Established in 1800, and still in use, Woodhouse Methodist was one of the earliest churchyard cemeteries in Norfolk and today ranks as one of the largest. Its name was changed in 1925 when the congregation helped form the United Church of Canada. 

Today this cemetery is alternatively referred to as Woodhouse Methodist, Woodhouse United, simply Old Woodhouse, or some combination of these names. At least once in the historical record it is called the Old Methodist Burying Grounds.

The Ontario Genealogy Society/Norfolk Branch's CD-ROM of Names in Norfolk Cemeteries, lists over 2,000 names on "Woodhouse United/Methodist Cemetery" stones, as of 2003. This cemetery is still in use.

Many of the surviving historic stones are still quite readable, as are later-day monuments placed in the churchyard by pioneers' descendants. Over a dozen stones are transcribed in our video. Pause the playback when appropriate to read them. Our video is meant only as an overview of the cemetery itself, not as an alternative resource to cemetery stone transcriptions.

When it comes to cemetery transcriptions, older is frequently better. Volunteer transcribers from the Norfolk Historical Society transcribed this cemetery in the 1960s. A copy of that transcription is on file and available for viewing in the Reading Room of the Norfolk Heritage Centre (www.norfolklore.com).

The Norfolk Branch of the Ontario Genealogy Society subsequently transcribed this cemetery over a decade later. Their transcription is available for sale from their web site:
Ontario Genealogy Society/Norfolk Branch. (See their "Published Resources" web page.)

As helpful as cemetery stone transcriptions can be, additional research is required to 
unearth all the genealogy they represent. For example, this video includes transcribed 
stones for Mary McCall and Rebecca Lockwood Potts without indicating they were mother and daughter.

Correction: our on-screen transcription of Margaret Mandeville's stone errorously spells her name Manderville and says she died in 1826, not 1820. Believe the stone, not our transcription.

Our videos are merely sneak peeks -- not exhaustive treatments -- of their subject. Hopefully they will provide a touch of perspective for those who live at a distance until they can visit.

Watch the Video | Return to Videos | Introduction
 

Copyright 2006-2012 John Cardiff