Tombstone Tourism: Medway Cemetery

It's that wonderful time of year again, when those of us crazy enough to enjoy pioneer cemeteries go on the prowl. Last Sunday I was at Medway, once Decker, Cemetery in the former London Township.

This cemetery is on 10 Mile Road just east of Richmond Street (or the 10th Concession, just east of the Proof Line or Hwy 4, if you live in the past like I do). Apparently, it was called Decker Cemetery until 1932* - or until 1936 if you prefer to believe the sign on the gate. 

The Deckers were early settlers on Lot 16 Con. 9 who came from the United States. As with most families in the "good old days," the Deckers lost at least one child at an early age. In 1833, little Teunis Decker died at age 4. Hence, the need to found a cemetery that year. One David Youngs Decker (1795-1891), the little fellow's uncle, donated the land. The child's gravemarker, carved from a stone found in nearby Medway Creek, was the first of many commemorating Deckers. Another early burial was that of David's wife Maria who died in 1841.

In the mid-1800s, a small Free Will Baptist Church was built just to the west. While some Baptists were buried in this cemetery, many of the graves are those of Presbyterians who attended Bethel Church over on the Proof Line. The Baptist church was not a long-term success, being used only for funerals after 1900 and being gone by 1920. 

Since my friend Nick is a descendent of Deckers, it's not surprising he'd be paying a visit on the cemetery decoration day held on the fourth Sunday of every June. Of course, he can come here any time he wants but "decoration days" are an opportunity to chat with the cemetery caretaker(s), local historians, and other folks with relatives buried within the gates, not to mention leave a donation for upkeep of the cemetery if you like. And, of course, I came along for the ride as usual, despite not having relatives here myself. When it comes to Tombstone Tourism, who needs relatives as an excuse? 

As in most of our cemeteries, a great many early markers are fragile, broken or illegible. Caretakers can cut the lawn but rarely have funds to do much else. Occasionally money comes from the township, from relatives, or from trust funds, but unless people are willing to spend more money on departed ancestors, we may as well get used to looking at stones like these:

Fortunately, historical societies and fundraising committees occasionally come up with funds for monuments like this, preserving the names of people who are known to have been buried here but for whom a monument is eroded or destroyed: 

Local resident Bill Dobbie chats with Nick Corrie who has ancestors, including Deckers, in Medway/Decker Cemetery.

* Cemetery and early Decker family information from London Township: A Rich Heritage, Vols. I p. 198 and Vol. II p. 82.