FARMINGTON — Franklin County commissioners plan to make sure cemeteries in the county’s care are maintained.

They asked Tuesday that Unorganized Territory Road Commissioner Jerry Haines check that cemeteries are being tended.

Commissioners had previously received a complaint about the Elizabeth Dyar Memorial in Freeman Township, which has since been cleaned up by Phillips couple, Daryl Searles and Susie Conklin-Georgiady, according to a story in The Franklin Journal.

Dyar and her husband, Joseph, are commemorated for their patriotism in being involved in the Boston Tea Party.

The Franklin County Colonial Daughters Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolutionary War have the deed to the memorial. Members have been maintaining it but have been unable to get up there for a couple of years due to aging,  according to Journal writer Sheila McMillan’s story.

Under state law, the county is responsible for caring for ancient burial grounds, county Clerk Julie Magoon told commissioners Tuesday.

Commissioners had been unaware that the memorial had not been being cared for when the complaint came in.

Previous owners of property near where the Dyar Memorial is located, deeded a public way over private property to the memorial, Magoon said.

There are several private cemeteries in the unorganized territories being cared for by residents. There are also some cemetery associations around the area that take care of others.

Commissioner Meldon Gilmore of Freeman Township takes care of the Freeman Ridge Cemetery.

Gilmore said he received a call about the West Freeman Cemetery needing work. Resident David Ames takes care of a private cemetery there and would be willing to take care of that cemetery if they need the job done, Gilmore said.

There was a concern about having no flags in that cemetery, which is just over the Strong line, Chairman Fred Hardy of New Sharon said.

Magoon said that the county usually buys flags for the cemeteries and someone puts them out.

“I would like to suggest that Jerry know about the West Freeman Cemetery and any other cemeteries that need to be taken care of,” Hardy said.

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