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Franklin County, Pennslvania Updated: November 12, 2010 This site is a collection of information about the Slate Hill graveyard which is located in Montgomery Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania. The gravel lane to the cemetery is several miles east of Mercersburg, on the north side of Pennsylvania Route 16. The American Flag and the large monument can be seen from the highway. For upward of 100 years burials had been made in the plot. Today there are but few gravestones with inscriptions but there are more native stones scattered about.
This cemetery was desecrated by men on a bulldozer back in April 1983. A neighbor observed this destruction where some of the gravestones were plowed down and run over to break them in pieces. Sadly, the neighbor did not know any descendants of the people buried in the cemetery and was legally limited to actions to stop the desecration. However this neighbor was able to stop the total destruction of the cemetery. The farm adjacent to this cemetery is known as the Heister Farm. Documents show that Kirby W. Reese is the owner of this farm who currently tills the soil all around this cemetery and was the owner when the desecration took place.
You will find many documents listed at end of this page which can be viewed as attachments. These documents are applicable to the cemetery and the land surrounding the cemetery. The documents show layouts and owners of these properties.They include map surveys, indentures, deeds, hand-written notes, and newspaper articles.
We are in need of photographs that shows this cemetery prior to 1950 and also prior to the desecration of this cemetery by the adjoining farmer. We will also accept any names of persons known to be buried in this cemetery. Please note that documents tell that some of the people buried here were removed to other cemeteries in nearby Mercersburg.
Point of Contact is millerr@innernet.net
This cemetery is identified only with a small marker located in the cemetery with the words:
-Slate Hill- Associate Congregation Church & Cemetery Site Built by Scotch-Irish Settlers in Early 1700's As Church of Scotland Seceders. Merged with United Presbyterian in 1800's Beneath this field lie the remains of many early pioneers
Lane from cemetery (Two Top Mountain in background)
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