Lehigh Cemetery – 1831- present

Lehigh Cemetery – 1831 to present

Concession 10, Lot 22, Twp of Elizabethtown Kitley*, GPS: 44.707355, -75.952617- Hwy 29 to Line Road 9 turn west south side of road. One mile south of Frankville on the Leigh Cemetery Road. (all photos taken November 2016)- 318 Line Road 9

A Brief History of Lehigh Cemetery

Lot #22 was a Crown Land Grant to Solomon How, May 17, 1802, who sold all 200 acres to Peter Sandford in 1805. Later the same year, Peter Sanford sold portions to both Isaac Ireland and Seth Cornell, who had settled there circa 1800.

Although a number of field stone markers remain, the earliest recorded gravestone is for Susannah (Cornell) Ireland, wife of Isaac Ireland, dated April 10, 1826. There is no marker for Isaac Ireland, although he may be buried at one of the field stones.

Seth Cornell was living on Lot #22 when he died circa 1821, and may also be buried there. Seth’s first wife Phoebe died while living on Lot #22 may also be interred on this site. About 1806, Seth married Lydia Leheigh, mother of Gideon Leheigh. Gideon later transferred this burial ground to Cemetery Trustees: John Arnold, James Rudd and Levi Kilborn in 1868. These trustees are buried at this site.

Prior to the mid 1800’s this cemetery became the final resting place of many of the neighbourhood pioneers, Among these early pioneers in Kitley, there is a white shaft marking the grave of John Arnold, the fourth son of the famous Brigadier General Benedict Arnold. Beside John Arnold rests his wife Sarah (Brunson) Arnold and several of their offspring; although some of their children are buried at other sites.

Lehigh Cemetery is on the 10^th Concession Road a short distance west of Highway 29, about a mile north of the Village of Frankville.

Note on the children of John and Sarah (Brunson) Arnold

– William Arnold, son (buried at Lehigh)

– Henry Edward Arnold who married Abigail, daughter of Captain Duncan Livingston (buried at Smiths Falls)

– John Browson Arnold, who married Cordelia, daughter of Levi Stone (both buried at Lehigh)

– Richard Arnold, who married Caroline Webster (buried at Athens)

– Emmiline Arnold, who married David Eaton (both buried at Lehigh)

– Jane Arnold, daughter

– Sophia Matilda Arnold, who married Uri Stone (both buried at Lehigh)

(Information taken from the booklet “Lehigh Cemetery” written and published by Edwin and Mildred Livingston, April 1980 ISBN 0-920992-04-8)

Photos are on the bottom of this listing

List of Grave sites as per the Brockville Genealogical Society

The “Irelands” in Kitley

Darius West Ireland is a descendant of Isaac & Susan/Susannah Ireland. Via the donation of our family property, formally/legally by Gideon Lehigh, the family graveyard became open to other family and community members. Although, many families buried their loved ones there before the property was formally donated and designated as a burial ground. We are certain the Eaton family would attest to the fact it is “their” family graveyard, and, it is.

2) Susan Ireland, wife of Isaac Ireland. It is said this is the earliest tombstone in Lehigh. In my view, this was a tombstone put up by a later family member. However, I’m glad it exists.

Susan and Isaac Ireland. came up from the States to live in Kitley, prior to the War of 1812. One of the original families in Kitley. Darius would have been the great grandchild of Susan & Isaac, the line goes…Isaac – Lewis – Darius – James – Clifford

The Irelands were one of the early families in Kitley