Back in the late 1980's, after many long days of driving in the Sprout Brook area looking for my ancestors final resting place with only a picture of large boulder to lead me there, I came across a New York State historical sign along a road that read, Flint Homesite. I was thrilled to finally find some piece to the puzzle. Knowing the time frame, I had a feeling that Robert, and his family may be buried on the hillside in the back. Again I looked at the old photo of this boulder, and so I brought out my binoculars, and began looking in the fields of tall grass. I yelled to my wife, "There, up there, I see the top of the boulder!" I was over come with joy, and excitement, but now, how would I get there?
Near the Old Homesite was probably the original Flint farm, I pulled into this rutted, dusty driveway, and the owner was standing there. I asked him if he knew of this boulder, and he said, "Yup, it's up there behind the barn where the horses are now."
I explained to him who I was, and what my journey was, he was getting as excited as I was. He smiled and replied, "Just open the fence, and close it back up so the horses, and cows don't wander off."
As we drove up the rutted hill behind his barn we came to a half rusted old fence, I could see many stones lieing on the ground in the brush. I crossed over this old fence, and began pushing back the tall weeds, and had to move the horses who were walking on these field stones. After a few minutes, I brushed off one of the field stones, and there, edged by hand was one which read: A.F 1810. I knew from my research that this was Alexander Flint son of Robert Flint the Pioneer. Alexander was born November 6, 1737. Alexander was my line of descendents.
I measured the site, which was 50 feet, by 50 feet. A small picket fence that once was surrounding this burial site was only a few feet long, and being held up by weeds. I slowly pulled all the weeds out, and now I could see many more lieing in the ground, and on top. One by one I cleaned the many years of dirt off them. I wrote every detail down, and took pictures where they laid, and here I would stand them back upright.
The day was ending, so I had to leave, but the following weekend I was back with a weedeater, gloves, and all the tools I would need to re-set this ancient stones. During the week, the owner of the farm had put up a brand new fence around it to keep his horses, and cows from doing anymore damage. I was so thankful, and told him. He smiled and said, "This is not my cemetery, it is yours, and you can come and go when ever you wish, and I'll make damn sure no one comes up here without me knowing it, and doing harm." To this day, this kind man has kept his words.
The large boulder was my first job, weighing nearly 900 pounds, after cleaning around it, I found that it was sitting on a large slab of stone, there was no marble, or polished markers, they were all field stones, and hand edged.
As I was digging down about eight inches near Roberts grave, I found a brass round marker and it said on the face, Revolutionary War Veteran, and a place to put a flag on the back. I stood there holding this, and at that moment I felt a strange feeling go through my body, from my feet to the top of my head, a warm feeling, then a breeze rushed across my face. My wife was watching me, and she said,"Are you alright?"
I didn't answer her right away, but I heard a voice in my head saying "Write our life story, and about this valley!"
I looked out across the open fields, and up toward the tree line, then, and there I said to my wife, "I will write a book on Robert Flint!"
Next to Roberts grave, was his wife Joanna, a very weathered beaten stone that simply read: J.F 1792, which was the oldest marker I found.
As the day went by, and the many weekends that my wife, and daughter came here to work, and bring life back to this ancient place, I did research on the Flints, and I was told by one man who is the manager of General Herkimer's home, that this stone is the oldest he has seen, or heard of in the Mohawk Valley.
As the next year followed, I began to write about Robert Flint the Pioneer, and was doing all the research that I could find about him, and his sons, that were called, 'The Five Fighting Flints,' and who fought throughout the valley during the Revolutionary War.
The other son of Robert Flint was buried there as well, Cornelius Flint. His marker read: C.F 1817 He was born on October 14, 1741 His son Isaac Flint was buried here as well:I.F 1837. He was born May 24, 1768.
There were nearly 28 stone markers here that I could find. I'm sure there are more, deep under the ground, but I didn't want to disturb anymore then I did.
Over the years, people from all over this great country has asked me about Robert Flint, and I have helped many find their roots. Many have gone to the site, and have said the weeds, and brush are overtaking it again. I'm sadden, and mad about this, but living in another state, I cannot keep it up.
When I found this site, it was last taken care of in 1932. I don't wish to bring attention to this sacred place, or have it defaced, or damaged. The man that use to own the property sold his farm, and I just hope the fence is still standing to keep out the cows, and horses that may be there.
Maybe it is good that mother nature will hide this area again, and maybe my daughter, and my grand children will one day bring it back to the way I had it. I'm damn proud to have brought it back from destruction from time, and Mother Nature. I'm proud to have taken pictures to show everyone, and to keep this Ancient Burial Ground from slowly disappearing into time. I wrote my book 'The Life and Times of Robert Flint the Pioneer,' for the many lines that came from this great man, and all the Flints that will continue.
I hope that many of you will walk up that hill, and take a moment, and pay your respect for a family of true Patriots that help win our independence so long ago.
David Burton Flint
the 9th. generation of Robert Flint the Pioneer
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| Robert Flint, Pioneer Grave |
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