Stephen Champlin-- Part 3

In the rear of the Champlin plot are the actual stones for Stephen, Minerva and her parents.   Each lies flat  along the ground and because they are badly weathered in spots, are sometimes difficult to read.  The stones from left to right, are inscribed:

Ralph M. Pomeroy died Jan. 6, 1863 in the 55th year of his age.  (Cemetery records give the date of death as being July 26, 1862 but this  may have been the date when his body was buried  in the Champlin plot.

Lydia P. died  September 1, 1872

M.L.C.  (no other inscription)

--Brock-Perry

Stephen Champlin-- Part 2: The Champlin Family Burial Plot

Both President Millard Fillmore and the commodore's individual  headstones are small and simple -- each bearing nothing more than their initials.

The centerpiece of the Champlin plot is a large monument bearing detailed descriptions on all four sides.  The front of the monument is adorned with a sculpture of a ship's cannon and ball, and anchor and various  pennants.  The left and right side inscriptions detail the names and date of birth and death of the commodore's son (Oliver Hazard Perry Champlin and wife), and the commodore's grandson (Oliver Hazard Perry Champlin and wife) -- each of whom are buried elsewhere on the plot.

I was unable to find out if the son and grandson followed into U.S.N. service.

The rear of the monument is the following inscription:

Commodore STEPHEN CHAMPLIN
BORN
Nov. 17, 1789
DIED
Feb. 20, 1870

MINERVA L.
WIFE OF
STEPHEN CHAMPLIN
BORN JUNE 28, 1798
DIED
JUNE 8, 1859

--Brock-Perry

Stephen Champlin-- Part 1: Buried Next to Millard Fillmore, 13th President

From the Stedman  Families Research Center, John Lisle.

Commodore

Born 17 November 1789   South Kingstown, Washington County, Rhode Island

Death  20 February 1870   Buffalo, Erie County, New York

Buried  Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo, NY

Biography of Stephen Champlin   by Robert Champlin

Stephen Champlin, son of Stephen Champlin and Elizabeth Raymond Perry, was  born in South Kingston, Rhode Island, on November 17, 1789, and died at Buffalo (Erie County) New York on February 20 1870.  he was buried in the Forest Lawn Cemetery there.

The Champlin family plot (which contained two dozen stones when I visited in August 1994) is located right next to the Fillmore family plot in which Millard Fillmore, the 13th President of the United States is buried.

--Brock-Perry

Stephen Champlin, USN-- Part 3: Long Service In U.S. Navy

In 1816, as commander of the USS Porcupine, he participated in the mapping of the United States-Canadian boundary under  the Treaty of Ghent.

He continued to serve in the U.S. Navy until 1855, when he retired to its reserves.  In 1862, he was promoted to the rank of commodore.

Throughout the rest of his life he suffered greatly from his 1814 wound.  He married and fathered six children in Buffalo, New York,  where he died 20 February 1870 and was buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in that city.

--Brock-Perry

And To Think I Didn't Know Much About Joseph Willcocks (Or Alexander Williams)

Other than three blog entries about traitorous action on his part that I wrote back in 2016 (and, I had forgotten about them), I didn't know much about him until I wrote about him being buried in Buffalo's Forest Lawn Cemetery while researching Alexander Williams.

I could see the making of an interesting movie on this man's life.

So, now, I have spent almost a month on Alexander J. Williams and Joseph Willcocks.

--Brock-Perry

Joseph Willcocks-- Part 4: Ancaster Bloody Assize and Death

In the spring of 1814, fifteen Upper Canadians, including Joseph Willcocks, were charged with  high treason as part of the Ancaster Bloody Assize.  Eight of them were arrested and executed in July 1814.  Willcocks was not arrested.

But, on September  4, 1814, while leading a skirmish during the Siege of Fort Erie, he was fatally shot  in the chest.

His body, as well as that of Lieutenant Roosevelt, was buried initially in "the circle or open square of" Buffalo, New York.  Later, his body was reburied in Buffalo's Forest Lawn Cemetery in the 1830s, but his grave is unmarked.

Wonder Why They Wouldn't Bury Him In Canada?  --Brock-Perry

Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, NY-- Part 2: The Founder of National Weather Service

Some more notable burials in the cemetery:

Brigadier General Albert Myer--  Founder of the National Weather Service

Ely Parker--  Civil War aide to General Grant.

Rick James--  musician

Barbara Franklin--  Mother of Aretha Franklin

War of 1812 Veterans:  Stephen Champlin, Navy officer and Joseph Willcocks

George M. Pierce--  Pierce-Arrow Automobiles.

Civil War Veterans:  Thomas A. Budd, Navy and Daniel Bidwell, Army

Some Interesting People.  --Brock-Perry

Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, NY-- Part 1: President Millard Fillmore

I have been doing a lot of writing about War of 1812 soldier and West Point graduate Alexander John Williams who is buried here.  Whenever I have a place of burial, I like to go to the cemetery and look at the names of other people buried there.

And, Forest Lawn cemetery has a lot of interesting burials.

From Wikipedia.

Red Jacket--  Seneca Indian Chief who sided with U.S, during the War of 1812.

Millard Fillmore--  13th President of the United States

Willis Carrier--  inventor of modern air conditioning

Shirley Chisholm--  politician and first black woman elected to U.S. Congress

Frederick Cook--  American explorer.  Said he reached North Pole first.

More To Come.  --Brock-Perry

The War of 1812 Forest Lawn Cemetery Monument

From Waymarking.

I looked all over to see if the Soldiers' Monument is still in Forest Lawn Cemetery and wasn't having much luck.  I did find that there was a Soldiers and Sailors Monument in the cemetery, but that one commemorates the Civil War.

But, I finally came across this and the accompanying picture matches the one from the 1860 drawing.  So, this must be the new name of the Soldiers' Monument.

The site says:  A Burial Monument  to War if 1812 soldiers, many in unmarked graves at this site.  The old burial site at Franklin Square was moved to Forest Lawn.

The monument notes 6  names of soldiers buried there.  Also the remains of 1158 persons buried  in this lot all of which were removed  from the old burial ground on the west side of  Delaware Street and Eagle Street in Buffalo, NY.

This lot at Forest Lawn Cemetery is designated Franklin Square, Section N City Lot 51.

Joseph Willcocks was buried at Franklin Square in an unmarked grave.  I assume  his remains  have been removed here with the rest of the soldiers and common citizens.

Alexander Williams' grave is by this monument.

--Brock-Perry

Alexander J. Williams-- Part 9: The Soldiers' Monument at Forest Lawn Cemetery

"...in commemoration of the several officers of the United States Army who were engaged in the War of 1812; also of a celebrated Indian chief (Red Jacket), and to mark the spot where the remains of over one thousand persons, which were removed from the city, lie buried.

"Near the monument *and seen in the foreground (of the line drawing of the monument) on the right is a tomb of brick, bearing a recumbent slab of marble, over the grave if Captain Williams, who lost his life at Fort Erie.

"The inscription on it is historical and briefly biographical."

--Brock-Perry

Alexander John Williams-- Part 8: Forest Lawn Cemetery and the Soldiers' Monument

Continuing with Fred Rickey's site.

This is an account from 1869 about the Soldiers' Monument and grave of Captain Williams at Buffalo's Forest Lawn Cemetery.

Accompanied by a drawing of the Soldiers' Monument.

"On the following morning [August 16, 1860] I rode out with Captain Champlin to a beautiful depository  of the dead in the suburbs of Buffalo, called Forest Lawn Cemetery.  The ground is pleasantly undulating, is much covered with trees of the primeval forest, and is a delightful resort during the heats of summer  for those who are not saddened by the sight of graves.

"There is an elevated open space, within ground  one hundred feet  square, slightly inclosed, stands a fine monument of marble, twenty-two feet in height, which was erected  by the corporate  authorities of Buffalo in the Autumn of 1852..."

--Brock-Perry

Alexander J. Williams-- Part 3: On Niagara Frontier and Killed At Fort Erie

Served at West Point, 1811-1812.

In the War of 11812, served 1812 to 1814.   1st Lt. Corps of Engineers, July 1, 1812., Captain , 2nd Artillery, March 17, 1813.

In command at Fort Mifflin, Pennsylvania, 1812-1814.

Campaign of 1814 in the Niagara Frontier (Command of three 18-pounder guns at Lundy's Lane.)

Engaged in defense of Fort Erie, Upper Canada.  Where, in hand-to-hand encounter, while repulsing the enemy's fourth desperate assault upon the bastion of the work, he was killed , August 15,  1814, aged 24.

He is buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, New York.

--Brock-Perry