My map of Syracuse shows a one block size cemetary on the corner of Grant
and Bear streets. Does anyone know who would have the records for it?

If I am not mistaken, this is the Old First Ward Cemetery. I don't know much about it, but I don't believe any stones remain there today. I have heard disputed info as to whether the bodies might have been moved. It is a little used park, today. I agree, the OHA would probably be your best bet. Call Tues. - Thurs. 1 p.m. - 3:30 pm, and ask to be put through to the research room.

Try calling the city of Syracuse for info at (315)448-2489 or the Onondaga Historical Association at (315)428-1864 or their research department at (315)428-1862. And, of course, there is also the Onondaga County Public Library.

First Ward Cemetery, corner of Grant and Bear, Syracuse, Onondaga Co. Is definately a cemetery. I believe the stones were knocked down and then the city covered the whole place with dirt in the 1920's, due to vandalism and injuries that had taken place there. The place now looks like a park. There are a few varmint holes and washouts that show scraps of monuments. The wisdom of the city fathers(?)

This was the heart of the earlier settled area of Salina, which was busier than the present Syracuse. Many of the families of the old north side were involved with salt making, or lumber, firewood, coopering and hauling.

Rev. Beauchamp surveyed some of the older stones and there was at least one other survey taken before they were covered, but I am not sure that a complete list is available.

These surveys can be seen at the Onondaga Co. Public Library, which incidently, is one of the best genealogical libraries in the country. I was on the Board of Directors of the Onondaga Historical Association for over twenty years, am not now, but if you write to them they will likely refer you to a "more complete list at the OCPL."

One of my pioneer Onondaga families, James CLARK (1764-1839)& his wife, Sarah (CRANE)(1773-1856) are buried there and they are on the list. On Memorial Day I take a small floral display to the center of the park and pay my respects to all.

Dick Hillenbrand, Syracuse

I found the following on Onondaga County Rootsweb. Is this thesame cemetery?

William Ward died in 1795, and was first buried in the Ward cemetery near today's Kinloch Commons, just west of Limestone Creek on W. Seneca St. His second burial site is in Christ Church cemetery. Ward's gravestone at this latter site is a beautiful work of art (see footnote 30).

30. This was the Ward cemetery, once located in the present Kinloch Commons. The old burying ground was sold by the Ward heirs to Reuben Bennett in 1821. Obviously, these bodies were removed to Christ Church cemetery before this date.

No, the WARD Cemetery you refer to is named for the family WARD.

The First WARD Cemetery means as a WARD in the city divisions.

Dick Hillenbrand

What is the best place to write to find out about William and Susannah Ward? Which entity is most like to know about them? Library, Historical Society or other?

I believe my ancestor was their son William W. Ward. He appears to be the one living near Susannah. Any other William Ward found in the NY Census in 1810 does not have the right # and age children. I think that my William W. Ward was in Cayuga County in 1820. I have not been able to trace any land records in NY in either county. William W. was in Erie County, PA by 1830. He did own land there. Marlene

Here is all that I have, taken from Beauchamp's "Revolutionary Soldiers Resident or Dying in Onondaga County, N.Y."
Page 105, Town of Manlius,

"In / memory of / William WARD / who died 7th Sept. / 1795 / Aged 49 years / In memory of / Susanna / consort of Wm. WARD, / who departed this li / fe Sept. 2, 1819 / aged 66 years & 8 months. /

Manlius Cemetery. This pioneer settled on Lot 97 (Military Tract #) in the spring of 1793, and was sole proprietor of that lot in '94. That year he was made Justice of the Peace. In the present town he built the first grist mill. In Conn. rolls his name appears in Capt. J.R. MEIGS Coo., '75; as corporal in Capt. THROOP's Co., Conn. Line, '77-'79, and in Col. SWIFT's Levies, 1780. Probable. Susanna, an administrator, Dec. 3, 1795."

Note: from the above you may assume that there was a gravestone in existence c1880's-1912 when Rev. Beuchamp was compiling this book. He surveyed all of the known cemeteries in Onondaga Co. at that time recording earlier stones. The "Probable" means that Dr. B. suspected that the Rev. War service recorded did in fact apply to this veteran. I would check the DAR Index to see if anyone else has joined under him and send for the file if so. You are not likely to find much in his estate file because from my experience the wills testate and intestate files recorded in Onondaga Co. for that early period of time are extremely terse. The note that his wife was administrator is likely all that you would learn from that file, however if you are in the area then you should check it anyway at the Surrogate's office.

For further clues, write to The Onondaga Historical Association, sending a donation usually helps, and you might try Barbara Rivette, she is or was the Town of Manlius Historian and a very capable and active historian.

That is all that I can help you with. Good luck.
Dick Hillenbrand

Thank you, Dick. You have been a huge help. I will write the Historical Association and probably Barbara Rivette also--maybe one at a time.

I did a search on the web in the Military Tract but must have missed his name. I had previously ordered the land record from the LDS, but did not find anything also. Maybe I was just missing it. I thought that he probably had land somewhere. I think that my William W. did also, but I don't find anything until he gets to Erie County, PA. There is a Marshall family from Cayuga County who has no land in those records. There must be something I don't know about some sort of public land or other. I know that Cayuga was taken from Onondaga County. Could this have been part of the Holland Land Company?

Thanks again for your help. Marlene Wilkinson