The North Burial Ground is a cemetery in

Providence, Rhode Island Providence is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. One of the oldest cities in New England, it was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams, a Reformed Baptist theologian and religious exile from the Massachusetts Bay ...

dating to 1700, the first public cemetery in Providence. 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.

History

From the time of its founding by

Roger Williams Roger Williams (21 September 1603between 27 January and 15 March 1683) was an English-born New England Puritan minister, theologian, and author who founded Providence Plantations, which became the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantation ...

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. 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. 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.

Notable interments

See also: North Burial Ground has the burials of many notable Rhode Island residents, including governors, members of Congress, soldiers, millionaires, emancipated slaves, and literary figures: * Daniel Abbott, deputy governor of Rhode Island colony * Philip Allen, Governor of Rhode Island and U.S. Senator * Zachariah Allen, prominent Providence mill owner and civic leader * William B. Avery, Medal of Honor recipient *

Edward Mitchell Bannister Edward Mitchell Bannister (November 2, 1828January 9, 1901) was an oil painter of the American Barbizon school. Born in Canada, he spent his adult life in New England in the United States. There, along with his wife Christiana Carteaux Bannist ...

, Canadian African-American painter * Chad Brown, early pastor of the

First Baptist Church in America The First Baptist Church in America is the First Baptist Church of Providence, Rhode Island, also known as the First Baptist Meetinghouse. It is the oldest Baptist church congregation in the United States, founded in 1638 by Roger Williams in Pr ...

, progenitor of Brown family *

John Brown John Brown most often refers to: *John Brown (abolitionist) (1800–1859), American who led an anti-slavery raid in Harpers Ferry, Virginia in 1859 John Brown or Johnny Brown may also refer to: Academia * John Brown (educator) (1763–1842), Ir ...

, merchant, U.S. Representative, slave trader, co-founder of

Brown University Brown University is a private research university in Providence, Rhode Island. Brown is the seventh-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, founded in 1764 as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providenc ...

John Nicholas Brown II John Nicholas Brown II (February 21, 1900 – October 10, 1979) was the United States Assistant Secretary of the Navy (AIR) from 1946 to 1949. He was a member of the Brown family that had been active in American life since before the American Re ...

, socialite and philanthropist *

Nicholas Brown, Jr. Nicholas Brown Jr. (April 4, 1769 – September 27, 1841) was an American businessman and philanthropist from Providence, Rhode Island, who was the namesake of Brown University. Early life Nicholas Brown Jr. was the son of Rhoda Jenckes (1741– ...

, philanthropist and namesake of

Kady Brownell Kady Brownell (1842 – January 5, 1915) was an American ''vivandière'' who helped the Union Army during the American Civil War. She went with her husband when he joined a Rhode Island regiment. Brownell trained with the soldiers. She fought ...

, Civil War veteran *

Tristam Burgess Tristam Burges (February 26, 1770October 13, 1853) was a U.S. Representative from Rhode Island, and great-great-uncle of Theodore Francis Green. Early life and law career Burges was born in Rochester in the Province of Massachusetts Bay on Febr ...

, U.S. representative *

Esek Hopkins Esek Hopkins (April 26, 1718February 26, 1802) was an American naval officer, merchant captain, and privateer. Achieving the rank of Commodore, Hopkins was the only Commander in Chief of the Continental Navy during the American Revolutionary War ...

, The only chief of the Continental Navy during the Revolutionary War * Jonathan Chace, U.S. senator * John Hopkins Clark, U.S. senator * Nicholas Cooke, governor of colony and state of Rhode Island during

American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...

Fred Corey Frederick Harrison Corey (1855 – November 27, 1912) was an American pitcher and third baseman in Major League Baseball in and from through , encompassing seven seasons. He played for the Providence Grays, Worcester Ruby Legs, and Philadelphi ...

, Major League Baseball player * Charles Dow, journalist, co-founder of

Dow Jones & Company Dow Jones & Company, Inc. is an American publishing firm owned by News Corp and led by CEO Almar Latour. The company publishes ''The Wall Street Journal'', ''Barron's'', ''MarketWatch'', ''Mansion Global'', ''Financial News'' and ''Private Equ ...

and founder of

The Wall Street Journal ''The Wall Street Journal'' is an American business-focused, international daily newspaper based in New York City, with international editions also available in Chinese and Japanese. The ''Journal'', along with its Asian editions, is published ...

Samuel Eddy Samuel Eddy (March 31, 1769February 3, 1839) was a U.S. Representative from Rhode Island. Born Johnston in the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Eddy completed preparatory studies. He graduated from Brown University in 178 ...

, U.S. representative and Chief Justice of the

Rhode Island Supreme Court The Rhode Island Supreme Court is the court of last resort in the U.S. State of Rhode Island. The Court consists of a Chief Justice and four Associate Justices, all selected by the Governor of Rhode Island from candidates vetted by the Judicial No ...

. *

Arthur Fenner Arthur Fenner (December 10, 1745October 15, 1805) was an American politician who served as the fourth Governor of Rhode Island from 1790 until his death in 1805. He has the seventh longest gubernatorial tenure in post-Constitutional U.S. histor ...

, Governor of Rhode Island from 1790 to 1805. *

James Fenner James Fenner (January 22, 1771April 17, 1846) was an American politician who served as a United States Senator as well as the 7th, 11th and 17th Governor of Rhode Island (on three occasions). He was the son of Arthur Fenner, the fourth governor ...

, U.S. senator from 1805 to 1807, Rhode Island governor from 1807 to 1811, 1824 to 1831 and 1843 to 1845 *

Sam Walter Foss Sam Walter Foss (June 19, 1858 – February 26, 1911) was an American librarian and poet whose works included ''The House by the Side of the Road'' and ''The Coming American.'' Life and career image:Samfosshouse.JPG, left, Birthplace of Sam Foss ...

, librarian, poet *

John Brown Francis John Brown Francis (May 31, 1791August 9, 1864) was a governor and United States Senator from Rhode Island. Early life John Brown Francis was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on May 31, 1791, son of John Francis and Abigail Brown. Francis' ...

, governor and U.S. senator * William Goddard (U.S. patriot/publisher), American Revolutionary War printer * Stephen Hopkins, colonial governor, founding father, signatory of the Declaration of IndependenceRhode Island College
/ref> * Jeremiah Brown Howell, U.S. senator * Richard Jackson, U.S. representative *

Horace Mann Horace Mann (May 4, 1796August 2, 1859) was an American educational reformer, slavery abolitionist and Whig politician known for his commitment to promoting public education. In 1848, after public service as Secretary of the Massachusetts Sta ...

, educator, U.S. representative, and first president of Antioch College * James Manning, delegate to the

Confederation Congress The Congress of the Confederation, or the Confederation Congress, formally referred to as the United States in Congress Assembled, was the governing body of the United States of America during the Confederation period, March 1, 1781 – Marc ...

Albert Martin (soldier) Albert Martin (January 6, 1808 March 6, 1836) was a Texian merchant and captain of the Gonzales Mounted Rangers who delivered William B. Travis' letter "To the People of Texas & All Americans in the World" and died while defending the Alamo gar ...

(memorial), soldier, only Rhode Islander to have fought at the Battle of the Alamo. * Charles J. Martin, artist and arts instructor * James B. Mason, U.S. representative *

Peter Mawney Peter Mawney (c. 1689 – 1754) was a member of one of the few French Huguenot families that remained in Rhode Island, following violent clashes with the English citizens of East Greenwich, Rhode Island over disputed land. Mawney spent 24 years i ...

, colonel of Providence militia * Augustus S. Miller (1847–1905), Mayor of Providence 1903-1905. * Annie Smith Peck, pioneering woman mountaineer * Saunders Pitman, silversmith. *

Darius Sessions Darius Sessions (17 August 1717 – 27 April 1809) was a deputy governor of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations during the buildup to the American Revolutionary War. He was heavily involved in moderating the effects of t ...

, deputy governor of Rhode Island colony *

James F. Simmons James Fowler Simmons (September 10, 1795July 10, 1864) was a businessman and politician from Rhode Island who twice served as a United States senator, first as a Whig and then as a Republican. He is notable for having the Senate consider expel ...

, U.S. senator *

Henry J. Steere Henry Jonah Steere (1830–1889) was a prominent American philanthropist and industrialist from Rhode Island. Childhood Henry J. Steere was born in Providence, Rhode Island on April 11, 1830 to Alice Smith (1789–1863) and Jonah Steere (1788� ...

, philanthropist and manufacturer *

Joseph L. Tillinghast Joseph Leonard Tillinghast (May 18, 1790 – December 30, 1844) was a U.S. Representative from Rhode Island, cousin of Thomas Tillinghast. Born in Taunton, Massachusetts, Tillinghast moved to Rhode Island and pursued classical studies. Publishe ...

, U.S. representative *

Sarah Helen Whitman Sarah Helen Power Whitman (January 19, 1803 – June 27, 1878) was an American poet, essayist, transcendentalist, spiritualist and a romantic interest of Edgar Allan Poe. Early life Whitman was born in Providence, Rhode Island on January 19, ...

, poet, essayist, and a romantic interest of

Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe (; Edgar Poe; January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic. Poe is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and the macabre. He is wide ...

Images

Image:North Burial Ground.JPG, Early 1900s postcard of North Burial Ground File:North Burial Ground.entry&view.20110721.jpg, Entry flag and marker to North Burial Ground File:Dexter.family.grave stone.No Bur Gnd.20110722.jpg, Dexter family monument with governor's flags for

Gregory Dexter Gregory Dexter (1610–1700) was an early American printer, Baptist minister, and early President of the combined towns of Providence and Warwick in the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. He was in New England as early as 16 ...

, colonial President File:Hopkins.Stephen.grave site.No Bur Gnd.20110722.jpg, Grave monument for Governor Stephen Hopkins, signer of the Declaration of Independence File:Hopkins.Stephen.grave plaque.No Bur Gnd.20110722.jpg, Grave plaque for Governor Stephen Hopkins File:Hopkins.Sarah.DAR plaque.No Bur Gnd.20110722.jpg, DAR grave plaque for Sarah Hopkins, wife of Governor Stephen Hopkins File:Cooke.Nicholas.grave stone.North Bur Gnd.20110721.jpg, Governor Nicholas Cooke grave monument File:Cooke.Nicholas.grave medallion.North Bur Gnd.20110721.jpg, Nicholas Cooke governor's medallion File:Fenner.James.mausoleum.No Bur Gnd.20110722.jpg, Governor

mausoleum File:Fenner.James.grave medallion.No Bur Gnd.20110722.jpg,

governor's medallion File:Whipple.John.Sr.gravestone.NoBurGnd.Prov.jpg, John Whipple, early Providence settler whose remains were moved here from a family plot File:North Burial Ground, Providence.jpg, Flags fly over the graves of veterans at the North Burial Ground File:Grave of Pardon Sheldon.jpg, Grave of Capt. Pardon Sheldon, patriot involved in the ''Gaspee'' Affair

References

External links

* {{coord, 41, 50, 34, N, 71, 24, 29, W, type:landmark_region:US-RI, display=title 1700 establishments in Rhode Island Buildings and structures in Providence, Rhode Island Cemeteries in Rhode Island Cemeteries on the National Register of Historic Places in Rhode Island National Register of Historic Places in Providence, Rhode Island

History

Notable interments

Images

See also

Further reading

References

External links