Friends of Abandoned Cemeteries, Inc. S.I.

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December 2011 - NEW FREE CEMETERY RECORDS FOR SYLVAN CEMETERY VLD GRAVE STONE TRANSCRIPTION

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nyrichmo/cemeteries/sylvan.html

Welcome to the Friends of Abandoned Cemeteries. We are a a group of Staten Islander's whose interest includes the historic S.I. cemeteries. Most of these cemeteries were forgotten, but thanks to the kindness of fellow S.I.'ers they have been reclaimed and restored.

 We have rescued and maintain an archive of historic S.I. records, which include the original burial records of over a dozen cemeteries, original family letters, undertaker books, coroners records, maps and various recordings of local 19th century life is now available for research!

FACSI was formed in 1981 and  was incorporated in the state of NY in 1983 as a 501C3 not for profit. 

Our mission statement is:

­To initiate, promote and assist in the beautification, rehabilitation, and/or cleanup of neglected or abandoned cemeteries, graveyards, burying grounds and churchyards; an to restore/maintain grave stones/markers, and the history of such final resting places. To maintain the obscure historic burial records as well as other written material.

In the process of restoring these many historic S.I. cemeteries, we preserve amd protect the area's that they are located.

We seek donations to help us continue with our mission.

Please send a tax deductible donation today to the above captioned address. All donations are certainly appreciated

2011 News!

We are pleased to announce that Sylvan Cemetery in Travis has received $1.2 million dollar capital grant for the restoration of the old cemetery and the creation of the new  "Independence Park". The funding was provided by the Staten Island Borough President, James Molinaro and allocated to the NYC Parks Dept. FACSI partnered with the Travis 4th of July Parade Committee to seek the restoration. Special acknowledgement to Janice and Nicky Blanchard of the parade committee for a truly great job!   As you may know, Sylvan Cemetery started about 1690, became more public in 1781 and was abandoned in the 1930's. In 1981 FACSI acknowledged Sylvan as the largest and oldest Staten Island abandoned cemetery.  

During the course of restoring Sylvan Cemetery, we updated the 1922-3 VLD grave stone study that was done 90 years ago.  FACSI used the historic VLD work and brought it to 2011!  129 grave stones were found, re-installed, set and photo'd exactly where they stood in 1922!  Thank you James Molinario for making this happen! A truly great legacy!

FACSI strives to put FREE vital records on-line for family reserach. 

Thousands of names are now searchable and free for: SAILORS SNUG HARBOR, OLD CLOVE BAPTIST, 2ND ASBURY AFRICAN CEMETERY, FOUNTAIN PUBLIC GROUNDS, VAN STREET, FOUNTAIN, STATEN ISLAND, MERRILL, LAKE, SILVIES, NEW SPRINGVILLE, ASBURY, TRINITY, SEAMENS RETREAT, ST. GEORGE /MARINE HOSPITAL. and SYLAN.

The transcription of the Dempsey and Son's Funeral Home books for both Staten Island and Bayonne has commenced, 6 books are completed, each containing between 250-500 names each book. Dempsey was in business for just about 100 years (1850-1950). He had offices in both S.I. and Bayonne. He was  also the Coroner for both Staten Island and Bayonne.

Steers and Steers Funeral Home books are also on CD and held by FACSI, soon to be tramscribed!

If you check the Richmond County Genealogy website you will find all of the links, to the above, but here are a few:

 There is a Soundex for each surname to assist in searching.

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nyrichmo/cemeteries/fountainpublic.html
Fountain Cemetery Public Grounds Burials

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nyrichmo/cemeteries/dempsey.html

Dempsey & Sons Funeral Home Records came be found at the above link. Check back from time to time as there are over 40 Dempsey books and they will be put on line as they are transcribed.

As you may know, when the 5 Boroughs consolidated, approximately 12 years of Richmond County's vital records were lost. This information can only be found at the church or cemetery level.

If you seek an ancestor and cannot find them using the usual methods, chances are we can help you! 

Thank you for visiting with us, and please make a tax deductible donation today.  Help us continue with our mission.  Thank you very much!

Please feel free to make an inquiry, 917-545-3309 or SICemetery@gmail.com .

Sincerely,

Lynn A. Rogers
Executive Director
Friends of Abandoned Cemeteries, Inc.
158 Myrtle Ave., S.I. NY 10310

Check back with us soon for updates. 

Contact Names

President
Mark Russo
SICemetery@gmail.com
917-545-3309

Vice President
Dennis Gaeta

Exec. Director
Lynn Rogers
SICemetery@gmail.com
917-545-3309

Treasurer 
Chris Walters 

Secretary
James Logan

Director(s)
Marjorie Johnson

Joseph Ferlazzo

Brig. General Duffie' / Fountain Cemetery	Many Veterans of the Great War are buried in an abandoned cemetery
Lake Cemetery	Neighborhood Remebrance Day
Sylvan Grove Cemetery
Columcille Cultural Center in Support of Irish Immigrants	S.I. Cemetery

FACSI Database of Interments
Fountain Cemetery Headstone Photos
Staten Island Cemetery Headstone Photos
Lake Cemetery Headstone Photos
West Baptist Cemetery Headstone Photos
Fountain Plot Restored courtesy of Peter Kerr &
St. Luke's Cemetery Headstone Photos
Ancestors at Rest
List of Quarantine Hospital Deaths 1849-1850