North Burial Ground

The North Burial Ground is a 110-acre (0.45 km2) cemetery in Providence, Rhode Island dating to 1700, the first public cemetery in Providence.[2] It is located north of downtown Providence, bounded by North Main Street, Branch Avenue, the Moshassuck River, and Cemetery Street. Its main entrance is at the junction of Branch and North Main. The burial ground is one of the larger municipal cemeteries in Southern New England, and it accepts 220 to 225 burials per year.[3]

This article is about the cemetery in Rhode Island. For the cemetery in Massachusetts, see North Burial Ground (Fall River, Massachusetts).
North Burial Ground
North Burial Ground is located in Rhode Island
North Burial Ground
North Burial Ground is located in the United States
North Burial Ground
LocationProvidence, Rhode Island
Built1700
NRHP reference No.77000003 [1]
Added to NRHPSeptember 13, 1977
Mowry Tavern (now demolished), a stone-ender on Abbott St. as it looked ca. 1885, with the Cemetery behind it

History

From the time of its founding by Roger Williams in 1636, Rhode Island had strict separation of religious and government institutions. Therefore, Providence had no state churches with adjacent public burial grounds, as most New England towns had. Instead, townspeople buried their dead in family plots on individual farms.[3]

In 1700, a town vote was held to establish a municipal cemetery. This cemetery was to be open to the deceased of all faiths, from millionaires to paupers, and even emancipated slaves. 45 acres were set aside; 10 acres were to be used for a cemetery, the remainder for a town common and militia training ground. However, the first official burial didn't take place until one Samuel Whipple was buried here in 1710/11. There were only about one or two burials per year until 1736, when 14 people were buried.[3]

By the mid-1800s, under the influence of the Rural Cemetery Movement, cemeteries generally became viewed as a place for the general public to enjoy refined outdoor recreation. In Providence, the North Burial Ground was further landscaped. More land was added, along with curving roads and trees, to make the grounds more attractive to the living.[3]

Notable interments

See also: Category:Burials at North Burying Ground (Providence)

North Burial Ground has the burials of many notable Rhode Island residents, including governors, members of Congress, soldiers, millionaires, emancipated slaves, and literary figures:

Images
  • Early 1900s postcard of North Burial Ground
    Early 1900s postcard of North Burial Ground
  • Entry flag and marker to North Burial Ground
    Entry flag and marker to North Burial Ground
  • Dexter family monument with governor's flags for Gregory Dexter, colonial President
    Dexter family monument with governor's flags for Gregory Dexter, colonial President
  • Grave monument for Governor Stephen Hopkins, signer of the Declaration of Independence
    Grave monument for Governor Stephen Hopkins, signer of the Declaration of Independence
  • Grave plaque for Governor Stephen Hopkins
    Grave plaque for Governor Stephen Hopkins
  • DAR grave plaque for Sarah Hopkins, wife of Governor Stephen Hopkins
    DAR grave plaque for Sarah Hopkins, wife of Governor Stephen Hopkins
  • Governor Nicholas Cooke grave monument
    Governor Nicholas Cooke grave monument
  • Nicholas Cooke governor's medallion
    Nicholas Cooke governor's medallion
  • Governor James Fenner mausoleum
    Governor James Fenner mausoleum
  • James Fenner governor's medallion
    James Fenner governor's medallion
  • John Whipple, early Providence settler whose remains were moved here from a family plot
    John Whipple, early Providence settler whose remains were moved here from a family plot
  • Flags fly over the graves of veterans at the North Burial Ground
    Flags fly over the graves of veterans at the North Burial Ground
  • Grave of Capt. Pardon Sheldon, patriot involved in the Gaspee Affair
    Grave of Capt. Pardon Sheldon, patriot involved in the Gaspee Affair

See also

Further reading
  • "The Early Records of the Town of Providence, Volume 18" by Snow & Farnham Company, 1904.

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. Rogak, Lisa (2004). Stones and Bones of New England: A Guide to Unusual, Historic, and Otherwise Notable Cemeteries. Globe Pequot. p. 159. ISBN 9780762730001.
  3. Hill, John (24 Jan 2015). "Providence's North Burial Ground is running out of room". The Providence Journal. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  4. "Allen, Philip, (1785–1865)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved April 19, 2014.
  5. Perry, Amos (1883). Memorial of Zachariah Allen: 1795–1882. J. Wilson and son. p. 52. north burial ground Zachariah Allen.
  6. Rhode Island College
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