Program

NYS Historic

Subject

People, Site

Location

252 S Wilmarth Rd, Pittsford, NY 14534, USA

Lat/Long

43.03637, -77.55516

Grant Recipient

Rochester Public Library

With over 2,600 acres of outdoor space and unique geologic formations, Mendon Ponds Park is a much-visited site of recreation, along with being the largest park in Monroe County. It is also the final resting place of an early Pittsford resident, Joshua Lillie, who moved to the area from Bethel, Vermont ca. 1811 with his family.

Though not much is known about Joshua Lillie’s life, his grave has remained a point of interest for locals. An article published in the November 18^th, 1936, edition of The Pittsford Post describes a visit to the burial ground:

Pass on to the south end of the town and here we find another small burial plot within the confines of Mendon Ponds Park. A recent visit to the place disclosed the plot to be overgrown with weeds, vines and bushes to such an extent that a passer-by would never surmise that one of our old settlers was buried within this tangle. Yet, such is the case. On digging one’s way through the jungle we find a gravestone with the following: Joshua Lillie, died August 19^th, 1848, aged 77 years.” Joshua Lillie was an early settler in Pittsford, as he purchased the land on which is buried…

Demonstrating a continued interest in the site, on June 23^rd, 1949, The Democrat and Chronicle featured an article regarding a tour of local landmarks that concludes with apple trees being planted around the grave of Lillie. A dozen years later, the same paper featured a story titled “Cub Scouts Pay Tribute to Pioneer Settler” on April 18^th, 1962. Again, those in attendance planted apple trees, the significance of which is mentioned in the 1962 article.

Local legend conflicts somewhat as to the meaning of the apple trees. One version holds that Lillie’s daughter died many years before he dd, in 1848, and he planted four trees to shade the grave. Another tale has it that Lillie, proud of the town of Mendon, then famed for its cider, directed that upon his death an apple tree should be planted on each corner of his grave.

Despite this attention, at some point following those articles the original gravestone for Joshua Lillie went missing. However, in 1989, during the bicentennial of Pittsford, Joshua’s descendent, Bruce Lillie, and his wife, Jane, secured a replacement gravestone to mark the site of Joshua’s burial. The replacement gravestone can still be seen, and, as of 2024, so can a historical marker commemorating the burial site of this early Pittsford resident.

To learn more about Mendon Ponds Parks, visit:

Links

• https://www.gofingerlakes.org/mendonponds