Third Cemetery of Congregation Shearith Israel
Photo added by Gene Baumwoll CSW

Third Cemetery of Congregation Shearith Israel

Also known as Third Cemetery of the Spanish and Portuguese Syn

Manhattan, New York County, New York, USA

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  • Get directions 98-110 West 21st Street
    Manhattan, New York 10011 United States
    Coordinates: 40.74178, -73.99430
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This cemetery is located on 21st Street between 6th and 7th Avenues, in use 1829-1851. Shearith Israel, the first Jewish congregation in North America, was formed in 1654 by Spanish and Portuguese Jews who journeyed from Recife, Brazil, seeking refuge from the Inquisition. While New Amsterdam's city fathers did not recognize freedom of worship, they respected the Jews' right to their own consecrated burial ground. Shearith Israel purchased the cemetery plot on West 21st Street in 1829 for $2,750. It, too, was on the outskirts of the expanding city, which for sanitary reasons had prohibited interment below Grand Street after the yellow fever epidemic of 1822. In 1832 the congregation bought land extending the cemetery east to Sixth Avenue and south to 20th Street. Fifty years later the land was sold to Hugh O'Neal, who built a dry goods store there. Shearith Israel used the cemetery for burials until 1851. That year, New York City prohibited burials south of 86th Street and the establishment of any new cemeteries within city limits.


This cemetery is located on 21st Street between 6th and 7th Avenues, in use 1829-1851. Shearith Israel, the first Jewish congregation in North America, was formed in 1654 by Spanish and Portuguese Jews who journeyed from Recife, Brazil, seeking refuge from the Inquisition. While New Amsterdam's city fathers did not recognize freedom of worship, they respected the Jews' right to their own consecrated burial ground. Shearith Israel purchased the cemetery plot on West 21st Street in 1829 for $2,750. It, too, was on the outskirts of the expanding city, which for sanitary reasons had prohibited interment below Grand Street after the yellow fever epidemic of 1822. In 1832 the congregation bought land extending the cemetery east to Sixth Avenue and south to 20th Street. Fifty years later the land was sold to Hugh O'Neal, who built a dry goods store there. Shearith Israel used the cemetery for burials until 1851. That year, New York City prohibited burials south of 86th Street and the establishment of any new cemeteries within city limits.


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  • Added: 8 May 2008
  • Find a Grave Cemetery ID: 2260432