4 October 2013

Dear Friends of Spring Hill Cemetery,

Six of us gathered at Spring Hill this morning. The skies were sunny and bright, but there was a very strong offshore breeze blowing, making conditions extremely dry. Our main task was to rake the paths (picture 2) , but we also had discussions on what to do with some of our broken headstone pieces (picture one, showing pieces belonging to Edwin Davis McReynolds and Franklin Seymour McReynolds). We filled our dump truck with the very dry debris, and left the cemetery in good shape.

Jeremy brought a preliminary mock up of a display to be put on the back side of the Spring Hill sign (picture 3). The goal is to provide on site information on burials and their locations for those visiting the cemetery. Let Jeremy or me know if you have suggestions. The current plan is for me to take the mock up home and work on updating it. When complete, Jeremy plans to get some sort of Plexiglas case for it (to be installed on the back of the sign).

We have finally solved the mystery of Spring Hill's two William Lowery burials. William H Lowery is well researched - we have some of his descendants active in the Friends of Spring Hill Cemetery. His stone is located next to James Erb on the north end of the cemetery. But we have long known of a second William Lowery in the northwest corner of the cemetery. This second William's stone is broken, with a matching broken stone next to it (picture 4). Due to the similar names, I and Spring Hill's other Lowery researchers have long tried to link the two Williams, assuming they must connect, but new research shows that they do not.

Newspaper articles on the probate of William Lowery's estate, in conjunction with census records, show that our second William Lowery (Lourey) was born around 1811 in Ireland, and died November 19th, 1867 in Bodega. He was a farmer, and married Elizabeth, also born in Ireland. It is unknown at this time when/where they married, or when they came to the United States. Elizabeth was 12 years William's junior. There were no children listed with them in their 1860 Smith Ranch Bodega Census listing. William's estate went through a lengthy probate procedure. In October of 1869 it was determined necessary to sell all of his real estate to pay outstanding debts. The parcel in question had a picturesque description, being tract No. 13 of the Rancho Estero Americano followed by an extremely lengthy boundary description, including things like a double wild lilac 12 inches in diameter, stakes marked "JOF", middle of creeks, etc. The sale, to the highest bidder, was to take place January 3rd, 1870. Administratrix of the Estate of Wm. Lowery was his widow, Eliza Lowery.

Eliza Lowery is found in the 1870 Bodega census, living alone. It is quite possible that the headstone next to William is that of his wife, Eliza. It is a broken stone, with the only visible writing "died February 1, 1878 aged 58 yr." This would roughly fit in with Eliza's birth date, working backwards from her 48 year reported age at the 1870 census.

Our final 2013 workday is set for Friday, November22nd. Please mark your calendars and come join us!

Best Regards,

Sue

Attachment #1
Pieces

Attachment #2
Sally

Attachment #3
Back of Spring Hill Sign

Attachment #4
Wm. Lowery

Attachment #7
Group