Town of Canandaigua Cemeteries & Committee
Welcome to the Cemetery Committee
Purpose
Nine cemeteries (find links to each cemetery below) are scattered throughout the Town of Canandaigua. For the historical and genealogical researcher, indexed lists of those interred in these cemeteries are located at the Ontario County Historical Society Museum, or online at www.newyorkroots.org/ontario. Information for burials can also be found at www.findagrave.com.
The Town Board adopted a local law creating a Cemetery Committee in May 2022. The purpose of the committee is stated within the law language and reads as follows:
There is hereby established a Town of Canandaigua Cemetery Committee (hereinafter referred to as the " Cemetery Committee") the purpose of which is created in an effort to govern, preserve, ensure maintenance, interpret and educate about historic cemeteries, active and inactive, in the Town of Canandaigua.
Meetings
The Cemetery Committee meets the first Tuesday of each month at 9:00 am in the Onnalinda Conference Room at Town Hall. Meetings are held in-person and via zoom.
Wreaths Across America
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Learn more about this event and previous Wreaths Across America events by clicking on the image below or by clicking this link.
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Click here for a downloadable copy of the fact sheet about the Wreaths Across America program.
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This cemetery was previously privately operated, but is now owned by the Town. There are graves of veterans of numerous wars. There is a large Civil War memorial stone at the entrance stating, “Erected by the citizens of Canandaigua under the leadership of Henry C. Beeman (1847-1927) Company C., 15th N.Y. Cav. 1862-1865” erected in 1923. The Cemetery is maintained by the Town.
Location: East Side of Seneca Point Road and South of County Road #16
First reference to this plot is in 1879. “Twenty-four rods of land set apart by Lyman Cooley in his lifetime as a family burying ground.” It is the smallest of the Town’s cemeteries holding just 6 burials. Stones include Shaw 1828, and Sheldon 1816. The Cemetery is maintained by the Town.
Location: Northeast Side of Cooley Road. Near intersection of Short Road
Consisting of one acre, it is one of the oldest Town cemeteries. Also called Van Norman Cemetery and Sutherland Cemetery in past years. First described as a “public burial ground” in a deed dated February 4, 1815 (Liber 23 of Deeds, Page 84) from Joseph Van Norman to his son Isaac Van Norman. There are many families buried here, including Briggs, Case, Hawley, Hickcox, Mack, Nethaway and Tillotson. The most recent burial was in 1931 of Martha Spears. The oldest is Seth Holcomb on September 28, 1799. Deeds from 1833 refer to a small piece of land, on the lot opposite the burying ground, on which a meetinghouse was erected and used for public worship. This was not mentioned in the 1875 transfer and there is no evidence of the house today. Zadok Hunn, a professor at Yale and, through his ministry, organizer of nine Congregational churches in the area, is buried in the Cemetery along with many from his family. There are also at least 13 Revolutionary War veterans and one War of 1812 veteran buried here. The Cemetery is maintained by the Town.
Location: Corner of Woolhouse and County Road 32, a.k.a. Bristol Road
Zebina Lucas was one of the earliest owners of record. His grave, along with a number of his family members, are among the 64 burials in this Cemetery. Recorded burial dates range from 1826 to 1910. The Cemetery is maintained by the Town.
Location: East Side of Route 21, South of Lucas Road
This Cemetery is the Town’s largest, and is privately owned and operated. It has recorded veterans of many wars including the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Mexican War, Civil War, World Wars I and II, Korean War and the Vietnam War. In addition to the 34 known Civil War veterans actually buried here, another 10 Cheshire natives who lost their lives in the Civil War, but with unknown burial locations, have been remembered on a memorial stone.
Location: South Side of Wells-Curtis Road at Cheshire
Created by Roswell Root in 1802. This is the burial site for 6 Revolutionary War veterans, 6 War of 1812 veterans (4 of whom also served in the Revolutionary War) and 2 Mexican War veterans. The 86 burials range from 1802 to 1896. The Cemetery is maintained by the Town.
Location: Not accessible to the public.
North of Nott Road and west of Middle Cheshire Road
Owned by the Sand Hill Cemetery Association of Canandaigua. The one-half acre burying ground contains 187 burials, mostly dating between 1820 and 1900, with some 20th and 21st century additions. Original deed transfer is Joseph Phelps to Samuel Knapp in 1812. Many burials are from the local Cassort, Knapp, Padelford, Pike and Tiffany families. At least 3 are Revolutionary War veterans. The Cemetery is maintained by the Town.
Location: South Side of Emerson at Sand Hill Road
Located in the northwest corner of the Town. This plot is fenced in. It was never a public cemetery. There are numerous stones dating from the middle of the 19th century, including Samuel Tilton 1859. The most recent is 1891. The Cemetery is maintained by the Town.
Location: East Side of New Michigan Road North of Yerkes Road
The Cemetery originally abutted the now-abandoned Wolverton Road. Graves date from 1831 to 1883, with family names including Beeman, Beidler, Burch, Dempsey, Gates and Wolverton. First mention is in a deed of 1882, Parshall to Parshall. Grantors had obtained the title from the State of Connecticut in 1812
Location: Not accessible to the public
Located on a privately owned parcel on County Road 16, just north of Wyffels Road on a former east/west road that connected West Lake and Middle Cheshire Roads.
Members
Karen DeMay, Chairperson
Dennis Brewer, Town Resident
Doug Stone, Woodlawn Cemetery
Judy York, Town Resident
Dave York, Town Resident