18 June 2019

A Visit with Slingerlands' Founding Family

Upcoming is an event that supports the restoration and preservation of the historic Slingerland Family Burial Vault. Attendees will enjoy an evening walking tour of Slingerlands, costumed performers along the tour which stops at the burial vault and the Slingerland home. Tales from performers playing Leah Britt Slingerland and her sons Assemblyman and Congressman John I. and civil engineer and surveyor William H. will be told. John I. Slingerland's causes included the abolitionist movement, Anti-Rent Party, and the Homestead Act.

Date: Friday, June 28, at 6:00 PM, 6:30 PM, or 7:00 PM


Further Information: Sue Virgilio, 518.847.8340


15 June 2019

Plumb Lot at Mount Ida Cemetery, Troy

The Old Mount Ida Cemetery in Troy was the scene for some gravestone conservation earlier today. Work begun in April. However at that time it was still too cool and rainy to complete the project. Below are a series of photos of the Plumb lot. 

Plumb Lot April 2019

Plumb Lot June 2019

CAPT. W.H. PLUMB
Served in
125 Regt. NYS Vol.
Harpers Ferry and
GETTYSBURG
Killed at Bristow
Station Va.
Oct. 14, 1863
Aged 21 years.
Honor to the Brave.


Annual Report of the Adjutant-General of the State of New York for the Year...; Registers of the 125th Infantry in the War of the Rebellion, page 802                                                                                                                    
PLUMB, JR., WILLIA M H.—Age, 22 years. Enrolled, August 14, 1862, at Troy, to serve three years; mustered in as first lieutenant, Co. C, August 28,1862; surrendered, September 15,1862, and paroled, September 16, 1862, at Harper's. Ferry, Va.; mustered in as captain, Co, F, February 24, 1863; wounded in action, October 14, 1863, and died of his wounds, October 15, 1863, at Bristoe Station, Va. Commissioned first lieutenant, September 10, 1862, with rank from August 14,1862, original; captain, February 11,1863, with rank from November 11, 1862, vice W. Penfield dismissed. 

Photo courtesy C. Philippo


09 June 2019

Isaac Truax Burial Grounds

Recently the burial grounds of Isaac Truax and his family were restored. The small family cemetery was completely overgrown and obscured until Pine Bush workers discovered it and cleared it out. The cemetery was not a secret but it was still difficult to find because of the vegetation; even though there was a historical marker indicating the cemetery was present.



Four gravestones were located. Two upright; but crooked marble gravestones were present. One for Isaac Truax Jr. and the second for his wife Catherine Doxtader Truax. Two sandstone markers were broken off from the buried portion of its stone. One of the sandstone markers had severe de-lamination damage and the inscription was completely missing. Only recently was it determined that this stone was in memory of Isaac jac Truax. His stone was also broken in additional two pieces. The second sandstone marker was that of his wife Mary Wingard Truax. Fortunately the lower sections of the broken sandstone gravemarkers were located and the upper portion of the stones were matched with the lower and the gravestones were put back where they belonged.

Isaac Truax
Catherine Doxtader Truax

Damaged sandstone grave markers


While the crooked marble gravestone of Catherine Doxtader Truax was being straightened the accompanying footstone for Catherine was found and later installed upright. Isaac's gravestone, slightly crooked was left as is. All of the gravestones were cleaned with D2 and the inscriptions are now more easily read.

Footstone of Catherine Doxtader Truax


An aluminum fence was donated by a local fence company and was installed around the cemetery to help protect and preserve it. During the fence installation another sandstone marker was found. The gravestone was for John Schoolcraft Truax. His gravestone was reset in the area where his marker was found.

John Schoolcraft Truax


In 1939, Schenectady Historian William Efner sketched the gravestones and made transcriptions of the inscriptions on them. Fortunately he did this because as eighty years has passed since his work was complete, the inscription for Isaac Jac Truax's gravestone is now missing. This information and the sketches were provided to me by another local resident/history buff, Steve R. Efner's work was used in aiding me in completing the recent transcriptions of the stones.

Below are photos and transcriptions of each gravestone.

Cemetery Overview

 Catherine Doxtader Truax gravestone transcription

In Memory of
Catherine Doxtader
Wife of
Isaac Truax
who departed this
Life August 6th
1836
Age 70 Years 10
Months & 6 days
Farwell cain world. I've had enough of Here.
And now am careless -- them -- of my
Thy smiles I court of nor they from us I fear. 
My cares are past and I rest quiet here.




Isaac Truax gravestone transcription

In
Memory of
ISAAC TRUAX
Who departed this life
October 9th. 1814
Aged 84 years 11 months
And 15 days
God my redeemer lives
And often from the skies
Looks down and watches all my days
--- he shall bid it rise








John Schoolcraft Truax Gravestone Inscription

In
Memory of
JOHN SCHOOLCRAFT
TRUAX
Who died
June 1st 1811,
Aged 13 years
5 months & 29 days




Mary Wingard Truax gravestone transcription
In
memory of
MARY WINGARD
wife of
ISAAC TRUAX
who departed this life
May 10th 1802
aged 72 years 7 months
and 13 days


Inscription weathered away
Isaac Jac Truax

In
Memory
ISAAC JAC TRUAX
who was born
May 8th 1726 O.S.
and died April 17th
1808
aged 81 years 10 months

and 27 days

08 June 2019

Melvin Roads Flag Retirement Ceremony


The Melvin Roads American Legion Post # 1231 will hold a Flag Retirement Ceremony at Becker's Farm on Saturday, June 15th, 2019. Anyone can bring their American, POW/MIA, or New York State flags for retirement. Flags can also be dropped off at the Melvin Roads American Legion Post; located at 200 Columbia Turnpike in Rensselaer. The public is welcome to attend this ceremony.