CEMETERY: Trinity Church and Burial Ground; New York, New York County, NY *********************************************************************** Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.org/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.org/ny/nyfiles.htm *********************************************************************** Valentine's Manual of Old New York No. 6, New Series 1922 Edited by Henry Collins Brown New York: Valentine's Manual, Inc., 15 East 40th St. ~ VALENTINE'S MANUAL OF OLD NEW YORK [271] TRINITY CHURCH AND BURIAL GROUND Written and Compiled by Harry A. Chandler, Author of the Forthcoming Historical Encyclopedia of New York City IN illustration of this article we have inserted a large colored supplement containing a map of Trinity Church and grounds. The map designates the exact location of all the more prominent graves and is a carefully prepared chart of the burial place of those who have found their last resting place in this old and historic spot. The work has received the hearty endorsement of Bishop William T. Manning and the Vestry of Trinity Church, and also that of Mr. George Crane, Comptroller. The first mention of this place as a burial ground was in 1673, according to Mr. I. N. Phelps Stokes, and it was referred to as the "new burial ground without the gate of the city." The "gate" was in the centre of Broadway opposite the north side of Wall Street which marked the boundary line of the little city. There was no church on the ground at that time. The first church building to occupy the present site of Trinity Church was erected during the years 1696-7. This building was enlarged in 1735-6. It was this enlarged building that was almost destroyed by fire in the great conflagration of 1776. The second church building to occupy this site was erected during the years 1788-90 and for over fifty years the sacred offices of the church were administered here to a rapidly increasing body of worshippers. In 1839 the building was found inadequate to the needs of the VALENTINE'S MANUAL OF OLD NEW YORK [272] growing parish and was demolished for the purpose of erecting a larger edifice. Trinity Church, as we know it now, is the third church building on this site. It was begun in 1839 but the entire work was not completed until some years later. The consecration of the church took place in 1846. It was the most conspicuous building of its day and was also the most admired and venerated. Although dwarfed and partially hidden by the enormous buildings around it now, it still holds a proud place of eminence in the hearts of New Yorkers. The memorial chapel to Dr. Morgan Dix was erected during the years 1912-13. The compilation of this work and data required a careful searching of the records of Trinity Corporation and a careful examination of the headstones in the churchyard. Owing to the fact that all records of burials prior to 1750 were kept in the clerk's office and that they were burned when the Trinity School in Rector Street was destroyed by fire, the writer had to confine himself to an unpublished book showing the epitaphs which were legible in 1897. By a careful perusal of these epitaphs and an examination of each stone in the churchyard after the map was completed, he was able to compile a list of one hundred and ten historical graves and to locate definitely ninety of them. Up to the time of the Revolution, according to D. T. Valentine in 1869, there had been interred in the churchyard 160,000 bodies. In the great fire of 1776 many tombstones were demolished and others so flaked by the excessive heat as to be unreadable. The card index of all burials since 1777 was scanned most carefully and consultations were held with Mr. Boyd the sexton, Mr. Aigeltinger chief clerk and Mr. Foster deputy clerk, whose VALENTINE'S MANUAL OF OLD NEW YORK [273] invaluable assistance the writer wishes to acknowledge here. This record may therefore be relied upon. Trinity Corporation has a record of 88 tombs in the churchyard and under the church. About half of these have never been opened since the fire of 1750 and there is no list of the persons buried within, but when these vaults are opened for additional interments or other purposes the sexton makes a careful list of the contents therein. Since 1823 when the city passed an ordinance forbidding burials within the city limits, interments have been permitted only in the old family vaults. The heavy faced letters at end of each name correspond with location of tomb as drawn on the map. (Note: In this plain-text version, the locations follow the hyphen.) List of the Historical Graves in Trinity Churchyard ALEXANDER, MAJ. GEN. SIR WILLIAM (Lord Sterling) and son of James, in whose vault he is buried. Died 1783-1A ALEXANDER JAMES (Earl of Sterling). Buried 1756-1A APTHORPE (Family vault 1801)-4C BAYARD, WILLIAM (Vault)-1D BARCLAY, REV. HENRY (Rector of Trinity). Died 1764-4A BARCLAY, ANDREW (Vault 1762)-4A BLEEKER, ANTHONY L. Died 1790-3F BLEEKER, ANTHONY J (Grandson of Anthony L.). Died 1884-3F BLEEKER, WALTER-3F BRADFORD, WILLIAM (First printer in City, 1693). Died 1752; new slab placed here by church 1863-6C BRADFORD, ELIZABETH (Wife of the first printer). Died 1731-6C BERRYMAN, CAPT. JOHN. Died 1808--8B BRANSON, CAPT. WARE. Died 1821 (Petitt-Branson-Ware vault)-10 BREWERTON, COL. GEORGE (Vault 1772)-4D BREESE, G. SIDNEY (Ancestor of S. F. Breese Morse) Died 1767-9D CARBERRY, CAPT. THOMAS. Died 1819-9 CHURCHER, RICHARD (Oldest gravestone). Died 1681-9A CHURCHER, ANN (Buried the day that Gov. Leisler was executed at the corner of Nassau and Park Row). May 16th, 1691-9B CANNON. ANDREW (Commander of British ship Sutherland). Died 1749-9 CADGER, JOHN (Gunner's-mate on the U. S. frigate President). Died 1813-9 CLARKE, MRS. GEORGE (Wife of Lt. Gov.) Buried 1740 in vault with her mother and Lady Cornbury-under tower CLARK, JOHN AND JOHN MASON. Sepulchre 1811-1P CLARK, CAPT. SAMUEL. Died 1811-8 CLARKSON, JOHN (Vault 1811)-3I CLARKSON, MAJ. GEN. MATTHEW. Died 1825-3I CLARKSON, L. Vault-1R CORNBURY, LADY (Wife of Gov. Edward Hyde, "Lord Cornbury"), Nee Baroness Clifton. Died 1706-under tower VALENTINE'S MANUAL OF OLD NEW YORK [274] COUTANT, DAVID (Vault 1818)-1U COLES, JOHN B. (Merchant, hero during epidemic)-3M CRESAP, CAPT. MICHAEL (Son of Col. Thos Cresap). The accusation of the responsibility for the murder of Indian Chief Logan's family by Cresap's men caused him to die of a broken heart in 1775-6A CRUGER, MAJOR JOHN, SR. Died 1744. Buried in vault under Choir Room. CRUGER, STEVEN VAN RENSELLEAR (Controller of Trinity and grandson of Mayor J. Cruger). In vault under Choir Room. Died 1898. CRUCIFIX STATUE. A memorial to Mrs. Wm. Astor given by her daughter Mrs. Orme Wilson-5E DALEY, CAPT. JOHN. Died 1730-1K DAVIS, M. L. (Merchant and Aaron Burr's second in his duel with Hamilton). Died 1818-1Q, DEAN, CAPT. JOHN. Died 1730-8 DE LANCEY, LT. GOV. JAMES (Buried under Choir Room, back of altar). Died 1760 DE PEYSTER, JR., COL. J. W. (In Watts' tomb). Died in 1873. (Son of the General)-1E DE PEYSTER, MAJ. GEN. J. WATTS. (In Watts' tomb)-lE DE PEYSTER (Vault 1763)-GB DIX, REV. MORGAN. Died 1908. Buried under altar of Chapel 1912. DIX, REV. MORGAN. Effigy in the north side of Chapel. DIX, MRS. JOHN A. (Mother Morgan Dix, Rector of Trinity and wife of Gen. John A. Dix.) Buried in J. J. Morgan vault 1884-3C DESBROSSES, JAMES (Vault 1799)-3D DESBROSSES, ELIAS (Vault)-3 DRUMMOND, GEO. M. (Viscount Fourth). Died 1887 in Ireland. (Vault)-3E DU PUY, SR., JOHN. Died 1854; stone restored 1882-7A DU PUY JR., JOHN (M. D.) Tablet written in Latin on wall in Chapel. FANEUIL, BENJAMINE (Father of Peter Faneuil of Boston.) Died 1719-5A FIREMEN'S MONUMENT (Erected by Empire Fire Engine Co. No. 42, in memory of Col. Farnham and others who died at Manasses-10J FORD, CAPT. HENRY (Commander of British ship Dunmore). Died 1793-8C FULTON, ROBERT (Builder of the first successful Steamboat.) Buried in R. C. Livingston's vault 1815-3B FULTON, ROBERT. Monument-1G GAINE, HUGH (Publisher of N. Y. Mercury 1752). Died 1807-4B GALLATIN, ALBERT (Secretary of Treasury). Died 1849. Buried in his father-in- law's vault, Commodore James Nicholson)-3A GALLATIN, MRS. ALBERT (Wife of Albert). Died 1849-3A HAMERSLEY, ANDREW (Vault). 1862-3L HAMERSLEY, WILLIAM (Merchant.) Died 1752-10I HORSEMANDER, DANIEL (Chief Justice of State). Died 1778. HAMILTON, ALEXANDER (Secretary of Treasury) Monument Cryptographical (written in secret characters). Killed in duel with Burr in 1804-1H HAMILTON, MRS. ALEXANDER. (Wife of Alexander). Died 1854-1I HAMILTON, PHILIP (Son of Alexander). Killed in duel with Geo. Sacker in 1801 IRELAND, SERGEANT MAJ. PETER (Royal Artillery). Died 1770-7 HOBART, BISHOP H. (Bishop of State and Rector of Trinity). Buried under walls of Chancel rail, 1830. HUNT, OBIDIA (Tavern Keeper). Headstone only in wall north end of Chancel rail. JEFFREY, CAPT. RICHARD-9 JAMISON, DAVID (Royal Chief Justice) JOHNSON, REV. SAMUEL (Rector of Trinity and First President of King's College (now Columbia.) Died 1789-10A JOHNSON, MRS. CHARITY (Wife of Samuel)-10A KEARNEY, MAJ. GEN. PHILIP WATTS (Buried in Watt's Tomb 1862 and removed to Arlington, Va., 1912-1E KEARNEY, MRS. (Mother of General Philip); nee Miss Watts-1E LAWRENCE, CAPT. JAMES (Author of the immortal words, "Don't give up the Ship.") Buried in S. W. corner of yard in 1813 and removed to present location in 1844 when monument was erected; the cannon around grave were captured in War of 1812- 1T VALENTINE'S MANUAL OF OLD NEW YORK [275] LAMB, COL. JOHN (Organizer of Liberty Boys). Died 1800. LEAKS, ROBERT - LEAKE, JOHN (Son of Robert) - LEESEN, JAMES (Cryptographical letters "Remember death") Died 1791-1OK LEWIS, FRANCIS (Signer of Declaration of Independence). Died 1803 - LISPENARD, LEONARD (Member of Stamp Act Congress)-under Chancel LIVINGSTON, ROBT. C. (Father of Philip). Died 1725-3B LIVINGSTON, PHILIP (Signer of Declaration of Independence.) Died 1778-3B LIVINGSTON, JUDGE ROBERT R. (Chairman of Committee of Correspondence and son of Philip.) Died 1813-3B LIVINGSTON, JOHN R. (Vault)-1B LUDLOW, GABRIEL WM. (Vault-4 LUDLOW, LT. AUGUST C. (U. S. Navy). Died 1813-3J MASON, JOHN (In Mason and Clark vault 1811)-1P MESIER, PETER A. (Alderman 1807-18.) Died 1847-4B MCCOMB MAJ. ALEXANDER S. (Buried in J. Watts' tomb 1876)-6E MILLS, A. (British Purser.) Died 1740-1-0 MCKNIGHT, DR. CHARLES (Chief Surgeon of American Army). Died 1791-10D MCKNIGHT, REV. CHARLES. Died 1778-1OF MCKNIGHT, CAPT. RICHARD (Son of Rev. Chas.)-10F MOORE, BISHOP BENJ. (Second Bishop of N. Y. and President of Columbia College.) Died 1816-1F MOORE, CHARITY (Wife of Bishop Moore)-1F MOORE, CAPT. DANIEL (British Commander killed at sea in 1777). Buried in John Moore vault.-3N MONTGOMERY, CAPT. W. S. (Royal Infantry.) Died 1778-2A MORGAN JOHN J. (Representative in Congress.) Died 1859-3C NEU, ELIAS (Stone restored 1846 by widow of Comm. O. H. Perry-5D NANNESTAD, LAKE (Danish Consul.) Died 1807-1L NELSON, CAPT. JOHN. Died 1762-8A NEWMAN, STEPHEN (Master of British ship Hampshire). Died 1758 - NICHOLSON, COMMODORE JAMES (Under Gallatin monument; his son-in-law). Died 1804- 3A ONDERDONK'S BISHOP Wm. T. effigy. (He was buried in Trinity Cemetery in 1861)-in chapel ORAM, JAMES (Publisher) Died 1825- OGILVIER, REV. (Vault)-1J PARK, CAPT. BENJ. Died 1807-5B PICA, CAPT. R. Died 1768-5C PECK, BENJ. (Vault 1768)-1M RANDALL, CAPT, THOMAS (Vault)-1C REA, CAPT. RICHARD. Died 1768-5 RICHARDS, CAPT. R. Died 1768-5 RIVETTE, CAPT. ROBT. (Master of British brig Robert). Died 1816-9C ROSE, CAPT. JOSEPH. Died 1807-6D READE, R. (Vault)-3K READE, HON. JOSEPH (Member of Provincial Council in 1764). Died 1771 - READE, CAPT. Wm. Died 1768-6 SCOTT, BRIG. GEN. JOHN MORRIN (One of the three famous leaders of the Liberty Boys.) Died 1784-10C SCOTT, LEWIS ALLAIN (Sect. of Commonwealth and son of John Morin Scott.) Died 1798-10E SCOTT, SHARP JOHN (Commander of British Packet Leicester). Died 1803-1 SLIDELL, JOHN (Alderman 1807-8) Vault 1816-3H SOLDIERS' MONUMENT "erected 1852 in memory of the brave and good men who died while imprisoned in this city for their devotion to the cause of American Independence." (There was a movement on foot to extend Pine Street thru the yard at that time-10L SWORDS' DRINKING FOUNTAIN, memorial to Mrs. Swords given by her son Henry 1911- 10H TEMPLE CHARLOTTE (The Heroine of Mr. Rawson's "Tale of Truth). She died in her home west of the north west corner of Pell and Bowery (now heart of Chinatown)- 10G VALENTINE'S MANUAL OF OLD NEW YORK [275] TOLLEMACHE, CAPT. (Killed in duel 1777 in City Hotel, No. 115 Broadway)- TUDER, CAPT. THOMAS. Died 1770-10M WALTON, WILLIAM (Vault)-1N WARD, COL. JOHN H.-2C WATTS, JUDGE JOHN (Recorder in Colonial Days). Died 1836-1E WATTS, JUDGE JOHN. Monument erected by his grandson John Watts de Peyster 1892- 2B WILLETT, BRIG. GEN. MARINUS (Hero of two wars). Died 1830-4E VAN HORNE, AUGUSTUS (Vault 1790)-10B VAN ZANDT, WYANT (Alderman 1789-94.) Died 1814-1S VAN ZANDT, WYANT (Alderman 1802-6 and son of Wyant.) Died 1831-1S VAN ZANDT PETER PRA (Alderman 1791-94 and Assemblyman 1777-84-1S VALLIRINE, CAPT. MARK. Died 1773-8D List of Graves by Blocks (See also alphabetical list) Block 1. Alexander A J. R. Livingston B Capt. Randall C Wm. Bayard D John Watts E Major McComb Gen. J. W. de Peyster Gen. Philip Kearney Bishop Moore F Fulton Monument G Alexander Hamilton H Mrs. Alexander Hamilton I Rev. Ogilvier J Capt. John Daly K Lare Nannestad L Benj. Peck M Wm. Walton N A. Mills O John Mason P John Clark M. L. Davis Q L. Clarkson R Van Zandt S Capt. James Lawrence T Capt. J. Sharp Block 2. Capt. W. S. Montgomery A John Watts Monument B Col. John Ward C Block 3. Albert Gallatin and wife, J. Nicholson A Robt. C. Livingston B Walter Livingston Robert Fulton John Morgan C Mrs. Rev. Morgan Dix J. Desbrosses D Earl of Dunmore E Bleeker F J. Slidell H Gen. M. Clarkson I Dan Ludlow J R. Reade K Andrew Hamersley L John Coles M John Moore, Capt. Dan Moore N Block 4. Rev. H. Barclay A Hugh Gaines B Peter Mesier Apthorpe C Col. Geo. Brewerton D Gen Marinus Willetts E Lt. Wm. Ludlow Block 3. Benj. Faneuil A Capt. Benj. Peck B Capt. R. Pica C Elias Neu D Crucifix Statue E Capt. R. Richards Block 6. Capt. Michael Cresap A de Peyster Vault B Wm. Bradford and wife C Capt. Joseph Rose D Hon. Joseph Reade Capt. Wm. Reade Block 7. John Du Puy A Serg. Maj. Peter Ireland Block 8. Capt. John Nelson A Capt. Isaac Berryman B Capt. Henry Ford C Capt. Mark Vallirine D Capt. Samuel Clark Capt. John Dean Block 9. Richard Churcher A Ann Churcher B Capt. Robt. Rivett C S. G. Breese D Capt. Thos. Carberry Andrew Cannon VALENTINE'S MANUAL OF OLD NEW YORK [277] Block 10. Samuel Johnson and wife A August Van Horne B J. Morin Scott C Chas. McKnight, M. D. D Lewis Scott E Chas. McKnight, D. D. F Charlotte Temple G Swords' Fountain H Wm. Hamersley I Firemen's Monument J James Leeson K Soldiers' Monument L Capt. Ware Branson Block 11. Capt. Thos. Tuder A Graves and Tablets Within the Church Lady Cornbury and Gov. Clarke's wife A Evangelists' Tablet B Capt. P. Drayton Tablet C Rev. Wm. Berrian Tablet D Bronze Doors by K. Bitter E Bronze Doors by Chas F. Niehaus F Bronze Doors by J. Massey Rhinds G The Pulpit H The Chancel I Bishop J. Hobart J The Altar K The Reredos L Lt. Gov. J. De Lancey M Mayor John Cruger, Sr. N Stephen Van Rensellear Cruger Leonard Lispenard O Cornerstone of second church P Obidia Hunt's Headstone John Du Puy Tablet Q Bishop Onderdonk Effigy R Rev. Morgan Dix Effigy S Morgan Dix Chapel T Rev. Morgan Dix buried under Altar of Chapel U Graves not Located Judge Daniel Horsemander* Judge David Jamison* Francis Lewis Philip Hamilton* Capt. Tollemache Robt. Leake John Leake James Oram Col. John Lamb _______ ? A record found of their burial.