Somerville Cemetery refers to two cemeteries located in
, in the United States. The "Old Cemetery" was founded about 1813, but its small size meant that it quickly filled. In 1867, the "New Cemetery" (a much larger burying ground) was founded across Bridge Street from the Old Cemetery. The New Cemetery has a large African American section, an artifact of an era in which burials were often segregated by race.
Old Cemetery
"Old Cemetery", also sometimes referred to as "Old Raritan Cemetery" or the "Bridge Street Cemetery", is located at the intersection of South Bridge Street and 5th Street. It is distinct from the Old Dutch Parsonage Cemetery, located at Washington Place and South Middaugh Street, founded in 1751.
[Sarapin, p. 106.] Old Cemetery traces its founding to about 1813, when John Whitenack purchased of land on Bridge Street for a burying ground on behalf of the First Dutch Church of Raritan. The earliest burial is allegedly William Hartwick's child.
[Snell and Ellis, p. 679.](_blank)
Accessed 2013-04-18. The earliest burials were near the front of the cemetery on Bridge Street, and are quite close to the wall. Many of the earliest names belong to the
Dutch settlers of the area: Frelinghuysen, Hardenburgh, and Voorhees.
In 1847, John C. Garretson agreed to donate about of land around the cemetery's edges. Gradually, additional land was purchased, until the cemetery had .
New Cemetery
On August 26, 1867, local citizens of Somerville organized the Somerville Cemetery Association and purchased of land directly across Bridge Street for $14,500 from William Ross, Jr. The association later sold for $7,292.50, leaving the New Cemetery with just . The New Cemetery was laid out in the
rural cemetery style with walks, drives, and landscaping. About 1,000 lots were created.
On August 20, 1879, a
stock company, the Cemetery Association of Somerville (CAS), was formed. CAS president Hugh Gaston purchased the New Cemetery for $11,000.
Most cemeteries in the 1800s and until the 1960s were segregated by race. Its large size permitted many
African Americans to be buried in New Cemetery. Many
United States Colored Troops
The United States Colored Troops (USCT) were regiments in the United States Army composed primarily of African-American (colored) soldiers, although members of other minority groups also served within the units. They were first recruited during ...
who served in the
American Civil War are buried in the African American section.
[Silverman, Bob. "In Search of Arabella Wharton Griffith Barlow." ''The Camp Olden Gazette.'' Summer 2010, p. 2.](_blank)
Accessed 2013-04-18.
The New Cemetery was still accepting burials in 2010.
Notable burials
New Cemetery
*
Clifford P. Case
Clifford Philip Case Jr. (April 16, 1904March 5, 1982), was an American lawyer and politician. A member of the Republican Party, he served as a U.S. Representative (1945–1953) and a U.S. Senator (1955–1979) from New Jersey. He is currently ...
(1904–1982) –
U.S. Representative
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they c ...
;
U.S. Senator
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.
The composition and powe ...
*
Alvah A. Clark (1840–1912) – U.S. Representative
*
William G. Steele
William Gaston Steele (December 17, 1820, Somerville, New Jersey – April 22, 1892, Somerville, New Jersey) was an American Democratic Party politician who represented New Jersey's 3rd congressional district from 1861 to 1865.
Steele was b ...
(1820–1892) – U.S. Representative
Old Cemetery
*
Francis C. Barlow
Francis Channing Barlow (October 19, 1834 – January 11, 1896) was a lawyer, politician, and Union General during the American Civil War.
Early life and career
Barlow was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of a Unitarian minister, but was ra ...
(1834–1896) –
Major General,
Union Army; co-founder,
American Bar Association
*
George Houston Brown
George Houston Brown (February 12, 1810 – August 1, 1865) was an American Whig Party politician, who represented in the United States House of Representatives from 1851 to 1853.
Biography
Brown was born in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, on Fe ...
(1810–1865) – U.S. Representative; Associate Justice,
Supreme Court of New Jersey
*
John Frelinghuysen (1727–1754) – Minister; co-founder,
New Brunswick Theological Seminary and
Rutgers University
*
Julia E. McConaughy
J. E. McConaughy (, Julia Eliza Loomis; January 1, 1834 – August 29, 1885) was the pen name of Julia Eliza McConaughy, a 19th-century American litterateur and author. She was one of the largest contributors to religious literature of her day, w ...
(1834–1885), litterateur and author
*
Isaac Southard
Isaac Southard (August 30, 1783 - September 18, 1850) was an Anti-Jacksonian member of the United States House of Representatives from 1831 to 1833, representing New Jersey at-large.
Early life
A son of Henry Southard, Isaac Southard was born in ...
(1783–1850) – U.S. Representative
* Charles Henry Tompkins (1834–1895) –
Brevet
Brevet may refer to:
Military
* Brevet (military), higher rank that rewards merit or gallantry, but without higher pay
* Brevet d'état-major, a military distinction in France and Belgium awarded to officers passing military staff college
* Aircre ...
Brigadier General, Union Army
[Note that another ]Charles Henry Tompkins
Charles Henry Tompkins (September 12, 1830 – January 18, 1915) was an American officer who served as a Union Army colonel, who received an appointment to the brevet grade of Brigadier General of volunteers during the American Civil War. He w ...
was also a brevet Brigadier General in the Union Army. This other Tompkins was born in 1830 and died in 1915, and was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Washington, D.C. See: Hunt and Brown, p. 620.
References
{{reflist, 2
Bibliography
* Barlow, Francis C. and Samito, Christian G. ''Fear Was Not In Him: The Civil War Letters of Major General Francis C. Barlow, U.S.A.'' New York: Fordham University Press, 2004.
* Demarest, William H.S. ''Tercentenary Studies, 1928, Reformed Church in America: A Record of Beginnings.'' New York: Reformed Church in America, 1928.
* Hunt, Roger D. and Brown, Jack R. ''Brevet Brigadier Generals in Blue.'' Gaithersburg, Md.: Olde Soldier Books, 1990.
* Sarapin, Janice Kohl. ''Old Burial Grounds of New Jersey: A Guide.'' New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press, 1994.
* Snell, James P. and Ellis, Franklin. ''History of Hunterdon and Somerset Counties, New Jersey.'' Philadelphia: Everts & Peck, 1881.
Cemeteries in Somerset County, New Jersey
1867 establishments in New Jersey