The Dutcher Family

There are four Dutchers buried in the cemetery, all in the Methodist portion. They are husband and wife (Benjamin and Amanda) and two daughters (Matilda and Adaline). Matilda and Adaline were the Dutchers' youngest children. The Dutchers' oldest child, Melissa, would have been born when Benjamin was only seventeen or eighteen and Amanda was only fifteen or sixteen years old. 

Benjamin Dutcher, who was born around 1830, was the son of Abraham and Ann Dutcher, and in 1850 had three younger siblings: David, Abram, and Kythena. In earlier censuses, his occupation is a farm laborer, and in later ones, like this one from 1870, he was a brick mason.

1870 US Federal Census

In 1864, Benjamin served for thirty days as a member of the New York National Guard to protect New York Harbor. Apparently, the National Guard was summoned several times during the war to deal with riots and other security issues that broke out in New York City. As a result of his service in the National Guard, Benjamin was given a government headstone, which unlike the headstones of his family members doesn't record his date of birth or death. The WPA Record for Benjamin Dutcher incorrectly lists his birth year as 1844.

The three Dutcher women died in relatively quick succession: Adaline in 1887 at the age of 17, Matilda (called "Tillie" on her gravestone) in 1889 at the age of 22, and Ann in 1890 at the age of 57.

This is Matilda's obituary from September 1889:

Matilda Dutcher, daughter of Mr. Benjamin K. Dutcher, died at her home, New Castle, on Thursday of last week, aged 22 years. Cause of death, consumption. The funeral services were held at the M. E. Church, on Sunday, at 2 pm, at the interment was in the old Methodist burying ground at New Castle.

In 1891, Benjamin Dutcher married Lydia Grey, the widow of Nelson Grey. Neither lived very long after the wedding. This was his obituary:

Mr. Benjamin K. Dutcher died at the residence of his sister, Mrs. Weeks, at Pleasantville, on Saturday night last, April 28th, aged 64 years. The cause of death was chronic diarrhoea. His wife (widow of the late Nelson Grey), died at Ridgefield, Conn., only a short time ago. He leaves a family of several sons and daughters. The funeral services were held in the M. E. Church, at 1 p. m., and burial at the old Methodist Cemetery at New Castle.

1. Abraham Dutcher (1805-) m. Ann (1805-)
1. Benjamin K. Dutcher (1830-1894) m. (1) Amanda (1833-1890); (2) Lydia Grey
1. Melissa Dutcher (1848-)
2. Stephen A. Dutcher (1850-)
3. Louisa Dutcher (1856-)
4. William Dutcher (1858-)
5. Polly Dutcher (1860-)
6. Mary A. Dutcher (1861-)
7. Lucy A. Dutcher (1863-)
8. Abraham Dutcher (1865-)
9. Matilda Dutcher (1867-1889)
10. Adaline Dutcher (1870-1887)
2. David Dutcher (1833-)
3. Abram Dutcher (1836-)
4. Kythena Dutcher (1844-)