A recently-re-discovered pioneer cemetery in Drayton will soon be declared an official burial ground by the provincial agency in charge of funeral and burial services.
The discovery occurred during excavation of a building lot in a Drayton subdivision on Dec. 17, 2012. Wellington OPP reported at the time that initially two pieces of wood were dug up which appeared to be part of a coffin. Further investigation revealed what appeared to be the remains of a 1900s-era pioneer burial ground.
Initially the developer of the subdivision had not planned to build on the lot where the discovery was made. However, after an archeological assessment was completed, a building permit was issued for the lot, located in the Glenaviland subdivision.
Earlier this month, the Registrar of Funeral Burial and Cremation Services gave notice it intends to declare the site a burial ground. The notice, which appeared in the Wellington Advertiser in the July 19 issue, states the lands were formerly owned by the trustees of the Christian Church from 1885 to 1906. Between 1875 and 1897, remains of some of the individuals who were buried in the Christian Church of Drayton Cemetery were disinterred and re-buried at Victoria Cemetery.
The notice indicates the site, located at the intersection of Ridgeview Drive and Pioneer Drive in Drayton, contained two collapsed coffins, both containing fragmentary human remains.
Representatives of those whose remains are interred at the site are invited to contact the registrar within two weeks after July 19 by contacting Michael D’Mello, Registrar, Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act, Cemeteries Regulation Unit, Ministry of Consumer Services, 5775 Yonge Street, 15th Floor, Toronto, ON, M7A 2E5; 416-326-8393 fax: 416-326-8406.
