Restored Dunn cemetery serves both beauty and history

Bill Donato has restored the cemetery Bill Bennett uncovered on land he purchased in Dunnsville.

The old wrought-iron fence with its beautiful decorative pieces on the holding posts are in place.  They were most-likely made in the iron foundry on Foundry Road in Guilderland almost two centuries ago.

Six headstones, once cracked and fallen over, are now repaired with braces; they stand slim and tall. They tell of the Dunn family of that era whose name tags the area on Route 20 in town.

Christopher Dunn, head of the family, was born in 1763 and died in 1830 at age 67. He operated a tavern on the corner of  the Great Western Turnpike and Route 397 called the Grange.

Other stones tell of John Dunn, who died in 1803 at age 35 years; James Dunn, who died in 1813 at 43 years; Richard Dunn, the son of John, who died in 1822 at 20 years; and James Dunn, the son of Christopher, who died in 1829 at 33 years.

The sixth stone marks the grave of Abigail (née Dunn) who died in 1825 at the age of 36.  She had married John Gaskin and she is the only female we noted who was buried in the Dunn cemetery.

On her lovely decorated stone is a poem that reads:

She cometh forth like a flower

and is cut down

She fleeith like a dandelion

and continuith not!

Abigail's stone is the only one carved with flowers and ribbons.

More research needs to be completed on the Dunn cemetery. For instance, although Christopher had a son, there is now grave to mark the son’s mother as Abigail is the only female noted.

Bill Donato of Altamont receives the credit for restoring the historic cemetery on Bennett's acres.  He is to be applauded for saving that important piece of Guilderland's history.

Donato has been busy with in his retirement years, documenting cemetery stones and putting them on the Internet  for those trying to find their ancestors. Anyone who has more information on the Dunn family history is welcome to call this historian at 518-456-3032.