East Berlin Cemetery
West Berlin, NJ
ToomerFamily.com
The East Berlin Cemetery is located at Cooper Road and Chestnut Avenue, in West Berlin, NJ. This is the primary burial location for many East Berlin families, including the Toomer family. View in MapQuest
Planting Perennials
Ride
by the cemetery during the late summer months. You will see a field of
yellow. Toomer family Black-eyed Susans will be in full bloom.
The Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia, has been chosen as the Toomer family flower. We plant them on the graves of family members in memory of those who have gone before us. This flower is also in our family emblem.
One of the Planning Committee's goals is to eventually plant Black-eyed Susans on all family graves. Due to the enormity of this task, we focus our attention on the Henry & Bertha Toomer and their children. This task is far more difficult that most can imagine.
Please help us to continue this tradition. We see this as a small unobtrusive way to beautify our cemetery and to show family unity. We chose the Rudbeckia because it is tough, like us. Below are things that you can do to help.
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Please do not pull these plants up. If you have a preferred location, let a committee member know.
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Generally we will plant to the left or right of the headstone.
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If you plant this flower on graves outside of the committee's focus, let us know. When we visit we can check on it. Some times, when the heat is extreme we water the plants.
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Every year we loose plants due to over zealous mowing. We will again attempt to protect the plants by adding borders. Do not pull these up. If you see someone else destroying our stuff, pull in, assess the situation.
Seeds were planted this fall. Look forward to the bloom in 2006
Civil War Soldier Buried in East Berlin Cemetery
William Henry Smith, Company B, 41st regiment, United States Colored Troops
According to Samuel Asbell, author of, The Lost Black Legion, A search for the Soldiers and Sailors of the Civil War in Camden County, New Jersey, there is a USCT buried in the East Berlin Cemetery. His name is William Henry Smith and his grave is unmarked.
Asbell gives the following information on William:
(Appendix 1: Alphabetical lists of Servicemen, Army) Smith, Wm. Henry Co. B, 41st Regt. East Berlin (I) Pa. P. 1072
(Appendix 7: Cemetery Gravesite Maps) Buried in East Berlin Cemetery, Berlin, New Jersey. Map shows that he is buried on Cooper Road, on the side furthest from 73. Appears to be very close to Cooper road, in the center.
(Appendix 2: Regimental Histories and Compendium) The 41st Regiment USCT, organized at Camp William Penn, claimed approximately 254 black soldiers for which New Jersey took credit. Although initially serving guard duty at Deep Bottom, Virginia, the 41st got a taste of combat in the trenches before Chaffin’s Farm, Virginia, before becoming part of the Twenty-Fifth Corps. As part of the Twenty-Fifth Corps, the 41st fought in the Battle of Hatcher’s Run and the advance on the Petersburg defenses. After the collapse of Petersburg, the 41st pursued Lee’s Army to Appomattox, Virginia, and was present for the surrender. As part of the Twenty-Fifth Corps the 41st was transported to Texas for service on the Rio Grande border. The unit returned to Philadelphia in December 1865, for muster-out
(Appendix 2: Regimental Histories and Compendium) 41st Regiment Infantry organized at Camp William Penn, Philadelphia, PA, September to November 7, 1864, ordered to join Army of the James, in Virginia, October 18, 1864. Attached to 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 10th Corps, to December 1864, 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 25th Corps, to January, 1865, 2nd Brigade, 1st Division 25th Corps, January, 1865, 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 25th Corps, and Dept of Texas to December, 1865.
We are looking for family members and further information on the life of this soldier. Please contact Shamele at jordonsh@jersey.net
ToomerFamily.com, Toomer Berlin, NJ, family historian: Floyd M. Riley webmaster: Shamele Jordon,
© 1999-2006 All Rights Reserved.
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