Program

NYS Historic, Pomeroy Education Program

Subject

Cemetery, People

Location

3694 Rich's Corners Rd, Albion, NY 14411, USA

Lat/Long

43.237818, -78.149546

Grant Recipient

Albion Central School

Annis Cemetery’s earliest marked burial is from 1825, and the latest is from 1926. When the cemetery was started, the area was called Richs Corners. However, in 1843 Jacob Annis purchased the lot the cemetery was on, as well as much of the surrounding area, and the cemetery was likely re-named around this time. On a map from 1852 of Orleans County the cemetery can be seen labeled on this plot, with multiple Annis family settlements located nearby. Additionally, other families buried in the cemetery have homes labeled in the vicinity, such as the Roots, Gibbs, Holoway, Tanner, and Hartwell’s.

There are some notable burials in the cemetery, including three Civil War Veterans- William Trolley, Joel P. Barnes Sr., and Joel P. Barnes Jr. Born in 1843 in England, James William Trolley was listed as serving as a Private with the 2^nd Mounted Rifles. He was buried in Annis Cemetery in 1873. Joel P. Barnes Sr. was born in 1819 and listed serving as a Private with the 151^st Infantry. He was interred at Annis Cemetery in 1906. His son, Joel P. Barnes Jr. was born in 1834. He was listed as serving as a Corporal with the 4^th Heavy Artillery.

There is also very likely a Revolutionary War Patriot buried here, Jonathan Rich. It is thought that Jonathan Rich, who passed away in 1825, is the reason for the name Richs Corners. Rich was born in 1740 and served as a 2^nd Lieutenant in Captain Livermore’s company of the Worcester County Regiment of the Massachusetts militia. He is also listed as serving as a Lieutenant with Captain Healey’s company of Colonel John Jacob’s regiment of Light Infantry. Rich passed away in 1825 and is likely buried in Annis Cemetery.

A significant number of early residents of Albion who are buried here were born in England and immigrated to the area in the early 1800s. James William Trolley was born in England in 1843, as were his father and mother, William and Keziah Trolley (born 1808 and 1813 respectively). All three are interred in Annis Cemetery- James in 1873, William in 1896, and Keziah in 1883. Sarah Barnes, wife of James P. Barnes Jr., was also born in England in 1819. William Walker, another early Albion resident, was born in England in 1786 and interred in Annis Cemetery in 1878.

There are also a significant number of child and infant burials. In this small cemetery with 85 burials, 12 of them were children. Half of these were between the years of 1840-44. There was likely an illness that went around during this time, causing the cluster of deaths. Their deaths signify the harsh life early pioneers faced and also remind us of how modern medical science has significantly reduced infant mortality rates in recent history.

The student-led application for this grant came from students at Albion Central Schools, led by instructor Timothy Archer. The students researched Annis Cemetery, then gathered and submitted the required materials for the historical marker as part of our Pomeroy Education Program.