Wondering / Wandering

For years I passed by this lone tombstone that sits on top of a small hill in the middle of a hay

field on RT 12N, Remsen, NY and wondered, whose grave did this single stone mark? In the late summer of 2013, I decided to stop to photograph it.  I noticed the stone had been broken and repaired, a garland of artificial flowers and a small American flag draped the stone … someone cared. The inscription could not be read, the letters were worn with age, “Consort of “ and  “Esq”  were the only words that I could make out.This remained a mystery that I could not solve. Until December 2023, I saw a Facebook post that lead me to the newspaper article that solved the mystery.

This is the final resting place of "Prudence Pomeroy Root, consort of Zalmon Root, Esq. Prudence departed on Sept 2, 1806, at the age of 34 "...

The article also revealed that her stone had been For years I passed by this lone tombstone that sits on top of a small hill in the middle of a hay field on RT 12N, Remsen, NY and wondered, whose grave did this single stone mark? In the late summer of 2013, I decided to stop to photograph it. I noticed the stone had been broken and repaired, a garland of artificial flowers and a small American flag draped the stone … someone cared. The inscription could not be read, the letters were worn with age, “Consort of “ and “Esq” were the only words that I could make out. This remained a mystery that I could not solve. Until December 2023, I saw a FB post on a that lead me to a newspaper article that solved the mystery.

This is the final resting place of Prudence Pomeroy Root, consort of Zalmon Root, Esq. Prudence departed on Sept 2, 1806, at the age of 34.

The article also revealed that her stone had been repaired. by two men who were devoted to preserving the memory of the early settlers of Remsen and maintaining the integrity of the town’s cemeteries. The flowers were placed by a distant relative and by unknown passers-by. An unknown person has pledged to clear the weeds from around the stone and place an American flag.

Rest on Peace Prudence.

Lone Tombstone Article