The Schenectady Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution continue work on their project to update the cemetery database. One of the objectives of the DAR is historic preservation, and Vale Cemetery records contain a wealth of information that should be preserved.
Late last fall, a stone was located that did not appear in the cemetery records. Further investigation of the area led to the discovery of 16 additional tombstones that also were not in the records. With permission, these stones were carefully uncovered, many buried deep under the sod.
Vale Cemetery opened in 1857 and these stones would have been moved here from nearby cemeteries that needed to be relocated. The Schermerhorn family, an old Schenectady family, now has more evidence of family members from these stones. The oldest stone dated back to 1797, and the stones of children were found.
The Schenectady Chapter will also be dedicating a plaque in the spring for a past Chapter Regent, State Regent and National officer of the DAR, Emma VanVranken Gibbes. Previously, the chapter updated her family stone with her name and dates.