Week 22 (May 28-June 3): At the Cemetery

The War of 1812 Cemetery, Cheektowaga NY, (formerly Amherst) just north of the Buffalo Airport.

This is where soldiers from the War of 1812 were buried,who had  been in the hospital on this site when they died.

History:

A Tablet erected by the Buffalo Historical Society at Main St. and Garrison Rd. reads "U.S. Barracks of 1812". Along Garrison Rd. to Creek and extending southeast were log barracks of General Smyth's army during the winter of 1812. these buildings later were used as hospitals."

Notes: 

Buried in the one acre cemetery, 205 soldiers who died in the United States Military Hospital at Williamsville, New York (1814-1815) were from Connecticut, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia and Great Britain. (A good reminder that hospitals treated the injured from both sides of the war.)

This sign and the wood fence are no longer standing. 

This is a Cheektowaga NY Historical Cemetery site.

 

Soldiers who died in the military hospital were buried in the cemetery on Aero Dr. which was located in Amherst until the New York State Thruway was built nearly 150 years later, when the cemetery became part of the Town of Cheektowaga.

 

Graves are not individuality marked, there are small white wooden cross's scattered throughout the cemetery.

 

Established: 1814 - 1815

aka Old Military Cemetery

aka Garrison Road Cemetery

aka Creek Road Cemetery

 

Denomination: Military

 

Address & Location: 

Located on the south side of Aero Rd., between Transit Rd. and Wehrle Dr., west of Youngs Rd. (North of Buffalo International Airport). 

 

Showing relation to NY State Thruway (cemetery is in upper left quadrent)

Close-up showing road names.

Contact:

The Town of Cheektowaga, maintains the cemetery.

 

Source:

-National Archives Records, War of 1812

M233 Register of Enlistments in the U. S. Army, 1798-1914,

Roll #5, Entry 958.

-"A History of the Town Of Amherst, New York" by Sue Miller Young 1965.

Streetview taken 2022...showing new fencing and gate. There are 3 stones in front of the cannon which may indicate some more history.

Another streetview, showing one end of the cemetery...

...and the other end of the small cemetery. I have trouble understanding 200+ men were buried here.

Up to date view of the cannon.

My 5th great grandfather is buried there. William McElhany.

His wife's name was Elizabeth (McNeil) Mc Elhany (Betsy). 

His rank looks like Pvt. Capt. 2 McClelland Co. Pa. Int.

They were from West Hanover Township, Dauphin County, PA

Sharing with 52 Ancestors 52 Weeks.