Hello.

I’m new at this and have never posted before. While researching my family tree I found the Rhode Island Cemetery Database Master Index, which has been extremely helpful in locating the burial sites of some of my ancestors. I understand the full database is not available online, only at the library and historical society.

My interest is in the KING and HAND families, and according to the Master Index, many are buried at the Brayton Historical Cemetery in Warwick, Rhode Island. Can anyone tell me what kind of information is in the full database (the one at the library)? Are birth and death dates in this database? Can you find out where in the cemetery the graves are located, sections etc? I have read there are many gravesites at Brayton and if I visit, I’d like to know where to look. Like I said, I’m new at this so any information would be appreciated.

Thanks
Liz

Hi Liz,

I haven't been able to find much on this cemetery because it appears to have been abandoned in the late 1980's early 1990's when the caretaker apparently took off with some money. The link below gives some information.
http://www.savinggraves-us.org/ri/reports/brayton.html

According to this site many records are available thru Peter Barrett Funeral Home in Warwick.

https://volunteer.united-e-way.org/uwa08bf/org/opp/103158294...

The above volunteer site says the cemetery was cleaned up at the end of April. On this site there is also a link to the Warwick Historical Cemetery Commission. Maybe they can give you some more information on the cemetery.

Good luck,
Christine

In addition to names and dates the cemetery database also gives any genealogically significant data that appears on the stones, such as parents or relationships. I have a book that was published in 1997 documenting all Warwick cemeteries except three modern ones. It is estimated that Brayton has 3800 burials with just under 3000 inscribed stoned. Let me know the names you are interested in and I will do the look ups.
Tom

Hello,

Thanks for your reply. I am interested in any information on the following people:

KING CHARLES A 1885 - APR 1953 WK034
KING WILLIAM H 1880 - 1938 WK034
HAND EMMA MARY 1884 - 1929 WK034
HAND EDWARD F 1887 - 1918 WK034

I am especially interested in Emma Mary Hand....I believe she was my great-grandmother. I tried to purchase the book you mention, but it is out of print.

I look forward to your reply.

Also, thank you Christine for your response.

Liz

Hi Liz,
The Warwick cemeteries book adds nothing to what you have for Edward and Emma Hand, except that they are identified as husband and wife. Buried in Section E.

One other Hand is listed in Warwick, also at Brayton. He is Bernard F. Hand, 28 Oct. 1904-1 June 1969, veteran of WWII-TEC 4, 229 Ord. Evac. Co. Section G.

William H. King 1880-1938 (buried next to)
Mary E. King, w/o William H., 1878-1956
Buried in Section C.

Charles A. King Apr. 1885-Apr. 1953
Sara G. (Wynn) King, w/o Charles, Dec. 1890-June 1968
Section J

Also in Brayton are,
Daniel T. King 1883-1959
Aseneth King 1891-1956
(nearby is) Madeline C. King 1919-1986
Section G

John Wesley King 1854-1919
Hattie E. (Dunham) King, w/o John Wesley
Lloyd A. King, 1887-1943
Agnes M. (Engstrom) King, w/o Lloyd, 1887-1946
(In same plot)
Effie E. Henry 1881-1949
Section F

Janette A. (LeValley) King, d/o Charles A. & Lucy A. LeValley, 1890-1922
Charles A. LeValley 1856-1925
Lucy A. LeValley 1860-1924
Section H

There are a few other kings listed in the book which I will send if you want them. I'm sorry that what I am sending is such slim pickins'.

If you send me your email I will send the cemetery map showing the lettered sections. I am tomclarke@aol.com.
Tom

Tom,

Thank you for the information. I have sent you an email.

Liz

Tom, Just to let you know, the email I sent you was returned as undeliverable. I tried twice.

Liz

I can't believe that I sent the wrong email address.
It should be
tomclarke1@aol.com
Sorry Liz

I copied 2 of the death records at The Archives in Providence, for you::

Edward Francis Hand, age 30 years, 7 mths, died in Providence, R.I. at St Joseph's Hospital, on Oct 16, 1918. He resided in Warwick and was also born there. Occupation was a brass molder. His parents Frank and Johanna Hand were born in Ireland. He's buried in West Warwick and his wife E. Hand was the informant. He died of influenza.

William Henry King, age 58 years, 4 mths, died on Feb 5, 1938 at St Joseph's Hosp. He resided in Warwick, R.I., and was a night watchman, at The King Union Co. He worked there for 2 yrs and last worked on Dec 25, 1937. He was born in the Harris section of West Warwick to James King and Sarah Ruthleg, both born in Ireland. His wife Mary Emma Straight King was the informant. He's buried in Brayton Cemetery in Apponaug, R.I. Cause of death was an embolism to the femoral artery and he had colon cancer, for which he had surgery on Jan. 12, 1938.

Jamm7,

Thank you so much for the information. You have confirmed some of my guesses and provided some interesting new information. Edward F. Hand's wife Emma May (King) Hand was my great grandmother. I have been to the Brayton Cemetery with the map Tom Clarke sent to me, and I have my photos of Emma and Edward's grave, along with the graves of Charles and William King, who I believe are Emma's brothers. They were the children of James and Sarah King. I thought Sarah's maiden name was Rutledge, not Ruthleg, so that's interesting. I'll have to look into that further.

Anyway, thanks again for the info. This is a very helpful message board.

Liz