Swezey-Bromley Cemetery

Also Referred to as Swezey Hill Cemetery

Town of Newport, Herkimer County, NY

This private cemetery is located about two miles southeast from Cold Brook, in the southeast corner of the Town of Russia in 1929. The Swezey-Bromley was "walked" in September 1929 by members of the Oneida Chapter of the D.A.R. A 2nd D.A.R. list was found, naming the same cemetery "Swezey Hill" and said to be in Newport, no date, but definitely later, and the two lists are consolidated here (9/22/2000).

"How large would be the population of the town of Norway if the living and the dead buried in its soil were all counted? No one can tell, but we estimate the dead outnumber the living two to one. Would you believe that nearly 1,800 persons, great and small, are sleeping in our cemeteries and abandoned burial places. The figures cannot be very far out of the way. They include over a century of time. Think of 1,800 coffins and funeral services, the miles of processions, the sad and grieved hearts, the tears that have been shed, the ties that have been broken. Think of the pain and anguish, of the doctor's bills, of the funeral and grave stone expenses, and then ask yourself if dying is not an important part of life." (Norway Tidings, Vol. 4, No. 7, July 1, 1890)

Short profiles of some of the families listed below, mentioning specific individuals buried in this cemetery.

9/1/99  A current condition report made by Pauline Norton Zach appears at the end of the listings.

9/22/00  Another reading appears in Vol. 253 of the Unpublished NYS Compiled DAR Records. No date or reader given, but it's a later reading, possible from the 1960s - some markings legible in 1929 are illegible and stones (mainly earlier ones) aren't listed. The Beebee family is spelled Beebe in the 2nd reading. Differences in the 2nd reading are noted in brackets.

SWEZEY-BROMLEY CEMETERY aka SWEZEY HILL CEMETERY
TOWN OF NEWPORT, HERKIMER COUNTY, N.Y.

"A year ago I found the information on the Swezey-Bromley Cemetery on your web-site. I felt that the date on the Hannah Norton, wife of John Norton, stone was not correct and wanted to see it for myself. There was a possibility that she might be my ggg-grandmother.

Went finally to Poland last week and with the help of the very nice people in Cold Brook and Poland located the cemetery. Your list does have an error. The stone is very easy to read and the date of death is 1803, not 1903.

I still do not know if she is my relative but I can ask you to make the correction on the date as it might help someone else.

Swezey-Bromley is a beautiful, peaceful cemetery. There is an attractive dedication marker on the road but we did not notice it until we were ready to leave! Surrounded by brush.

Directions: Coming from Poland to Cold Brook on the fringe of Cold Brook there is a road to the right. Rose(something). Down that road about 2 miles on the right is the cemetery. Difficult to see from that direction. We went to the end of the road, got more directions from a resident, turned around, and the cemetery was visible from that direction.

Many years ago someone planted lilies of the valley and someone else planted ferns so the ground cover is lilies and the ferns are knee high and very thick. And do they scratch! Must be nice in the spring when the lilies of the valley are in bloom. No grass.

There is one fallen tree branch that has broken a stone. There are a few other fallen stones. Believe the repairs could be done in half a day! Most stones are in excellent condition considering the age. Hannah's is in unbelievable good condition considering the age.

I'm still looking for evidence of my ancestors in Herkimer County. Will keep in touch."

Sincerely, Pauline Norton Zach

Source: This list was provided for educational and research use only by the Newport Historical Center, Newport, New York.

Copyright © Oneida Chapter, D.A.R., Utica, NY
Copied By: Harry P. Layton and Mrs. Thomas D. Wathins, members of Oneida Chapter, D.A.R., Utica, NY, September 22, 1929.
Submitted by: Muriel E. Fenner, Newport Historical Center

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