The Hastings Cemetery

In 2015 Perdue Agribusiness purchased 18 acres between RT13 and Old Stage Road in Delmar.  On that property is the Hastings Cemetery (one of several by that name).  Abiding by Delaware law concerning cemeteries  (protection of unmarked and marked remains) Perdue hired Edward Otter Inc to research and survey the property.  Otter Inc found the property was part of and dated back to 1754 when it was granted to Mitchel King and was called Kings Lot (located in Somerset County at that time).  The property was later acquired by John Parker who sold it to Elijah S. Hastings in 1785.  The property would be willed to his grandson Archelaus Hastings (son of Frederick Hastings)  in 1843.  In turn it went to Joseph W. Hastings the son of Archelaus.  On John W. Hastings death it was sold at public auction by his two sons Joseph W and Ernest Guy Hastings . The property left the Hastings family after 150 years.   See this address for an additional note on Ernest Guy Hastings.

https://delmarhistoricalandartsociety.blogspot.com/2018/07/e-guy-hastings.html

"During the 1920's Walter G. Tatnall transcribed tombstones throughout Sussex County, Delaware.  The Works Progress Administration contributed further in the 1930's.  These records are useful since grave stones often go missing or simply weather over time.  The Hastings Cemetery is recorded in Tatnall's Collection as #206 and #206a.  The cemetery was located on Joseph W. Hastings' Farm, located two miles northeast of Delmar.  

 Twelve gravestones were recorded in the Tatnall Collection:  These consist of headstones and footstones.  Tatnall Records Collection identifies twelve tombstones and names of the individuals they are associated with.  

1.   Frances E. Hastings  1st wife of J. W. Hastings  born Dec 1st 1848  died Jun 12th 1874
2.   Archelaus Hastings  died Jun 25th 1861  Age 52 - 6 - 1
 3.   Eliza C. wife of Archelaus  died Sep 1st 1888  Age 82 - 5 - 11
4.   Adelia Hastings  daughter of Archelaus  died Mch 28th 1861  Age 10 - 3 - 5
5.   Marietta Hastings wife of J. W. Hastings & daughter of B. B. & Sarah Gordy    born Jan 6th 1854  died May 12th 1887
6.   Archlaus B. son of W. N. & Margaret E.  died Jan 4th 1874  Age 12 - 9 - 27
7.   J. W. Hastings
 8.   W. N. Hastings
9.   Margaret E. Hastings
10.  Infant daughter of Wm. & Mar E. Hastings  died Jul 26, 1865  Age 6 da
11.  B. B. Gordy
12.  Sarah J. Gordy wife of B. B. Gordy "

Edward Otter Inc found the Hastings Cemetery contains at least 19 marked and unmarked burials within an area measuring approximately 50 feet by 70 feet.   There was no way to identify all of the people.

The engineers for Perdue have said Perdue is thinking of making the cemetery a monument to farmers as those are the people they serve and the Hastings were farmers.