Program

NYS Historic, Pomeroy Education Program

Subject

Cemetery, Event, People

Location

3989 Hulberton Rd, Holley, NY 14470, USA

Lat/Long

43.22173, -78.06629

Grant Recipient

Albion Central School

As early as 1818, the Pierce-Smith pioneer Cemetery was being used for burials of residents of the area now known as the Town of Murray. Early residents included Sally Smith (1795-1870), Isaac Smith (1790-1866), Artemas Daggett (1790-1835), Aretas Pierce (1770-1840), and John Cone (1770-1831). Sally Smith recalled moving to Murray in 1817 and teaching for school district No. 8. She recalled her marriages to Artemas Daggett and Isaac Smith, as well as the charitable actions of Aretas Pierce. She described the farm life they led, as well as the difficulties the early townsfolk faced from diseases (“Pioneer History of Orleans County”, 1871).

There is one Revolutionary War Patriot identified as buried in this cemetery, Robinson Smith (1761-1828). Robinson Smith enlisted in 1782 in New Hampshire. He joined Captain Cherry’s company of Colonel Reid’s 2^nd New Hampshire regiment. He was transferred to the Life Guard unit, protecting George Washington, which he served until late 1783. Smith then joined Captain Frye’s company in the “American Regiment”. He was discharged the following year on June 30^th, 1784, at West Point. He then made his home in Murray, NY, where he resided with his wife and four children until his death in 1828.

There are also multiple Civil War veterans buried in this cemetery:

Hiram Bradner (1838-1884) enlisted in December 1863 in Albion, NY. Initially he served in the New York 8^th Heavy Artillery, Battery C, and then in June 1865 he was transferred to the New York 10^th Infantry, Company I.

Christian Burger (1820-1871) enlisted in December 1863 at Albion, NY. He served in New York 8^th Heavy Artillery, Company K until discharged in June of 1865.

Benjamin Swan is likely buried here, but his headstone has not been located. He enlisted in August 1862 in Clarendon, NY with New York 8^th Heavy Artillery, Company K. In his Muster Roll Abstract it was noted that he went missing in action on August 25^th, 1864. He was found again in October of 1864 and by October 8^th, 1864, he was discharged.

Darwin H. Pierce (1838-1864), a Civil War veteran who served in New York 8^th Infantry and Cavalry, has a memorial marker here although he is interred in Andersonville National Cemetery in Macon County, GA. In his Civil War Muster Roll Abstract it is noted that he was taken as a prisoner of war on June 29, 1864. He passed away in Andersonville, GA in October of 1864.

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

See our Patriot Burial sign for Robinson Smith, also located in the Pierce-Smith Pioneer Cemetery on the far-left corner of the lot.