LEDYARD - In 1829 the Friends Cemetery in Ledyard was started when the remains of 16-year-old John Winslow Jr. were laid to rest there.
Angela Kershner / The Citizen
Friends Cemetery Association secretary Judy Furness, right, discusses historical records regarding the cemetery with board member Mary Lou Charles as treasurer Phyllis Stanton looks through her own papers during a walk-through of Friends Cemetery in Ledyard to determine which gravestones should be repaired with a donation received this summer.
Friends Cemetery Association secretary Judy Furness, right, discusses historical records regarding the cemetery with board member Mary Lou Charles as treasurer Phyllis Stanton looks through her own papers during a walk-through of Friends Cemetery in Ledyard to determine which gravestones should be repaired with a donation received this summer.
Since that time many residents of the area have been buried in the historic cemetery.
“There really is a lot of history here,” Ledyard town historian Judy Furness said during a tour of the cemetery Wednesday evening.
Furness, along with eight area residents, resurrected the Friends Cemetery Association after years of neglect had taken its toll on the gravestones. The original association was started in 1899 but had not been in existence since the 1960s.
According to board member Paul Simkin, the cemetery has not had a burial in about 10 years.
“There was a man who took care of the cemetery years back,” he said. “But he has since gone into a nursing home.”
After reviewing old records of the cemetery, the association found that money had been left for its care.
“It really wasn't a lot of money,” Furness said. “But we are hoping to have the front fence painted and the lawn gets mowed.”
In addition to the cosmetic repairs to the grounds, the group is hoping to repair many of the gravestones that have deteriorated over the years.
“We have already repaired a few of the foundations,” Furness said. “Through donations from relatives of the people, we are hoping to repair more.”
Furness said that although many of the people buried there have relatives still living in the area, there are also many that have no one.
“In these cases we are hoping that people will adopt a grave,” she said.
Furness pointed out the grave of an 18-month-old boy who has no other relatives in the cemetery.
“I have been able to trace many of the people and their families,” she said. “But some just moved away from the area and we cannot trace descendants.”
Furness said that she was surprised that a Civil War veteran was allowed to be buried there since the cemetery had been overseen by Quakers.
“It is fascinating,” she said. “It is very unusual that the Quakers allowed his burial here.”
“Cemeteries hold a lot of heritage,” said board member Helen Hebben.
“There really is a lot of history here,” Ledyard town historian Judy Furness said during a tour of the cemetery Wednesday evening.
Furness, along with eight area residents, resurrected the Friends Cemetery Association after years of neglect had taken its toll on the gravestones. The original association was started in 1899 but had not been in existence since the 1960s.
According to board member Paul Simkin, the cemetery has not had a burial in about 10 years.
“There was a man who took care of the cemetery years back,” he said. “But he has since gone into a nursing home.”
After reviewing old records of the cemetery, the association found that money had been left for its care.
“It really wasn't a lot of money,” Furness said. “But we are hoping to have the front fence painted and the lawn gets mowed.”
In addition to the cosmetic repairs to the grounds, the group is hoping to repair many of the gravestones that have deteriorated over the years.
“We have already repaired a few of the foundations,” Furness said. “Through donations from relatives of the people, we are hoping to repair more.”
Furness said that although many of the people buried there have relatives still living in the area, there are also many that have no one.
“In these cases we are hoping that people will adopt a grave,” she said.
Furness pointed out the grave of an 18-month-old boy who has no other relatives in the cemetery.
“I have been able to trace many of the people and their families,” she said. “But some just moved away from the area and we cannot trace descendants.”
Furness said that she was surprised that a Civil War veteran was allowed to be buried there since the cemetery had been overseen by Quakers.
“It is fascinating,” she said. “It is very unusual that the Quakers allowed his burial here.”
“Cemeteries hold a lot of heritage,” said board member Helen Hebben.
The Citizens' Say
There are 6 comment(s)
Ann Searing McGuire wrote on Jul 29, 2006 10:47 AM:
Richard Dillon Jr. , zeke2900@aol.com wrote on Jul 28, 2006 9:48 AM:
lisle raught wrote on Jul 28, 2006 9:39 AM:
Moravian wrote on Jul 27, 2006 9:42 PM:
Poplar Ridge mom wrote on Jul 27, 2006 1:06 PM:
Pretty Cool wrote on Jul 27, 2006 10:36 AM: