When were the earliest burials at the Friends Cemetery, Newport, Rhode Island

Question

When was the earliest known burial at the Friends Cemetery, Newport, Rhode Island?  Seeking to find a record for Richard Waterman-222.  Retread question.  Thank you.  Jenkins-761

Answer 1

That's a great question! :-)

That Cemetery is owned & operated by the "Rhode Island Historic Cemetery Commission" that's headquartered in Warwick, RI.

The Cemetery itself doesn't specifically have its own website, but the following link has the contact information for the Cemetery Commission where they can answer questions and such regarding that Specific Cemetery.

http://rihistoriccemeteries.org/contact.aspx

I bet that if you contacted them, I wouldn't be surprised if they were able to locate the oldest known grave in no time at all (hopefully).

In addition, the website (above) also has various ways in searching their database for all the Historic Cemeteries (and Individuals within them) as well.

I wish you the best of luck! :-)

~Brian Kerr

Comments

Brian,

Thank you.  This is very helpful.  Hopefully can provide some granular information - burials w/ no markers (or markers that are long gone).  Since it is an active cemetery, I wonder if they encounter unknown interments of the past.  Hmm...is this possibly a second (later) burial ground for the Newport Quakers?  Thanks again.

Dave

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I think I've encountered some family members who were buried in one (or more) of the Rhode Island Cemeteries and have seen some Cemeteries (as with many of them elsewhere) that had Grave Markers that were eroded over time with only a handful that were identifiable. This is because there were stones that were not known that they would do this over time (like sandstone and such).

~Brian Kerr

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Yes, the contrast in stones that have their markings from that time period preserved and those that don't is pretty striking.  I guess the sandstones don't endure.  In fact, I've read, wood was used in some cases and those are long gone.  The early burials in Dedham, MA, I believe, have been referenced this way.  Separately, I think Waterman-222 is more likely buried in Newport and the Swan Point Cemetery, Providence memorial is a cenotaph.  The fact that it was organized as a cemetery in 1846 is the primary reason.  What adds to my confusion is the R. I. Historical Cemetery Commission website says the oldest burial was 1699.  Maybe is was a burial ground for a very long time then in 1846 became more organized as a cemetery.  Thanks again.

Answer 2

> "Friends Cemetery, Rhode Island Historical Cemetery Newport #8, is located at Tilden and Feke Streets. The oldest dated legible grave is that of John Huntington (1743). The cemetery remains in use today."Friends Cemetery in Newport, Rhode Island - Find A Grave Cemetery

 

Comments

Thank you.  Checking the website mentioned below, the oldest recorded burial there, w/ no visible marker, is that of Joanna Slocum Mott who died in 1728.