McCrea Cemetery, Morris Township

Concession 5, Lot 2

It looks like a smattering of tombstones between the trees, on a mound up hill by the river. One approaches through the back of the Sam Pletch farm. There's a high wire fence and a steel-ringed gate in the corner. There is a neat arrangement of early tombstones on a cement backing., stones of BRYANS, NETHERY and McCREA. Beyond, climbing myrtle thickly coves the ground. so states Jeanne Kirby in her book, Morris Past to Present.

It was on February 28, 1867 that John McCrea received the patent for 100 acres, from the Crown.

Ten years later, on Nov. 8, 1877, Robert McCrea, who now owned Lot 2, Con. 5, sold part of the lot-one acre-and the right of way trustees of the burying ground.

Parts of the deed, signed that day, reads: Robert McCrea of the township of Morris in the County of Huron, yeoman of the first part and John Owens of the Township of East Wawanosh, yeoman, Christopher Corbett and Charles McCrea, yeoman, of the Township of Morris and all being residents of the County of Huron-hereinafter called the trustees of the second part.

Then again "In the township of Morris in the County of Huron in the province of Ontario being composed of a part of the N half of Lot 2 in the fifth concession of the said Township of Morris, containing by admeasurement on e acre of land described as follows, comprising the burying ground now fenced in, which is 32 rods from Concession 5 between the 4th and 5th Concession of the said Township and also situated 18 rods from London, Huron and Bruce railway right of the way. said burying ground from east to west 10 rods, and from north to south 16 rods-also the privilage of travelling &a road one rod in width from the said concession line to said burying ground or cemetery but the parties of the second part hereby covenant and agree for themselves and their successors in office to keep a good substantial and sufficient gate at the concession line at the north entrance of the said road and to keep said gate locked, excepting when used in connection with interments but it is understood that the said roadway shall not be fenced in on either side by trustees or successors in office and it is further understood that the said Robert McCrea or his heirs, executors or assigned may cross said road for farming purposes when necessary.

Brandon Cemetery in East Wananosh was opened around 1884, since that time McCrea Cemetery has been virtually closed, resting peacefully among the trees near the river.

Pioneers lie in historic plot, cemetery near Belgrave was donated by John McCrea, is still being used.

First funeral was that of John Lawler in 1857.

Belgrave , May 9-An historic cemetery, where lie the remains of many of the first settlers of the district, is located on lot 2 of the fifth concession of Morris of the farm of Cornelius G. McCrea. The cemetery is on s knoll comprising about an acre of land and about 55 headstones of white marble, distinctly ancient in pattern, tell the story of early pioneers. The burial plat was bequeathed to the community many years ago by John McCrea, grandfather of the present tenant of the McCrea homestead. It was a condition of the gift that the cemetery should be kept neatly and the wish in this respect is carefully fulfilled.

John McCrea, with four sons and 2 daughters, came to Canada from Fermanagh, Ireland in 1849. They landed at Quebec and settled temporarily in the township of East Gwillimsburg. In the late summer of 1851 the family oved to Morris. They proceeded to build a home for themselves, hewing the timbers from the huge forest trees that covered the landscape. The nearest settlement of any size was Goderich, 25 miles away.

The first funeral on this burial ground was in 1857 when John Lawler was laid to rest there. The second grave was that of the wife of John McCrea himself. The third was John Corbett's. In addition to the early residents many people of the later generation found a resting place there, and the cemetery is still being used, being free to all by the terms of John McCrea's gift.

There are young and old among the people of the graveyard. The oldest to be buried there was Charles Birney, 101 years of age.

From-Looking Across Western Ontario- London Free Press

Recorded by Anne Clark

Checked by Elaine McKinnon