Greenwich Time, Greenwich, Connecticut
January 25, 1987
Dotted throughout the various neighborhoods of the Town of Greenwich exist many historic burial grounds. Along with the old homesteads that have been preserved throughout the years, the cemeteries are the last remnants, in some instances, of the vast farms that covered Greenwich in earlier ages.
A portion of the Old Cemetery in North Greenwich off Riversville Road. October, 2014. |
Gravestone of Joshua Knapp. Knapp Family Burying Ground, Round Hill. |
Back in the early part of the century, Spencer Mead the historian described one site he visited as being "so overgrown with tall grass and shrubbery in the summer that it was necessary to wait until late autumn before exes to the burial was possible." It is sad to find some burial grounds today that still fit this image.
This section of Union Cemetery contains the family plots of Greenwich's early African Americans. |
It is important today for town residents, government and historical associations to recognize that these burial grounds constitute historic sites as the last resting places of many of the citizens of Greenwich's early years, including those who founded the town more than three centuries ago, and are worthy of sustained efforts at preservation.
When one visits these historic cemeteries, the tombstones are inscribed with the names of many folk who were the first settlers and early inhabitants of the town. Quite a few of these individuals figured in some fashion in the history of the community. Such family names found at these places include Adams, Bonnell, Brush, Bush, Coe, June, Mosher, Ferris, Husted, Howe, Holmes, Hitchcock, Ingersoll, Lockwood, Mead, Merritt, Peck, Reynolds, Rundle, Timpany, and many others.
A portion of Tomac Cemetery, Old Greenwich. October, 2014. |
The oldest burial ground in Greenwich is the Tomac Cemetery in Old Greenwich, where many of the first settlers of buried. The second-oldest one is on Strickland Road in Cos Cob at Mill Pond Park, surrounded by a green fence. This place was known as an old Indian burial ground, although the graves of Sarah Gardner and Benjamin Mead of Cos Cob are found here as well.
Most of the oldest monuments are mere flat stones. Sandstone was used a century, more or less, after the first settlement here was established. This was followed by the use of marble, which is still used today.
Reynolds Family Cemetery at Stanwich Road and Tod Lane. October, 2014. |
Some of the symbols and motives on the monuments are interesting. A few of the earliest tombstones have hideous death-heads and winged skulls. This apparently symbolized death and the heavenward acscent of the soul. Likewise are found variations of common Jack-o'-Lanterns, empty hour glasses, and coffins and bones. Surely this conjures up the gloominess of the Puritan mind. Fortunately, as time progressed, some stone monuments appeared with some artistic representations of foliage, fruit and religious symbols. The Lewis family cemetery on Lafayette Place in central Greenwich feature some outstanding examples of this.
The Old Cemetery at Clapboard Ridge. October 2014. |
Lettering was just as important. While the elements have erased forever some of the information found on the monuments of a few of our early settlers years, many have survived and are quite readable. Most of the stones are inscribed with the name, birth and death dates of the deceased as well as their age at the time of death. Some also have biographical information.
Gravestone of Rev. Platt Buffett, Lewis Family Burying Ground off Lafayette Place, Greenwich. |
By far, however, one of the most curious aspects of these historic burial grounds are the epitaphs found on a number of the stone monuments. Products of the Puritan mind, these inscriptions reflect personal thoughts of the deceased individuals. One carved on a stone reads as follows: "Pray look at me as you pass by, as you are now so once was I. This is to let you see what care of my child has took for me."
Another, from the grave of Charles Coe, interred at the historic burial ground on Pecksland Road, who died in 1800, aged a mere 18 years and 27 days, reads: "Alas how frail is mortal man, see here my life is but a span."
From a stone monuments, dated 1795, an epitaph that would startle any child: "Stop, careless youths as you pass by, as you are now so once was I. As I am now so must you be, prepare for death and follow me."
Gravestone of Benjamin Mead, Mead Burying Ground in North Greenwich off Cliffdale Road. August 2014. |
In the backcountry, one of the Mead burial grounds, this one on Cliffdale Road is yet another Benjamin Mead who died in the year 1815 and left the following epitaph:
My fresh shall slumber in the ground
Till the last trumpet sounds.
Then burst to chains with sweet surprise
And in my Savior's image rise."
The Historical Society of Greenwich, with the assistance of dedicated volunteers, should assume the care and the jurisdiction of many of these forgotten places for cleaning up the burial grounds. Together with the creation of the Historic House Registry, the restoration, sustained preservation and protection of many of these sites will be assured. This indeed is a project open to all people from all walks of life. After years of neglect, ignorance and vandalism, our shared efforts at such a worthwhile cause for both individuals and families to be involved in will at last stand as a proper memorial to the early settlers of Greenwich.
Jeffrey Bingham Mead, who lives in Greenwich, is a direct descendant of one of the founding families of the town. He is a free-lance writer and a member of the Greenwich Historical Society.
I enjoyed this. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteJeffrey, you are an historic genius full of details and fascinating information, as well as such caring, kind and wonderful ideas for the Greenwich Historical Society, who surely must clear and restore these amazing cemeteries - and also requesti volunteer help in preserving such a vital time in our heritage. Many thanks. It is fascinating and surely worth pursuing. You have my respect.
ReplyDeleteWhen I look at the head stone of Joshua Knapp it pulls my heart strings. The Close family my descendents are connected through the marriage of Hannah Close and Joshua Knapp. I have 2 grandchildren born the same day a boy and a girl by my 2 daughters named Hannah and Joshua. It is my wish to visit this historical place of my ancestors and walk where they walked.
ReplyDeleteThere is a small burial site at the corner of Riversville Road and Pecksland Road. A young child of 7-8 years old is interred there. The headstone is flush with the ground.
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