The "Restin'" caches are a series that will take you to local cemeteries, places of great historical interest. From Pioneers and modern people these lovely places are full of interesting information. Please take your time look around, visit the past. The caches are easy to find, most of the time. Please respect where you are.
As I drove down Rednersville road a sign caught my attention. I knew this sign was new as I had never seen it before. The funny thing is I grew up on this road and travelled it everyday and NEVER knew this cemetery existed until today. I quickly googled the name and could not find much history of this cemetery. I found one website that showed me in was an old pioneer cemetery that had a new housing development on it. It also told me it was on lot 83. I thought this was strange that a sign would be placed here if the cemetery was up the road and didn't exist anymore. The neighbor across the way just happened to be outside so I asked her if she knew where this cemetery was. She replied its right there in the field. WOW! All those years growing up and never once did I ever take notice that there are headstones right in the field. I then asked her is she had any history of it. She said the person to talk to is my neighbor. His name is Randall Dempsey (also known as Randy) and that cemetery belongs in his family.
So I went and knocked at his door and Randy answers. I introduced myself, explained what I did as a geocacher and wondered if he would give me some history of the cemetery. Here is what I learned. The cemetery is over 200 years old and was the first Hamlet of Rednersville. Its correct location is Concession 1, Lot 84 which you will see once you reach GZ. This cemetery used to have 200+ grave sites but over many years it seems stones kept disappearing. The stones that are left are all that remains of this huge lot. The actual cemetery is about 300'x60' in size but the laneway to get to it does belong to Dempsey and is NOT private property. The reason for the second name on the cemetery (Cunningham) was because in the 1930's, there was land sold to the Cunninghams. Randy didn't know exactly what happened but the mortgage was defaulted and the Dempsey's got the full rights to the land somehow after. Back in the late 1970's, the township of Ameliasburgh had to do a survey of the land so the Dempey's could claim whats rightfully theirs as the township was selling off parts of the land. Locals to this day have been having disputes who has the rights to the property but Randy showed me the actual print out of what is his land for the cemetery and what isn't. The drawing for the true land was finalized on Mar 15, 1979. There is a plaque that shows the cemetery was renovated and maintained under the direction of the Ameliasburgh Cemetery Board -1970. Randy assures me that the renovation took place in 1967. The sad part is, no matter how much Dempsey tries to reach out to get the proper acknowledgment to have this cemetery marked correctly on the map, the County of Prince Edward will not make the necessary corrections. It took years for him to even have a sign placed to show there is a cemetery there and it wasn't until fall of 2017, a sign was put up. Even that was done incorrectly Dempsey says, as it should have been placed in front of the driveway for viewers to know how to get to it.
Well my fellow cachers, there ya go. Another Restin' Cache is now up so we can learn more about the pioneer days. The few stones that are left are beautiful and show the true history of the first hamlet. I have been given full permission by Randy Dempsey to hide the cache where it is. He also has told me to let everyone know that the gates should always be left open. The owners of those buildings have no right to close them as that is Cemetery property owned by the Dempsey Family. You can drive on up or walk if you wish. Enjoy and happy hunting.
Congrats to jiggs11 on the FTF!
