Albany County has many wonderful small cemeteries throughout the region. Some are hidden, some are lost, and some are abandoned. However, the Severson Cemetery in rural Altamont is undergoing some needed attention. It is not that the cemetery is dilapidated. Simply, it is old. The marble gravestones are wearing and beginning to become difficult to read. Recently all of the gravestones were cleaned with D2 Biological Solution, which made transcribing the stones a little easier. Two broken gravestones were repaired. A few gravestones were repaired many years ago; unfortunately, with incorrect materials. But at that time there were no specific standards and materials for making repairs.
In 1940, Guilderland Town Historian, William A. Brinkman did
a survey of early burial places in the Town of Guilderland.[i] Findings of his study can
be found online; please click here to access it. Below is a page from his
report on the Severson Cemetery. The red number corresponds to the gravestones
in the provided cemetery plot layout. Updates to the Brinkman study are also
marked in red. Please view the endnotes for further information. It appears
that some of the gravestones were moved and are no longer present on the site
in October 2021.
On the old
Severson farm of 1760, now George H. Brandel, about 100 feet east the house at
Altamont are forty-five stones visible and other graves with no markers.[ii]
Nicholas Severson, died 1845 aged 75 years [#1][iii]
Elizabeth Severson, wife, died 1794 aged 24 years [#2][iv]
Sarah Severson, wife, died 1852 aged 70 years [#3][v]
George Severson, died 1813 aged 47 years [#4]
Margaret Mann, wife, died 1801, aged 34 years [#5][vi]
Frederick Severson, died 1838 aged 70 years [#6]
John N. Severson, died 1871 aged 79 years [#7][vii]
Martha Deforest, wife, died 1878 aged 83 years [#8]
Elizabeth Severson, daughter of John N. died 1830 aged 16 years
[#9]
Christina Severson, daughter of John N. died 1840 aged 13 years
[#10]
Elizabeth Severson, daughter of John N. died 1841 aged 10 years
[#11]
Philip J. Severson, died 1843 aged 27 years [#12][viii]
Nicholas Severson, died April 8, 1872 aged 53 years [#13][ix]
John J. Van Aernam, died April 29, 1814 aged 84 years, 2 months and
29 days. An Ensign in War of the Revolution. [#14]
Gitty Severson, wife, died June 5, 1822 aged 90 years, 2 months, 11
days [#15][x]
George VanAernam, died 1827 aged 61 years [#16][xi]
Henrietta Crounse, daughter of Jacob, died 1836 aged 4 years [gravestone not
found in October 2021 by CSW]
John H. Livingston, son of James, died 1850 aged 16 months [#17] [incorrect, 6 months]
Elizabeth Snyder, wife of W.Snyder, died 1796 aged 77 years [gravestone not
found in October 2021 by CSW]
I. Kidnie 1772 [#18]
I V Aosp A+P 16-1781 [gravestone not found in October 2021 by CSW]
I V S SOBII 1771 [gravestone fragment recently found in rubble pile
in August 2021 by the property owners of the lot]
E.M.1768 10 A G [gravestone not found in October 2021 by CSW]
Hero 4S Wever did June 26, 1785 aged 75 years [gravestone not
found in October 2021 CSW]
I B D Mo 25 A. 22Ye 1778 [gravestone not found in October 2021 by CSW]
A P 24, 1778 M.W. 60 [gravestone not found in October 2021 by CSW]
OTB 21, 1775 C+S [gravestone not found in October 2021 by CSW]
 |
| Nicholas Severson Photo courtesy K. Gaige, 2021 |
In
Memory of
NICHOLAS SEVERSON
who departed this Life
March 15, 1845
AGED 75 YEARS
3 Months and 23 Days
 |
| Elizabeth Terpening gravestone fragment |
_____ BORN AUGUST 8, 1760
DYED JANUARY 20 1793
__AR BELOVED SISTER OF OUR
 |
| Nicholas Severson |
In
Memory of Sarah Wife of
NICHOLAS SEVERSON
who departed this Life
April 29, 1852
AGED 70 YEARS
7 Months and 5 Days
#4 George Severson
 |
| George Severson |
In
Memory of
GEORGE SEVERSON
Who departed this life
Aug.13, 1813 aged 47
Years 1 month & 9 days
#5 Margaret Severson
 |
| Margaret Severson |
IN
Memory
of MARGARET, wife
of George Severson
who departed this life
December 27th 1801
age 34 years 11 months
and 23 days
#6 Frederick Severson
 |
| Frederick Severson |
 |
| Frederick Severson footstone |
#7 John N. Severson
 |
| John N. Severson |
OUR FATHER
JOHN N. SEVERSON
DIED
April 27, 1871
Aged 79 years
3 Months
& 3 days
 |
| John N. Severson footstone |
#8 Martha DeForest Severson
 |
| Martha DeForest Severson |
OUR MOTHER
MARTHA DEFOREST
WIFE OF
JOHN N. SEVERSON
died __ ___ 1878
Aged 83 years
3 Months & 8 Days
 |
| Martha DeForest Severson footstone |
#9 Elizabeth Severson
 |
| Elizabeth Severson |
In
Memory of
Elizabeth Daughter of
JOHN N. & MARTHA SEVERSON
Who departed this Life
April __, 1830
AGED 16 YEARS
__ Months __ Days
 |
| Elizabeth Severson footstone |
#10 Christina Severson
 |
| Christina Severson |
In
Memory of
Christina Daughter of
JOHN N. & MARTHA SEVERSON
Who departed this Life
March 9, 1840
AGED 13 YEARS
__ Month __ Days
 |
| Christina Severson footstone |
#11 Elizabeth Severson
 |
| Elizabeth Severson |
In
Memory of
Elizabeth Daughter of
JOHN & MARHTA SEVERSON
Who departed this Life
Jan. __ 1841
AGED 10 YEARS
6 Months 2 Days
 |
| Elizabeth Severson footstone |
#12 Philip J. Severson
 |
| Philip J. Severson |
In
Memory of
PHILIP J. SEVERSON
who departed this Life
Dec. 11 1843
AGED 27 YEARS.
10 MONTHS and __ Days
#13 Nicholas J. Severson
NICHOLAS J. SEVERSON
DIED
APRIL 9, 1872
Aged 55 years
3 Months
& 9 Days
Our dear
Our cares for thee are o’er
We hope in Heaven to meet thee
 |
| Nicholas J. Severson footstone |
 |
| John I. van Aernam |
In Memory of
John I. Van Aernam
Who departed this
Life on the 29th day
Of April A.D.
1814
Aged 84 years
2 months and 29
days.
Blessed are the dead which die
in the Lord from henceforth yea
saith the Spirit that they may
rest from their labours and their
works do follow them.
 |
| John I. van Aernam footstone |
 |
| Gitty van Aernam |
In Memory of
Gitty Van Aernam
Wife of
John I. Van Aernam
Who departed this
Life on the 5th day
Of June A.D.
1822.
Aged 90 years 2
Months and 11 days.
Blessed are the poor in spirit.
For theirs the Kingdom of
Heaven.
 |
| Gitty van Aernam footstone |
 |
| George van Aernam |
In Memory of
George Van Aernam
Who departed this
Life on the 9th day
Of Sept. A.D.
1827
Aged 61 years
9 months and
23 days.
All hail my friends and cast away
As you are now so one was I
As I am now you soon shall be,
Prepare for death to follow me.
 |
| George van Aernam footstone |
 |
| John Henry Livingston |
JOHN HENRY
Son of James & Sarah
Livingston
DIED
May 5, 1856
Aged 6 months
& 8 days
 |
| John Henry Livingston footstone |
1772
 |
| Photo courtesy K. Gaige |
[i]
William A. Brinkman, compiler, A
Memorial, Records of early burial places on the farms in the town of
Guilderland, N.Y. and surround towns (Altamont, New York: n.p., 1940); USGenNet,
“Links for the Town of Guilderland” (http://www.vanderheijden.org/gen/guilderland/text.html#Location
: accessed 29 November 2021).
[ii]
Today a total of 33 gravestones and footstones are present. What happened to 12
gravestones is a mystery at this point. Perhaps some fragments will appear in a
rubble pile near the cemetery.
[iii]
Online Ancestry researchers suggest that Nicholas (gravestone #1), George
(gravestone #4), and Frederick (gravestone #6) were brothers. Sons of Johannes
Severson and Maria van Wormer.
[iv]
It is a hypothesis that this individual listed by Brinkman is the gravestone
attributed to Elizabeth Terpening. Elizabeth was the first wife of Nicholas
Severson (gravestone #1). This gravestone is left of Nicholas’ gravestone.
According to marriage records from the Schenectady Dutch Reformed church that
were compiled by the Holland Society of New York in Schenectady Marriages, Volume
5, Book 45, Page 54, Nicholas Siversen, Ju. Met Elizabeth Teerpenning, bey de
van de Hellenbergh [on] 9 December 1790.
[v]
Sarah was the second wife of Nicholas Severson. She is buried to his right. Online
Ancestry researchers suggest that Sarah’s maiden name is Post; daughter of
Benjamin Post and Catheyntje van Orden.
[vi]
The researcher is not sure of the source for Margaret’s maiden name- Mann.
Online Ancestry researchers also suggest Mann as her maiden name without
documentation.
[vii]
John N. Severson was a veteran of the War of 1812. “War of 1812 Pension Files,”
Fold3 (https://www.fold3.com/image/677377521
: accessed 29 November 2021), John N. Severson, pension number 6906.
[viii]
Online Ancestry researchers suggest that Philip J. was a son of John N.
Severson and Martha DeForest Severson.
[ix]
The 1870 Federal Census indicates that 51 year-old Nicholas was insane. 1870
U.S. census, Albany County, New York, population schedule, Guilderland, p. 12
(penned), dwelling 78, family 87, line 32, John N. Severson household; database
with images, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org
: accessed 29 November 2021), citing National Archives and Records
Administration (NARA) microfilm publication M593, roll 902.
[x]
According to marriage records from the Schenectady Dutch Reformed church that
were compiled by the Holland Society of New York in Schenectady Marriages, Volume
5, Book 45, Page 54, Johannes van Arnhem I.M. en Jeertruy Sieversen byde van
Renselaars Colonie [on] 25 October 1755. Online Ancestry researchers suggest
that Gitty was an aunt to Nicholas, George, and Frederick Severson.
[xi] Further research might indicate that George is a son of John I. van Aernam and Gitty Severson.
