Excerpts from RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE POMFRET MANOR CEMETERY, SUNBURY, PENNA. 1894 Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Linda Delk, LLDelk@aol.com USGENWEB NOTICE: Printing this file by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information are included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. Incorporated 1870 Chartered by the State 1890 "I only need visit a graveyard of a community to know the character of the people." - Benj. Franklin "Show me the resting-place of the dead and I will judge of the living." - Engleheart Pomfret Manor Cemetery is located on the north side of Packer Street, the east side of Seventh Street and west side of Catawissa Street, and may be entered from any of these streets. ============================================================= Preface Four years having passed since the Pomfret Manor Cemetery was reopened the Managers deem it proper to issue a compilation of the rules and regulations governing the same. They have, therefore, considered and diligently compared the Rules in force in all the recognized model cemeteries of the United States, and unanimously adopted such as, in their opinion, are necessary for the best interests of the lot holders of Pomfret Manor. There is no disposition to interfere with the preference of lot holders; but, nevertheless, the stability of the improvements, the good appearance of the grounds, a proper mode of burial and a respectful observance of the sacredness of the place require some arbitrary rules, in which the right of an individual is made secondary to the general good. It is the aim to make Pomfret Manor a quiet, beautiful resting-place for the dead, where well-kept turf and varied foliage of trees and shrubbery shall give a sense of repose. Sunbury, July 1894. History of the Grounds and Organization It is peculiarly fitting that a tract of land that is consecrated as a last resting place of the dead, was acquired from its earliest know owners, the Indians, by treaty and purchase and not by conquest. This treaty was consummated at Fort Stanwix, now Rome, N.Y., November 5th, 1768. The first surveys made for the proprietors were called Manors, in accordance with the custom established by William Penn and continued by his sons till the close of the proprietary Government, the word "Manor" meaning "a dwelling or landed estate of a Lord." The first survey ever made in this county - which was then about one-third of the State - was the Manor of Pomfret, which was surveyed December 19th, 1768 and consisted of about five thousand acres, of which this Cemetery is a part, and was named after a town in England, Ponte-fract, generally called Pomfret in York County, near the Aire, hence we have the name Pomfret Manor, or Manor of Pomfret. The Cemetery site consisted of twenty acres of rolling land beautifully located on high ground, northeast of the present city of Sunbury, and just within the limits of the Borough of East Sunbury, and commands a fine view of the city and Valley of the Susquehanna River, and also of the West Branch thereof. It is rich in romantic association and Indian lore, and all nature seems to have conspired to product a spot which Shikellimy and his braves must have dreamed of as the happy hunting grounds of the Great Spirit. The Cemetery was incorporated by decree of the Court of Common Pleas of Northumberland County, August 4th, 1870, under the name of the Mount Pleasant Cemetery Company, and an organization was effected August 22nd, 1870, with A. Jordan, President; L. T. Rohrbach, Secretary, and J. A. Cake, Treasurer, and a Board of Managers, composed of A. Jordan, J. W. Cake, Sr., Rev. W. W. Evans, Rev. G. W. Hemperly, Rev. S. K. Milliken, Rev. Geo. J. Brensinger, Rev. Gideon J. Burton, William M. Rockefeller and Lloyd T. Rohrbach. By decree of Court June 9th, 1873, the name was changed to Pomfret Manor Cemetery Company. It had practically been abandoned as a cemetery, but a reorganization was effected on August 1st, 1890, with the following officers: President, Geo. B. Reimensyder [sic]; Secretary and Treasurer, W. H. Druckemiller; and the following Board of Managers: Geo. B. Reimensnyder, Rev. George Parson, D. D., J. H. Alleman, Rev. W. E. Parson, D. D. and Ira Shipman, and rechartered by the State September 24th, 1890. The grounds were very much improved under the present management and many more improvements are in contemplation, and it will no doubt become, in the near future, one of the prettiest Cemeteries in the country. Appendix. Interments in Private Lots. ORDINARY ROUGH BOX PLANK For all over 10 years, ..................................... 6.00 8.00 " " " 1 " and under 10 years, ............... 5.00 6.50 " under 1 " ....................................... 4.00 5.00 [original prices were scratched out and those listed above written in ink in their place] All kinds of Slate, Brick, Cement and Stone Vaults are furnished from $18 upward, depending upon size, thickness, and manner of construction. Prices for same can be obtained at the office, conditions, etc., being stated. The charges in each case include not only the vault, but the opening and closing of the grave. Interments in Single Grave Section. For persons over 10 years, .............................$14.00 " " 1 year and under 10 years ....... $12.00 For children under 1 year .............................. $10.00 The above charges include cost of ground, opening and closing grave, and perpetual care.