Welcome to the Patterson Family Cemetery Association

 PATTERSON FARM CEMETERY ASSOCIATION  ANNUAL MEETING Saturday, October 21,2017 PRESENT: Wendy Neel, Regan Weldy, Perri Weldy, Misha Weldy, Warren Beaven, Keith and Pat Patterson, Barbara A. Brown, Ross and Hazel Patterson, Sr., Don Jacobs, Carol Beaven, Brian Beaven    INSPECTION OF THE CEMETERY was completed prior to business meeting. PROIR TO MEETING members shared bits of personal news with the family. This included Carol & Warren welcoming granddaughter, Sanna, born December 2016 to Tjark & Erika Beaven; Keith Patterson retiring and sons Jason engaged and Jordan back in town; Hazel and Ross Patterson welcoming a great-grandson; and Don Jacobs sharing that sister Audrey will be wed next month and sister Stephanie expecting her second child (boy) in December. Wendy Neel also shared an informative email from Susan Reichhart. We wish Susan & Chip bon voyage as they attempt their cruise (yet again). Please let Wendy know if you would like a copy of Susan’s letter. We also welcomed 3 sisters Perri, Regan, and Misha Weldy who are related to the Patterson family through William Patterson. It is always nice for find more of “us”. Perri is currently working on her ancestry linage and is working on the same question as Warren : “Where did William Patterson come from?” 

 MEETING CALLED TO ORDER by President Warren Beaven. 2016 minutes were read by Wendy Neel and approved.  TREASURER’S REPORT was given by Keith Patterson. We have one CD that renewed in September 2017 at the rate of .27% and another CD that renewed in July 2017 at the rate of .35. Cecil Bank periodically offers a promotion for CDs. The next promotion is November. Keith stated that we could rollover a CD and get a better rate with this promotion. It was voted and approved by all. It was also stated and understood that our fiscal year begins each October 1. See Keith’s attachment for Treasurer’s Report. 

HISTORY LESSON 

Warren handed out copies of a hand written cemetery map written by his grandmother, Elsie with the help of her dad, James Davis Patterson (See attachment). This map was drawn from notes made by Elsie and left in her notebook compiled between 1936 and 1965. Looking at the map we located Charles Baker’s headstone but see that 2 graves near him are not marked. Warren wants to clarify whose graves these are. It was suggested that they belong to Charles’ 2 daughters. Maxine stated that she thought one daughter was Madeline.  Warren asked that we clarify all the graves inside the cemetery gate. Would it be possible for Ross Patterson Jr. and Tom Patterson (both living nearby) to compare Elsie’s map with what they find in the cemetery? Warren suggested that we think about amending the 1983 cemetery map so that we can determine what space is inside the cemetery fence, when the last burials were done, and who is buried in the 2 unmarked graves. This led to the following question: Is there available space for additional graves? Also, can a new grave be dug legally and how do we go about finding this answer? NOTE: Regan Weldy has   found the following Maryland Office of Cemetery Oversight website that can provide information http://www.dllr.state.md.us/license/cem/ cemfags.shtml. Perri Weldy is currently thinking about starting a Patterson Farm Cemetery website possibly on a facebook listing. We hope to learn more about this. Warren is also pursuing another avenue through the county’s clerk’s office seeking legal issues. If it is found that there are additional grave sites that can be used for a new burial do they need to be direct decedents of James Davis or Clara Patterson and how do we decide who has access to this? Next, we discussed how to locate the buried bodies in the cemetery. Barbara suggested using a specific x-ray machine used for this. Warren said he would contact Washington College in Chestertown to pursue this avenue and Barbara has a contact that may be able to help with x-ray. Keith also asked what the depth limits of a machine may be. ADDITIONAL HISTORY NOTE: It was noted that the first of the Pattersons arrived in the 1730’s. The Callender Farm “Two Brothers” was patented in Elkton in the 1730’s. The earliest “proof” of the Callenders being here was a dog tax paid by the Callenders  recorded on a tax roll. OLD BUSINESS By-laws for PFCA (Patterson Farm Cemetery Association) was discussed. President Warren had sent out a letter in December 2016 asking members to vote via Ballot to Amend the Bylaws the the Patterson Farm Cemetery Association. The first motion was to amend the list of Officers to include the office of Vice-President. The second motion was to specify the order of administration at the annual meeting if the President cannot attend. Warren did not receive many responses to this ballot therefore it was voted on at the annual meeting. A Vice President officer position was unanimously approved; the sequence of administration in running the meeting (President - Vice PresidentSecretary-Treasurer) was also unanimously approved. NEW BUSINESS CEMETERY INSPECTION: Keith commented that there is new damage to the cement pillars as the outer coat is coming off. Last year Warren & Jim Neel talked about a sealer for this problem including the areas where the iron rods meet the cement.  

 The Ground Hog Issue hasn’t been resolved and continues to be a problem. Any new ideas to combat these rodents are welcomed. Last year’s idea of using chewing gum did not work. The lawn has been mowed although weeds have moved in. Our thanks to Dale and family for keeping up on the mowing. Keith and Paula have plans to plant some perennials in a cemetery corner. Anyone willing to help with lawn/vine/shrub care please contact Warren (516 491 5954 or wbeaven@netzero.com). Finally, Warren noted that 2018 marks the 50th anniversary of the formation of the Patterson Farm Cemetery Association and the 250th anniversary of John Calender’s death.   Note to All: Just wanted all of you to know that our mother, Patricia Patterson Redifer, peacefully passed away Sunday, November 6, 2017. Please keep us in your prayers as we journey through this difficult time. A celebration of life is tentatively planned for late December. Wendy Neel, Heather Ramsey, & Andrea Hunt