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Archiver > NJHUNTER > 2004-10 > 1098035916


From: "Rita Chesterton" <>
Subject: Re: [NJHUNTER] BETHLEHEM BAPTIST
Date: Sun, 17 Oct 2004 13:59:11 -0400
References: <142.36033762.2ea3ee1e@aol.com>


Thanks for your thorough and thoughtful message, Wendy! My Vliet
ancestors were from the West Portal area of Bethlehem Twp, but they also
lived at various times in Greenwich Twp and other nearby areas. I know that
the name "Bethlehem" is sometimes associated with Alexandra Twp. and it gets
quite confusing ;o) Of course, the townships extended into different areas
back then and one really needs an OLD map to do this research.

I'm really trying to determine if there's another cemetery in the
Asbury/West Portal area where my gt-gt-grandparents (Jacob B. Vliet &
Barbary Opdyke Vliet) might be found. Barbary's death certificates simply
says "buried Asbury, Warren Co." Not knowing their religion, I've walked
through both the Methodist and Presbyterian graveyards in the little town of
Asbury and could not find them. Records are very hard to come by, and many
stones have fallen. Then....I thought....maybe there's even another
cemetery where they could be found. Asbury, as you may know, lays over the
hill to the north and east of West Portal.

I'll have to get out a map to see just where this "Bethlehem Baptist Church"
would be....although I don't believe the Vliet's were Baptists. Still, I
always enjoy a walk through a nice cemetery!!

Rita in Lambertville



----- Original Message -----
From: <>
To: <>
Sent: Sunday, October 17, 2004 11:47 AM
Subject: [NJHUNTER] BETHLEHEM BAPTIST


> Rita, Just looked in my photos from my research trip in 2003, and found
this
> sign in the photo I took of the entrance of the church. "Bethlehem
Baptist
> Church. Congregation was formed in 1837, Church was built same year on
the
> Brunswick-Easton Turnpike (now Rt. 78). The church was abandoned in 1906."
A
> second sign reads: "Bethlehem Graveyard Established 1837. Bethlehem
Graveyard
> Society incorporated 1909."
>
> The cemetery is missing a large quantity of headstones, the grounds
however
> are maintained. I do know that one of the prominent families buried there
are
> the Van Syckles. I also recall seeing Garrison and Prall. Other than that,
I
> can't be sure. I do know that there are more legible headstones.
>
> I also recall (having been born and raised in the area), that there was a
> major problem with the cemetery when they put I-78 through to the north
side of
> the graveyard. They started pulling up caskets, remains, etc. when they
started
> grading for the highway. I was quite young at the time, but if you
contacted
> the Hunt. Hist. Soc., I sure you could get info. I also know that one of
the
> Van Syckle descendants, Doug Martin, is a Trustee of the society. Perhaps
they
> have the internment list there. Goog Luck, Wendy
>
>
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