CemSearch

CemSearch

This growing database of some 372,000 entries, covering 800 cemeteries in 100 townships, is housed on computers at many of the public libraries within the counties it includes. It was begun several years ago by Ron Smith and Dave Long under the auspices of the Lakeshore Genealogical Society and the Quinte Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society. Originally intended as a record of all known burials in Northumberland County (which includes those parts of Durham County that were amalgamated with Northumberland some years back), it has since grown to include many of the cemeteries in the surrounding counties (see map). It is continually being updated...and no, unfortunately, it is not available on disk nor for sale.

From the above database, we have access to the 96,000+ burial records for the Northumberland County cemeteries, including the Port Hope ones listed below, and will be glad to look up individual requests. If possible, provide full names and approximate dates. However, please don't ask for "...all entries for the surname 'Brown'"!

* Old Wesleyan Methodist Cemetery (c1830-1873) records contain little more than the name of the lot owner, range and number of graves. There appear to be no existing records to indicate who was actually buried there.

* Pioneer Presbyterian Cemetery (1827-1873), on a sandy hillside in a quiet residential area, has approximately 65 known or alleged burials of early area pioneers.

* St. John's Anglican Cemetery (1862-present), originally purchased by the Diocese of Toronto in 1853, has approximately 4,700 recorded burials, the earliest in 1863.

* St. Mark's Anglican Cemetery (1819-1873) has some 140 burials in its churchyard. There have also been recent cremations.

* St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, originally situated behind the Church, and presently located just north of Union, records its earliest burial as 1849. There are 1,200 interred here.

* Union Cemetery (1873-present), adjoining St. John's, has approximately 7,700 recorded burials.

* Welcome United Church Cemetery (1855-present), with 3,200 recorded burials, is located at the northwestern corner of town.