HALDIMAND—Tucked away on privately-owned land somewhere in Haldimand sits the William-Morris-Burke cemetery. Currently unlicensed, this cemetery is the final resting place of several early black settlers to the area with deep connections to the past.
Local historian Sylvia Weaver has been researching the site for years, noting that the families in the cemetery first arrived in North Cayuga between 1851-1861, adding, “The Cooper and Burke families were here first. I am very familiar with their genealogies knowing they had very large families, and for several generations after they lived on this property or close by. The families of Stewart and Green may have buried their loved ones in this cemetery also.”
Toronto resident Spencer Martin is one of several living descendants with ties to the cemetery.
“I’m a descendant of the Burkes, who married the Williams,” explained Martin, who noted that historically black families new to the area often married into each other. “We’re all interconnected.”
From there, it became more difficult to piece his family’s history together: “I’ve got family bibles and things of that nature. You have allusions to ‘Uncle X was buried on the Burke farm’, but it’s really not much more than that. You really have to do your investigative work.”
As part of the investigation, Martin is hoping results from an archaeological assessment done this spring will be made public: “It would be nice to see what they found.”
Local filmmaker Graeme Bachiu, whose Canfield Roots documentary showcased the Street Cemetery, another local burial site with connections to black history, has also taken interest in the site and its assessment. While the results are still under review with the Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism, Bachiu has “heard informally” that 17 burials were identified through the process, “which was more than any of us who knew about that site had thought.”
The cemetery assessment was ordered by the landowner, who will not be named in this story and did not reply to request for comment on his plans for the site.
According to David Brazeau, Communications Manager for the Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO), the assessment was conducted by a professionally licensed archeologist following direction from the BAO and the Archaeology Program Unit at the Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism.
“The main objective of the archeological investigation was to determine the extent and number of human burials at this location. The extent of the burials would provide information required to determine the boundaries of the cemetery. Once the boundaries are determined, a survey of the property boundaries would be required in order for the BAO to license the cemetery. These boundaries are then required to be registered in the land registry office of the provincial government. The registration of these boundaries ensures that the cemetery lands are protected from future impacts of potential destruction.”
Martin said that, to his knowledge, no descendants were notified of the assessment taking place. He sees a lack of transparency around the process and is concerned what that means for his ancestors’ resting place.
While no formal request has been received by the BAO related to a next step for the cemetery, those interested in the site are concerned that the landowner could request to have the bodies moved. Bachiu said he has spoken to the landowner and they “indicated personally to me that he wanted to dig the bodies up and move them elsewhere.”
“I would hate to think of anyone, any property owner saying, ‘I don’t like this, I’m going to unilaterally say I’m going to relocate these graves to another location,” said Martin.
He added, “It’s not like you have unfettered control over a property. There are archaeological and historical things that can take precedent. If you buy a historic building, you can’t just tear it down and build a parking lot.”
Bachiu noted that the current assessment was done through “scrapings, they didn’t go down and disturb any of the bodies.The possibility remains for them to be re-interred elsewhere: “People should be aware that is an option with any of these sites, and this is why we want places like the Street Cemetery protected, when possible in public hands, and as transparent as possible about what is going on.”
The site shows just how fragile local history can be. Bachiu mentioned that while the Williams-Morris-Burke cemetery was well maintained throughout the 90s by a descendant, it has since fallen into disrepair, with only a single standing tombstone left to identify it and access no longer provided to living relatives to visit their ancestors’ final resting place.
Brazeau laid out the complicated process the landowner would need to undertake to have the bodies re-interred elsewhere: “The applicant must become a licensed cemetery operator first, and then must apply for an order to close the cemetery. If such an order were to be issued, it would include a disinterment and reinterment to another licensed cemetery. But this landowner is not licensed.”
He said that the “detailed legislative process” behind such a request would include public notices and the opportunity for anyone with an interest in the cemetery to make a submission regarding the decision. The BAO would also notify several historical organizations, including the Ontario Heritage Society, Ontario Historical Society, and Ontario Genealogical Society.
“If the Registrar at the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery (MPBSD) determines that the cemetery closure is in the public interest, the Registrar will issue an order to close it or part of it. The closure order will authorize the landowner to arrange for the disinterment of each human body and require the reinterment of these bodies in another licensed cemetery,” he continued. “Every person and organization that makes a submission is required to receive a notice of the notice of Registrar’s decision to close or not close a cemetery. This gives them an opportunity to appeal the decision within 45 days of the notice, following which the Registrar will issue the order to close – if the decision is not appealed.”
Weaver hopes that outcome never comes to pass, explaining, “I know many descendants who are alive today who would be very concerned if this cemetery was disturbed…. It is a historic site, which must be respected.”
Martin believes relocating the bodies would be more complicated and expensive for the landowner. He outlined his preferred outcome, “Since the site is fairly close to the (nearest) Concession (road) … have an area cordoned off and have an easement to the road so that descendants can go out and visit their ancestors.”
Weaver said that the Street and Williams-Morris-Burke cemeteries are likely just two of many similar sites in Haldimand: “Many landowners in Haldimand are not aware of abandoned cemeteries or burials on their property. In the early 1800s both black and white pioneers would bury their family members near their own log cabin, as there were no cemeteries at that time. As time passed the wooden cross or tombstone crumbled, families moved away, and the burials were forgotten.”
While Martin has not met the landowner, he shared the following message: “These are our relatives. It may not be important to everyone, but if they were his relatives, what would he want done? We can’t have our pieces of history buried over.… Treat these cemeteries with the respect they deserve. That’s what I would try to impress upon him.”
Weaver concluded, “I understand, it may be a shock to a landowner to discover a cemetery is on their property. Historically, the freedom seekers who lived on or around this property may be buried in this cemetery. They escaped slavery through the Underground Railroad and came to this safe haven to live free. They cleared the land that this landowner owns and lives on, and respect should be given to these unnamed pioneers… Let them rest in peace.””
