Ryckman Family Cemetery

I stumbled upon this poetic little resting place just the other day. I've always known of the intersection we call Rykman's Corners but never knew why. The grounds of this very old cemetery are well kept. The headstones have worn away with time. Here lie the Rykmans. Now this quiet, fenced place is a favourite spot for me to wander to on my afternoon strolls. It is so close to the very busy Upper James Street and yet so peaceful and green.

Samuel Ryckman a United Empire Loyalist, was born June 4, 1777 in Pennsylvania. The son of Eunice Ward and Johannes Ryckman, a descendant of an old German military family which emigrated to New Jersey. He married Rachel Marlatt (born August 1785 and died February 8, 1868), daughter of Joseph and Shain Marlott of Palermo, in 1805 and they had four sons and five daughters. He died February 6, 1846 in Hamilton. Ryckman came to Barton Township some time after the American revolution. He acted as a crown land surveyor and received payment in the form of 700 acres of heavily timbered, Crown deed land. He constructed a log house and barn on the northeast corner of the present day Ryckmans Corners"