of numbers and letters designating rows and graves. In Evergreens the sections are huge and the North Mead section has thousands of burials with simple grave numbers; for example # 4534. We had no idea what row that was in. Typically rows line up left to right, like we read. In this case though, numbering ran in aisles from the front of the section to the back. When the line hit the back of the section, numbering picked up in the next aisle at the front. I've never seen it quite like that. I wish we figure that out before we found my people. We wandered through this cemetery for a long time.

See these numbered stones in the retaining wall at the front of the section? They indicate the grave # at the front of that aisle. So strange to me.

In any case, that puts my people in the Bullwinkle aisle. There's a name that's hard to forget.

Peter and I hadn't figure that out though when we started looking. We wandered back and forth looking for any grave numbers etched into headstones. There were so few. 

But I found it!! 

It is so worn that it is practically impossible to make out the surname but it is there. Can you see it? P R I N Z

The Z is pretty clear.

Here it is from another angle.

What really should have given it away was this nearby footstone.

I am not sure that Grandpa sign is for my 3rd great grandpa, Johan Prinz, but it is very close by so maybe it's his. Nonetheless, I found them! I know the name engraved on the stone says Jan and not Johan but this spot makes sense to be grave # 4534. I'm sure it's them.

The stone includes some sort of lettering in a foreign language. It is too worn for me to identify. However, I know this couple was born in what is now the Czech Republic. I wish I knew what it said. But we have no time - on to the next. Last stop: St. Monica's Cemetery in Jamaica, Queens.

Fourth Stop: Most Holy Trinity Cemetery, Brooklyn - Some Sauers

After three and half hours of cemetery visits through 3 other cemeteries, on Saturday, April 24, 2021, Cousin Peter and I stopped for a leisurely lunch. It was really only the waiter who seemed to want it to be leisurely lunch though. Pete and I really didn't have much more time to get to the 3 other cemeteries on my list. One of the cemeteries left on the list closes at 4 p.m. and it was already 3:20 when we finished lunch. We thus entered the sprint phase of our journey that day. Next stop: Most Holy Trinity Cemetery.

Our destination was that of our great-great-great grandparents, George Sauer (11 June 1827 - 22 August 1891) and Anna Maria Schmitt-Sauer (6 August 1835 - 6 February1899).

This cemetery is unique in that all the markers are made of metal. Yes, metal. I have never seen anything like it before and couldn't resist knocking on a few just to confirm that, yes, they are mostly boxes constructed from some thin metal; tin, steel, zinc, perhaps. Even the large crosses were wood wrapped in metal.

Newer markers look perfectly square and uniform in color but most are in some state of rusting. George and Anna Maria are interred in Lott 66, Row 8, Grave 7 &/or 8. They themselves do not have a marker but their daughter, Barbara, married into the Neorgra family and they have a marker on the lot.

 

The Neogra family plot was purchased for the burial of George Sauer in 1891; Charles Neogra's father-in-law. His burial was followed by that of his wife Anna Maria in 1899. Then there are the following individuals:

• Ethel Redmann, (20 December 1905 - 11 January 1906)
• Infant daughter of Elizabeth Neogra-Redman who was just 23 days old when she died

• Cecilia Sauer, (14 July 1906 - 9 August 1907)
• Daughter of William Sauer and Agnes Gray-Sauer, my great-great grandparents who are buried in St. John Cemetery and who we visited earlier this day.

• James Leonard (25 December 1911 - 5 January 1912)
• Infant son of Josephine Neogra-Leonard and Michael Leonard. Grandson of Barbara Sauer-Neorgra and Charles Neogra.

• Barbara Sauer-Neogra (17 September 1861 - 11 January 1915)
• Daughter of William Sauer and Agnes Gray-Sauer

• William Neogra (29 October 1925 - 14 August 1926)
• Son of William Neogra and Mary Geopfert-Neogra. Grandson of Barbara Sauer-Neorgra and Charles Neogra.

• Charles Neogra (30 May 1857 - 20 May 1939)
• Husband of Barbara Sauer-Neogra. Son-in-law of William Sauer and Agnes Gray-Sauer.

We did not have much time to linger at this cemetery. It was actually our shortest cemetery visit, clocking in at just 11 minutes. I wish I had taken some more photos of the markers in various states of decay. I'm especially sad I didn't take a photo of the one that looked like a tree or something crashed into it. It was mangled like it had been in a car wreck. Sad. But, the next cemetery we had to get to was Evergreens, right next door, and it closes at 4 p.m. It was already after 3:30. So hurry, hurry, hurry.

Third Stop: All Faiths Cemetery, Middle Village - Elizabeth Goetz-Krantzel

On Saturday, April 24, 2021, my Cousin Pete accompanied me to several cemeteries in which our ancestors were buried but this one, All Faiths Cemetery, was specific to my mother's side of the family. In other words, Elizabeth Goetz-Krantzel (12 February 1833, Germany - 25 August 1898, NY) is my 3rd great grandmother, not Pete's. Pete is a good soul who indulges me and my wacky genealogy excursions. I love him.

I have written about my Krantzels recently and the sketchy details surrounding the death of Elizabeth's husband, my 3rd great grandfather, Heinrich Daniel Krantzel. Elizabeth, though, I knew was buried in Lutheran Cemetery. All Faiths Cemetery is Lutheran Cemetery. Well, it was first established in 1850 by a Lutheran pastor. Since its incorporation in 1852 though, members of all faiths were permitted burial in this cemetery. Thus, the name. Elizabeth's death certificate from August 25, 1896 clearly indicated she is buried in Lutheran Cemetery. This is the cemetery though, and they are very proud to boast on their entrance sign that are "For People of All Faiths." 

I am fairly certain Elizabeth was Lutheran, though. I am Catholic, as are both of my parents, and both of my grandmothers but neither of my grandfathers were raised Catholic. Grandpa Earle converted to Catholicism. Grandpa Gardner never did, yet, his father was raised Catholic and is interred in a Catholic Cemetery. Religion in my family history was pretty fluid and most reflective of what church the family lived closest to as opposed to a commitment to any specific denomination of Christianity. But I digress - -

It was my hope that this cemetery would reveal that Elizabeth's sketchy husband was buried with her, thereby removing the mystery surrounding his death. Unfortunately though, he's not buried in this cemetery. The clerk made a great effort to find the right plot location for Elizabeth so I trust Heinrich is not at All Faiths.

I went into the office with nothing but Elizabeth's name and dates of birth and death. The clerk looked and looked for any Krantzel on record and their were none. There were, however, a few Crantzels. That's right, they are misspelled in the official plot books. That surname is spelled a dozen different ways on their records; Krantzel, Crantzel, Cransel, Crausel, etc., etc., etc.

First the clerk found an Ernest Crantzel. "Yes!! That is her son!," I exclaimed.

"He died of epilepsy," the clerk stated.

"What?!" My niece just recently had what they think might have been a seizure and the doctors asked if there was a family history of epilepsy. I know of one great-great uncle who lived in a hospital for epileptics back in the early 1900s, no relation to Ernest but also on my mother's side. I called my sister that evening as this perhaps might be of interest to her doctors.

In any case, based on the other details provided to me the plot was purchased by Francis "Frank" Krantzel, another son, to bury their mother, Elizabeth, in August 1896. Elizabeth was 63 years old, 6 months, and 13 days when she died on August 25, 1896 placing her birth at February 12, 1833 in Germany.

She is interred with her son Ernest Krantzel (12 Oct 1863 - 7 Oct 1921) and his wife, Kate Stadleberger-Krantzel ( abt. 1865 - 6 Aug 1917) in Public Lot 2, Map 5, Row 46, Grave 21. 

The grave is unmarked as are so many around them as you can tell by the nearly empty field. The cemetery, although quite beautiful in many ways, was in desperate need of a mow and the main office informed us of this before heading out to the plot. It's early spring and I suppose the landscaping crews have not begun their work their yet. It was so overgrown. Even what they call the Family Lots, owned by families in better financial circumstances than my people. Families like that of, oh say, Donald Trump who's parents, Fred and Mary Trump are interred. They don't have the fancy headstone one might expect/ Their section looks downright abandoned and unkempt as well. 

Second Stop, part 4: St. John Cemetery, Middle Village Queens - Victor Henry

The last on our list of gravesites to visit in St. John Cemetery on that beautiful Saturday, April 23, 2021, was that of our 3rd great grandfather, Victor Henry (born in March 1838 in Switzerland - died 9 November 1896, in Queens, NY). Victor is interred in Section 16, Row A, Grave 403. 

Row A, you say, well that is going to be right up front now, isn't it? Probably won't even have to get out of the car to find it. However, this was far from the easiest one to find.

Cousin Peter and I certainly parked close enough to the grave. It was in the first row. Well, it wasn't facing the road, so maybe technically it is the second row, really. Nonetheless, can you pick it out of this photo?

Nah, neither could we. But if you guess that broken one in the middle, you would be correct.

Cousin Peter and I paced back and forth down the row looking for plot numbers that are occassionally etched into the lower right corner of the headstones. It was a long row with very few headstones facing the direction we needed. I attempted to take 30 inch strides like we had seen a the cemetery worker at St. Michael's Cemetery do earlier that day. 

"Pete, I think it's this broken one."

Incredulously we examined the remains of the stone looking for any text on it. So worn, we couldn't see anything. The top half of the stone was propped up against the back of the base. Pete helped me tip the top portion of the stone back so I could see the other side and sure enough - -  Can you make it out?

I can barely make out the words. 

"IN MEMORY 

OF 

VICTOR HENRY

DIED NOV 9 (or 8) 1896

AGE (illegible)

JOSEPH HENRY

(illegible) 1902"

Do you see any of that? I think this is the one instance in which taking a rubbing of the stone would have been totally acceptable. It is said that such practice can really damage a stone but honestly, it doesn't get more more damaged than this.

I instantly wanted to replace this stone. I mean there are plenty of family plots with no marker at all. My past post from about this cemetery visit showed Victor's wife, Mary Carillion-Henry's plot with nothing but an azalea. If I had a ridiculous amount of money I'd put headstones on everyone but something about this one, severed in the way it is, made me ache to see it replaced. I mean, this family had very little money. I am sure even way back then a headstone was an investment. Now it would just be gone.

Two days later I contacted the cemetery. They didn't call me back I called them again the following day. What do I need to do to replace this stone?

Well, they were quick to tell me the past care fee the family owed. Hmm. Nearly $3K but made it sound like the effort to replace the stone would be impossible. I would need the permission of every living descendants. Huh? They can't be serious.

I was told they made an effort to contact the grave owner when the stone was broken in a storm back in 2010. Um, the plot owner, Victor's son Victor, died in 1908. 

So here comes a relative, willing to pay to replace the stone and they expect affidavits from every living descendant for a man who died 125 years ago. Sounds a bit insane to me. I could understand such lengths if I was trying to add information to the stone but I am just trying to put something back the family wanted there in the first place.

I know of only 2 remaining great grandchildren of this man. I'm 99% sure there are no others. However, I can only estimate hundreds of great-great, great-great-great, and great-great-great-great grandchildren. That's pretty freakin' great.

I immediately reached out to a fellow descendant of Victor's, Cousin Jenny who has recently been working with another Catholic Cemetery in Queens to get some names added to existing stones on the other side of her family. She assures me it is a project, a great-great-great-great-great freakin' project.

Anyway, Jenny and I have since contacted a monument dealer and started a FaceBook group for family members, and plan to launch a GoFundMe campaign very soon in an effort to replace the stone.

No matter what it costs or what hoops the cemetery requires us to jump through, I know that many members of the extended will feel compelled to contribute to the effort, recognizing that this man, Victor Henry, is very much the reason we exist, why we are Americans, and why we know and love one another.

Second Stop, part 3: St. John Cemetery, Middle Village Queens - Mary Carillion-Henry

Another of the graves that Cousin Peter and I visited in St. John Cemetery on April 24, 2021 was that of our 3rd great grandmother, Mary Carillion-Henry (October 1855 - 8 January 1907). Mary is interred in Section 13, Row O, Grave 7. She has no marker which, again, is not uncommon for my family. Although, we have been richly rewarded in finding many Henry family markers on this particular day. Instead, Mary has a beautiful fuchsia colored azalea near her grave. It might really be the neighbor's planting but we admired it just the same.

Mary was a struggle to research. For decades my records recorded a vague maiden name for Mary. Sometimes it appeared as Carion, Carrion, Carien, Karon, Carson, and a ton of other variations. I knew they were all wrong. In part I knew this because of this image; the reverse of Mary's Death certificate:

On the back on Mary's Death Certificate there was a note that her son August Henry, the informant, that reads "Could not ascertain Mother's Maiden Name."

It was actually an AncestryDNA match several years ago that led me to her maiden name, Carillion. I matches with a woman who was the descendant of John Carillion, who turned out to be Mary's brother. That DNA discovery yielded another generation to add to my tree; Mary's parents, Nicholas and Caroline. 

Although the spelling of both surnames are very off, below is an image from the NY State 1875 Census showing my 4th great grandparents Nicholas and Caroline with their children John and Louisa "Karron" living right next to my 3rd great grandparents, Victor and Mary "Arrai" with their infant son (my great-great grandfather) Victor Henry. Yes, if you say Henry with a French accent and try to spell it phonetically, Arrai is pretty close.

Second Stop, part 2: St. John Cemetery, Middle Village Queens - Anne Hinch-Henry

When visiting St. John Cemetery with Cousin Pete on April 24, 2021, we visited several graves of our ancestors, one of which was our great great grandmother, Annette "Anne" Hinch-Henry. She is my Grandma Earle's paternal grandmother. All my research into her life has revealed such terrible sadness. Doesn't she look like Julia Roberts though?

Annette was born on February 22, 1868 in Barnamelia, County Wicklow, Ireland to James Hinch and Jane Kavanaugh-Hinch. She was the 4th of 6 children; 5 girls and 1 boy. Her mother died in Ireland but I can't find a record for the date or the cause. Her brother also died young. The family lore was that he drown in a local river but the death record I found, which might not be him really, states he died in a workhouse. 

It was her uncle, Charles Hinch, who made his way to the United States and acquired enough wealth to secure some property in Jamaica, Queens, New York and bring his family and his brother's family over from Ireland. Charles and James Hinch are buried in St. Monica's Cemetery which was also one of the cemeteries Peter and I visited on April 24. I plan to blog about that soon.

Annette married Victor Henry on June 18, 1895. The couple had 6 children, 3 of which died as infants and two of which she outlived. Yes, she buried 5 of her 6 children. And then in a very dramatic event, her husband killed Annette's cousin, Mary Hinch-Cassidy before turning the revolver on himself on June 8, 1908. Tragedy after tragedy, Annette survived until the age of 84. She died on March 2, 1952 in Pearl River, NY where she was living with her daughter Jane Henry-Edsall.

She is interred in St. John Cemetery in Section 18, Row O, Grave 78. And yes! She has a headstone. 

You can see she is interred with Edward Reed who died when he was 16 years old. Edward was a child that Annette fostered and died while in her care. My great uncle Bobby Henry shared the details of Edward's death with me many years ago. Eddie was suffering with stomach pains so Annette took him to a doctor who told the kid he was faking his illness so that he didn't have to go to school. That night Eddie died in his sleep from a ruptured appendix. More tragedy this poor woman had to endure. It comforted me to see Eddie recorded on that headstone with Annette.

I called St. John Cemetery to learn what that name Nolan is doing on the bottom of that stone. That is not a surname I have run into in my genealogy research. Apparently the plot was purchased by Daniel Nolan. Daniel is not interred in the plot but there is a third burial there, one not listed on the stone. Daniel's cousin of some ilk, Louis Lanzerett (about 1859 - 10 Aug 1918) of Woodhaven, Queens, New York. Daniel Nolan is so common a name I can't be sure any of the ones are find are the right person. Maybe someday I will figure out the connection but for now I am grateful Daniel provided my great-great grandmother a beautiful place to be laid to rest.