Forney Graveyard
The map above shows the original land grant warranted to Peter Forney January 19, 1733, and deeded March 14, 1738. His imeadiate neighbors were George Wolf; John Smith, his father in law; Frederick Becker (Aka Baker); and Heinrich Zimmerman (Aka Henry Carpenter). The photo below graciously donated by Michael Cassara a Genealogist located in New York, who found the photo in a local flea market. The photo is believed to be the original home built by Peter Forney and his wife Anna Smith. The location of the house is shown on the plot map above.
Inscribed on the back of the photo is: "Martin Forney", below that it states the following: "This is where Martin Forney's Grand Mother lived. This picture was taken by Mahlon Garman on May 30th 1919, on the Old Forney homestead where Martin Forney was born, near Brownstown." Signed "Martin R Forney". Below the signature it reads: "The dedication of the monument on old Forney cemetery and inauguration of Forney family reunion May 30, 1919"
Martin R Forney was born April 14, 1841, the son of Levi Forney and Maria Rupp; Levi Forney born October 29, 1799 was the son of John Forney and Elizabeth Betsy Layman. Elizabeth Betsy Layman would have been the Grand mother of Martin R Forney referred to in the inscription. John Forney born November 30, 1760 was the son of Abraham Forney and Elizabeth Spurgeon; Abraham Forney born about 1729 was the eldest son of Peter Forney and Anna Smith. Peter Forney being the original patentee of the land in 1733.
The photo was taken by Mahlon Garman who was the husband of Ella M Forney, daughter of Martin R Forney and Annie M Campbell.
The approximate location of the family grave yard is also shown on the map.
The satellite image above shows the land its boundaries, and the location of the family grave yard. The area circled to the north was the land owned by Peter Forney's brother, Christian Forney.
The land was passed down from Peter Forney to his oldest son Abraham Forney who passed it down to his son Peter Forney who passed it down to Ulrich Burkholder the husband of Peter Forney oldest daughter Ann Catherine Forney. The land has remained in the Burkholder family for over 200 years since until recently when much of it was sold off approximately two or three years ago (2007-2008) and subdivided. The current Burkholder family residents still retain the portion of the land which contained the home of Peter Forney the original land owner, where they operate a flower store.
The satellite image above shows the land as it is today (2009) after it was sub divided. The grave yard can be seen in the satellite image. At some point the land that the Forney grave yard sits on became the property of a corporation created by the family to preserve the graveyard. A. Elizabeth Forney in her will written in 1907 bequeathed $400.00 to Zion Luthren Church to maintain the graveyard.
Forney grave yard
The land is bordered to the west by Newport Road (Hwy 772), north by Cocalico Creek Road and south by Oregon Pike Road (Hwy 272) Latitude - 40° 08' 16.72" N Longitude - 76° 13' 07.34" W
The ground around the graveyard appears to be over grown and unkempt, it is unknown how far the deeded land for the graveyard extends beyond the walls of the graveyard.
On May 30, 1919 103 members of the Forney family met near Brownstown for a family reunion. During this reunion a monument to the family was unveiled along with numerous improvements to the graveyard. The improvements included the placement of granite field stones to mark the graves of the family members whose headstone could not stand the trials of time. As will be seen the older stones continue to degrade with time.
The monument commemorates Peter Forney his wife Ann Smith and their acquisition of the land in 1733. Through the tireless efforts of the family descendants Gottfried Fahrni we now have irrefutable proof that Peter Forney was in fact a Swiss immigrant who came to America in about 1727. The name "Forney" was Americanized to English pronunciation from the earliest known Swiss spelling of "Farni". as language rules progressed the swiss spelling ultimately became "Fahrni". There is also strong evidence that Peter Forney and his wife Ann Smith were Amish Mennonites when they arrived in America.
Unlike the perimeter of the graveyard, inside the walls the grounds are very well kept.
The four photos above show the head stone of Peter Forney born July 15, 1753 and died May 02, 1779. Peter was the son of Peter Forney and Barbara Eby and the grandson of Peter Forney and Ann Smith. The inscription on the stone reads: "Here Rests Peter Farny Died May 2, 1779 At age 25 years, 9 months & 17 days The Parents, brothers and sisters have erected this monument" The Stone is obviously an original stone on which there is no mention of his being a Revolutionary war soldier. Laying next to the original head stone is a field stone with the inscription "Peter 1753 1779 Rev. Soldier". This field stone was placed about 1919. Although Peter's service was Certified by the Pennsylvania Division of Public Records I am not convinced he was in fact a Revolutionary war soldier. Often times the only source for induction as a Revolutionary war soldier was a "Muster Roll" which was no more than a draft notice.
This field stone may be that of Ann Eliza Forney born about 1711. She was the daughter of Abraham Forney and Anna Carli, sister of Peter Forney husband of Ann Smith.
As this field stone has nothing on it but the name "Elizabeth" we can not be sure but it may be the stone of Elizabeth Sturgeon wife of Abraham Forney son of Peter Forney and Ann Smith or the wife of Christian Forney also the son of Abraham Forney and Anna Carli.
This field stone is that of Christian Forney son of Abraham Forney and Anna Carli brother of Peter Forney husband of Ann Smith. Christian was the executor along with Christian Obliger of Ann Smith's will in 1753. He lived across Cocalico Creek from his brother in Warwick Township. Christian was actually born November 24, 1706 and died in August of 1757. Little is known of Christian, We know only that his wife's name was Elizabeth. There is apparently a Will for him but as yet not located. it is unknown if he had children.
This stone is that of Peter Forney born May 08, 1762 died April 09, 1837, he was the son Abraham Forney and Elizabeth Spurgeon, grandson of Peter Forney and Ann Smith.
This Ann is unidentified
This stone belongs to Hannah Forney born 1798 died 1858, she was the daughter of Peter Forney and Eve Durnbaugh, great granddaughter of Peter Forney and Ann Smith.
This stone is that of Sallie Forney born 1805 died 1860, she believed to have been married to David Stull. She was the daughter of Peter Forney and Ann Sartoris
This head stone belongs to Louise Wolf born March 05, 1838 and died May 08, 1838. Her grave stone reads: In memory of Louise Wolf Daughter of Jacob & Sarah Wolf Born 5th of March 1838 Died May 8th 1838 Age 3 months 3 days. Louise was the daughter of Jacob Wolf and Sarah Forney. Sarah Forney was the daughter of John Weidman Forney and Barbara Baker (Aka Becker.
This stone and the next three stones are from the Getz family. Research is ongoing to determine their connection to the Forney family.
The next 4 stones below were all obliterated and unfortunately we do not know who they belong to.
This stone is that of Anna Forney daughter of John Weidman Forney and Barbara Becker, she was born March 16, 1822 and died just nine days later on March 24, 1822
The stone above belongs to Lidia Keller, daughter of Johannes Keller and Elizabeth Hershberger. She was the young bride of Levi Forney, son of John Forney and Elizabeth Betsy Layman. Lidia was born July 13, 1808 and died August 24, 1824. It is believed she was married in 1824 and died that same year. What is odd is she was just 16 years old when she died. It was extremely unusual for a girl to marry in this family before age 20.
This Stone belonged to Leah Forney, daughter of Levi Forney and his second wife Maria Rupp. Leah was born July 09, 1829 and died March 05, 1833 at the age of 3.
Aaron Forney was another child of Levi Forney and his second wife Maria Rupp. He was born February 16, 1844 and died February 03, 1850 at the age of 5.
This is the Field stone for Catherine Forney, daughter of Abraham Forney and Anna Maria Weidman, she was born July 03, 1791 and died September 03, 1836. She was the wife of John Forney, the son of John Forney and Elizabeth Betsy Layman. Catherine Forney and John Forney were first cousins.
The field stone above belongs to John Forney, the son of John Forney and Elizabeth Betsy Layman above.
The large stone above if for Elizabeth Betsy Layman wife of John Forney. Elizabeth Betsy Layman was born January 07, 1766 and died June 03, 1847.
This next stone is next to that of Elizabeth Betsy Layman above is her husband John Forney son of Abraham Forney and Elizabeth Spurgeon. John was born November 30, 1760 and died October 06, 1823.
One of the tallest stones in the grave yard belongs to William Forney, son of John Weidman Forney and Barbara Becker. William was born October 13, 1806 and died September 14, 1831. William was married to Catherine Graybill. William was a veteran of the war of 1812.
The stone above is for Barbara Becker daughter of Christian Becker and Anna Nancy Stout. Barbara was born March 24, 1786, she died May 02, 1855. Barbara was married to John Weidman Forney.
This stone is for John Weidman Forney born October 15, 1784 and died December 21, 1867. He was married to first to Anna Senseny, second to Barbara Becker, and his third wife was Susana Mohn.
The stone above is that of Mary Forney, daughter of John Weidman Forney and Barbara Becker, she was born November 19, 1807 and died December 13, 1879. Apparently she never married.
Lydia Levan was the daughter of Daniel Levan and Lydia Stout, she was born in 1803 and died in 1845. Lydia was the wife of Abraham Forney, the son of Abraham Forney and Anna Maria Weidman.
This field stone belongs to Abraham Forney, the son of Abraham Forney and Anna Maria Weidman. Abraham was born February 14, 1794 and died February 22, 1831. He was married to Lydia Levan.
This next field stone belongs to Anna Maria Weidman daughter of Christopher and Anna Maria Weidman. She was born March 07, 1760 and died May 25, 1835. Anna Maria Weidman was married to Abraham Forney son of Abraham Forney and Elizabeth Spurgeon.
The field stone next to Anna Maria Weidman is that of her husband Abraham Forney son of Abraham Forney and Elizabeth Spurgeon. He was born August 15, 1758 and died January 18, 1821.
Abraham Forney son of Peter Forney and Anna Smith born about 1729, the 1720 birth year on the field stone is wrong. He died between 1784 and 1789 according to his Will. He was married to Elizabeth Spurgeon.
The next field stone is for Elizabeth Spurgeon. Very little is known about her other than she was the daughter of Jeremiah Spurgeon. she is believed to have been born about 1736.
This field stone is believed to be that of Samuel Forney, son of Abraham Forney and Elizabeth Spurgeon. He is listed in Abraham Forney's will written on November 23, 1784 so he had to have died after that date.
This field stone is for Salome Forney another child of Abraham Forney and Elizabeth Spurgeon. She is listed in Abraham Forney's will written on November 23, 1784 so she had to have died after that date.
We believe this to be the field stone of Maria Forney. Maria is also listed in the Will of Abraham Forney who married Elizabeth Spurgeon. I doubt this was Abraham's daughter though. I believe it was his sister. Peter Forney died July of 1747 at the age of about 47. His Wife Ann (Smith) Forney died at age 49. Maria their daughter born about 1741 would have been about 12 years old at the time her mother died, so someone would have taken her in. I believe it was Abraham her brother and the oldest son of Peter and Ann (Smith) Forney. Peter and Anna died in 1747 and 1753 respectively. Maria would have been only 12 years old upon her mother's death. All the children had guardians appointed in 1749 except Abraham and Barbara. It is reasonable to assume the oldest son Abraham would have taken on the task of providing for Maria. If this is Maria Forney and in fact the daughter of Peter Forney and Anna Smith then in 1764 she married Jacob Carpenter son of Emanuel Carpenter and Catherine Line.
The remaining photos are just the basic layout of the graveyard.
