Saint Mary's Cemetery
Also known as Dunkirk Cemetery , German Burying Ground , Old German Cemetery , Potter's Field
Dunkirk, Chautauqua County, New York, USA
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Get directions 10880 Bennett Road (Route 60)
Dunkirk, New York 14048 United StatesCoordinates: 42.47140, -79.31810 - 716-366-2371
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Prior to 1903, St. Mary's Cemetery was the only consecrated ground for Roman Catholic burials in northern Chautauqua County, New York. In Dunkirk, the first burial at St. Hyacinth's Cemetery (Polish) was in 1903, St. Hedwig's Cemetery (also Polish) in 1913, and Holy Trinity Cemetery (Italians) in 1914. The Sicilians in Fredonia established St. Anthony church in 1907 and its cemetery by 1908.
St. Mary's Cemetery continued to be used primarily by the families of St. Mary's church (Irish) and Sacred Heart Church, which was established by St. Mary's German families in 1858 and originally dedicated to St. George. A new building was completed in 1876 and dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In 1975, St. Mary's and Sacred Heart parishes were combined into the new St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish but the cemetery name remained the same.
Note: St. Joseph Cemetery is a private cemetery in Sheridan and not associated with St. Joseph church in Fredonia; there was an Old Catholic Cemetery in Westfield, the earliest legible inscription from 1886 but church records indicate that several families preferred to be buried in St. Mary's Cemetery as early as 1860 and those buried in Westfield had their individual plots blessed by the priest; St. James Cemetery in Westfield was established in 1940; Mount Carmel Cemetery in Silver Creek/Hanover in 1913; there was never a separate cemetery for St. Patrick's church in Brocton/Portland, St. Rose of Lima in Forestville, nor St. Dominic's in Westfield.
This brief history is provided thanks to the research of Lois and Norwood Barris and to assist those encountering the various church names in their research.
Prior to 1903, St. Mary's Cemetery was the only consecrated ground for Roman Catholic burials in northern Chautauqua County, New York. In Dunkirk, the first burial at St. Hyacinth's Cemetery (Polish) was in 1903, St. Hedwig's Cemetery (also Polish) in 1913, and Holy Trinity Cemetery (Italians) in 1914. The Sicilians in Fredonia established St. Anthony church in 1907 and its cemetery by 1908.
St. Mary's Cemetery continued to be used primarily by the families of St. Mary's church (Irish) and Sacred Heart Church, which was established by St. Mary's German families in 1858 and originally dedicated to St. George. A new building was completed in 1876 and dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In 1975, St. Mary's and Sacred Heart parishes were combined into the new St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish but the cemetery name remained the same.
Note: St. Joseph Cemetery is a private cemetery in Sheridan and not associated with St. Joseph church in Fredonia; there was an Old Catholic Cemetery in Westfield, the earliest legible inscription from 1886 but church records indicate that several families preferred to be buried in St. Mary's Cemetery as early as 1860 and those buried in Westfield had their individual plots blessed by the priest; St. James Cemetery in Westfield was established in 1940; Mount Carmel Cemetery in Silver Creek/Hanover in 1913; there was never a separate cemetery for St. Patrick's church in Brocton/Portland, St. Rose of Lima in Forestville, nor St. Dominic's in Westfield.
This brief history is provided thanks to the research of Lois and Norwood Barris and to assist those encountering the various church names in their research.
Nearby cemeteries
Dunkirk, Chautauqua County, New York, USA
- Total memorials2k+
- Percent photographed79%
- Percent with GPS1%
Dunkirk, Chautauqua County, New York, USA
- Total memorials1k+
- Percent photographed77%
- Percent with GPS65%
Dunkirk, Chautauqua County, New York, USA
- Total memorials3k+
- Percent photographed95%
- Percent with GPS1%
Sheridan, Chautauqua County, New York, USA
- Total memorials2k+
- Percent photographed95%
- Percent with GPS73%
- Added: 1 Jan 2000
- Find a Grave Cemetery ID: 66071
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