Schoonover Grave Discoveries

16.  Niclaes Van Schoonhoven

From NJ researcher Sharon Spangenberg on July 9, 2020:

On July 4th while probing in the Lower Walpack Cemetery (the same cemetery that has Henry Schoonhoven's gravestone), I discovered a gravestone that says "Here lies the body of NSH died June 10, 1764."  Everything that I have researched says Nicholas's date of death is "assumed to be" or "probably is" September 1764.  September is the month that his will was probated.  Would you agree that this is Nicholas Schoonhoven's date of death.  I have shared this with the Walpack Historical Society's president and he does not want this to be on social media until it has been secured in the ground which we plan to do within the week.  Nicholas Schoonhoven along with his brother-in-law Thomas Brink purchased over 1200 acres in Walpack beginning in 1725.  They donated and deeded the land for the First Walpack Church and cemetery in 1737.  Finding this gravestone is, therefore, quite special to the Walpack Historical Society.

Sharon continued on July 14, 2020:  

From the time the cemetery became inactive, members of the Rosenkrans family kept the cemetery mowed until the last family member moved out of state.  Thus, the cemetery was abandoned.  Since the Federal Government has no control of or jurisdiction over any cemetery, the Walpack Historical Society (sort of) took over the responsibility of the Lower Walpack Cemetery as well as others abandoned within the township boundaries.

Because I showed an interest in the cemetery, I was granted permission by the Walpack Historical Society to document all the stones within this cemetery and compare my list against the 1975 list provided by the Corp of Engineers.  I also began probing for other stones.  That is when I found on the edge of the cemetery, Henry Schoonhoven’s gravestone and footstone.  I was not aware at the time that Henry’s gravestone was on a list from 1932.  I have since been given a photograph of his gravestone as it existed in 1932.  Over the past few years I have found about a dozen gravestones that were in a section of the cemetery that was overgrown.  Some have just initials, others have initials with a year, and some are so worn that an inscription is barely visible.  The gravestones were found about 4” below the sod, thus not exposed to the elements.  Some of the stones found were actually in the mowed part of the cemetery.  

The NSH stone was one found in a section of the cemetery that had been mowed.  It was at least 6” underground covered with rich dark brown soil.  This 1½” thick gravestone is nothing more than a dressed fieldstone.  What I didn’t tell you is that there is writing on the reverse side of the NSH stone.  It appears that the carver made a mistake and turned the stone over and did it correctly.  The ELZ SH stone is also 1½” thick and is a dressed fieldstone.  All the very old (1700’s) stones are field stones.  The first commercial headstone was for a 1826 death.

The attached photo shows the oldest part of the cemetery.  The NSH stone was not found in this section.  That stone was found about 50’ from where I took the picture.  Also attached is the newer part so you can see the entire cemetery.  

18.  Hendricus Van Schoonhoven

See here for a news article describing the discovery of Hendricus' grave stone in Lower Walpack Cemetery. 

225.  Rodolves Schoonhoven

From NJ researcher Sharon Spangenberg on March 19, 2021:   

"Today I found this stone in an ancient cemetery in Bushkill PA.  On one side it says born 1790, on the back is 1793.  Perhaps it’s his year of death."

Further from Sharon on November 22, 2022:

"In March of 2021, I sent you photographs of a gravestone of Rodolves Schoonover Juner who was born Sept the 2, 1790 (with an upside-down heart) and departed this life --- the 27th Anno Domini.  On the back of the gravestone the year 1793 was inscribed.  While working in other cemeteries, I’ve noticed that there are gravestones where the year of death is etched on the back.  Therefore, the year 1793 must be the year of Rodolves’ death.

On Nov. 20th I returned to that cemetery and looked at the place where I found Rodolves gravestone.  First, let me tell you what I know about this cemetery.  A company was hired by the Army Corp of Engineers to visit all cemeteries that would have been underwater as a result of the Tocks Island Dam Project.  This ancient cemetery was one of those documented.  That company mapped out the boundaries of the cemetery as well as recorded and documented the location of each visible gravestone.  The name that was given this cemetery is the “Elizabeth Schoonover Cemetery”.  There were 59 gravestones that were documented.  Of those, only 13 were identified, mostly with initials; the others were identified as “unknown.”  All the unknowns were very small field-stone type markers.  Rodolves grave was not one of the 59 identified.

On the three occasions that we visited the cemetery, we were unable to find Elizabeth Schoonover’s gravestone.  However, we did find the gravestones of Benjamin [No. 221] (Elizabeth’s husband) and Catharine Maria [No. 441] (Benjamin and Elizabeth’s daughter)."

227.  Daniel Schoonhoven  and  153.  Ezekiel Schoonhoven Jr.

From NJ researcher Sharon Spangenberg on August 3, 2020:

Yesterday a few of us went to Bushkill, Pennsylvania to see if we could find a Schoonover Cemetery.  It didn't take too long to locate this very small burial ground that had two visible Schoonover grave markers.  If it wasn't for a hive of yellow jackets, I'm sure we would have found more hidden under the ground.  You can see by the attached photo, the burial ground is very overgrown.  

Although Daniel Schoonover's headstone is difficult to read, the correct date of death is July 14, 1857 (aged 62 years, 11 months, 1 day).  The burial ground is not located in the Dan Broadhead Cemetery, the correct name is the Schoonover Cemetery in Bushkill, Pennsylvania.  (The Broadhead Cemetery is just north of the Schoonover Cemetery.)

April 21, 2021 from Sharon Spangenberg:  [This cemetery is] in Pike County, Pennsylvania (on the other side of the Delaware River from Walpack, NJ).  The name of the Cemetery is called Flagler - Schoonover.   As you can see by the attached map of cemeteries, the Flagler - Schoonover Cemetery [9] is located in Pike County (as is the Brodhead [11] ).  They are about 5 miles apart.  I also note that he [Daniel] is an Army veteran; therefore, I will make sure an American Flag is placed next to his gravestone.  Cornelia was born June 22, 1797, died Jan 24, 1875 AE 77 years, 7 months, 2 days.  

April 24, 2021 from Sharon Spangenberg:  I visited the Flagler/Schoonover Cemetery yesterday to place an American flag next to the gravestone of #227 Daniel Schoonover.  While there, we discovered that #153, Ezekiel Schoonover and his wife Barbara are also buried in this cemetery.  I will need to return soon to place an American Flag next to his headstone as well.  Ezekiel's stone is in pristine condition as you can see.   Although the year and month on the stone match what is printed in the Master Tree, I'm not sure that the day is correct (I believe the day is 17).  For Barbara, the year and day on the gravestone match with what is printed in the Master Tree.  However, it is difficult to read what month Barbara died.  It could be 8 (August) or 3 (March).