First Presbyterian Church Cemetery
Rockaway, Morris County, New Jersey, USA
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Get directions 35 Church St.
Rockaway, New Jersey 07866 United StatesCoordinates: 40.90348, -74.51218 - www.fpcrockaway.org
- (973) 627-1059
- Cemetery ID:
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The original church property consisted of 10 acres and 30 perch, which used to cover property west of Wall Street, and also included property across the street from the present church, which today is a baseball field and park. Some of the earliest settlers whose grave sites are unknown and forgotten can in fact be buried in said locations, as well as under the church parking lots or even under some of the cemetery roads.
On September 27th 1773, David Beaman: deacon, chorister, elder and Revolutionary War veteran, was voted to take care of the burying yard: "to tell people where to bury their dead, and to advertise it through the parish." This makes him the first church and cemetery sexton at the Rockaway Presbyterian Church. Ironically, David Beaman is buried in a grave that was never marked. He died in December of 1802. David Beaman was followed by another Revolutionary War veteran, David Gordon. He took over the duties as sexton right after the war. People used to call him "the old sexton", his broken headstone bears the same inscription. He held the position as sexton for over 40 years. He died in 1852 at the age of 92 years and 10 months. In 1832 William Wear had "the privilege of tilling and pasturing the grave yard." After his service came John B. Kelsey, then Silvanus Howell in 1839, Fredrick Star, then David Hamilton in 1858, Joseph H. Beach in 1864, then John Gordon Mott in 1875, who held the position as sexton for 47 years, being assisted by William Rogers and Peter Beatty in the last few years. Peter Carlyon followed John Gordon Mott in 1923 retiring in 1955.
The oldest grave stone is dated April 8th 1762. David Estill lost his beloved wife Mary at the age of 24 years. There are estimated to be 48 Revolutionary War veterans buried here, some accounts say around 100 people buried here participated in the conflict. The Morris County- New Jersey Militia's highest ranking officer, Brigadier General William Winds is buried in the small knoll behind the church. He was also elected as one of three delegates from Morris County to the New Jersey Convention which ratified the Constitution of the United States for the state of New Jersey in 1788. He died in 1789.
There are 20 War of 1812 veterans interred in the cemetery, 135 Civil War veterans, 13 Spanish American War veterans, 87 WWI veterans, to date there are 142 WWII veterans, to date there are 25 Korean War veterans, and 8 Vietnam War veterans resting in peace. There are approximately 7,000 people interred in the cemetery.
In 1861 the cemetery was surveyed and plotted, and walkways and roads were constructed. In 1933 part of George Stickle's will was bequeathed to the cemetery. Part of the money was used to erect the iron spiked fence that surrounds half of the property.
Gene Baumwoll CSW
To contact sexton, either call the church office and leave a message (973-627-1059 or his e-mail address is: [email protected].
The original church property consisted of 10 acres and 30 perch, which used to cover property west of Wall Street, and also included property across the street from the present church, which today is a baseball field and park. Some of the earliest settlers whose grave sites are unknown and forgotten can in fact be buried in said locations, as well as under the church parking lots or even under some of the cemetery roads.
On September 27th 1773, David Beaman: deacon, chorister, elder and Revolutionary War veteran, was voted to take care of the burying yard: "to tell people where to bury their dead, and to advertise it through the parish." This makes him the first church and cemetery sexton at the Rockaway Presbyterian Church. Ironically, David Beaman is buried in a grave that was never marked. He died in December of 1802. David Beaman was followed by another Revolutionary War veteran, David Gordon. He took over the duties as sexton right after the war. People used to call him "the old sexton", his broken headstone bears the same inscription. He held the position as sexton for over 40 years. He died in 1852 at the age of 92 years and 10 months. In 1832 William Wear had "the privilege of tilling and pasturing the grave yard." After his service came John B. Kelsey, then Silvanus Howell in 1839, Fredrick Star, then David Hamilton in 1858, Joseph H. Beach in 1864, then John Gordon Mott in 1875, who held the position as sexton for 47 years, being assisted by William Rogers and Peter Beatty in the last few years. Peter Carlyon followed John Gordon Mott in 1923 retiring in 1955.
The oldest grave stone is dated April 8th 1762. David Estill lost his beloved wife Mary at the age of 24 years. There are estimated to be 48 Revolutionary War veterans buried here, some accounts say around 100 people buried here participated in the conflict. The Morris County- New Jersey Militia's highest ranking officer, Brigadier General William Winds is buried in the small knoll behind the church. He was also elected as one of three delegates from Morris County to the New Jersey Convention which ratified the Constitution of the United States for the state of New Jersey in 1788. He died in 1789.
There are 20 War of 1812 veterans interred in the cemetery, 135 Civil War veterans, 13 Spanish American War veterans, 87 WWI veterans, to date there are 142 WWII veterans, to date there are 25 Korean War veterans, and 8 Vietnam War veterans resting in peace. There are approximately 7,000 people interred in the cemetery.
In 1861 the cemetery was surveyed and plotted, and walkways and roads were constructed. In 1933 part of George Stickle's will was bequeathed to the cemetery. Part of the money was used to erect the iron spiked fence that surrounds half of the property.
Gene Baumwoll CSW
To contact sexton, either call the church office and leave a message (973-627-1059 or his e-mail address is: [email protected].
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- Added: 15 Jun 2002
- Find a Grave Cemetery ID: 1352048
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