Old Burying Ground

Fairfield, Connecticut

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Old Burying Ground is located on Beach Road in Fairfield, Connecticut. Interments date from the early/mid 1700s through the 1800s. Old Burying Ground is the final resting place for a number of sea captains, sailors, and their families. Congressman Jonathan Sturges (1740-1819) is buried here, as is Lydia Henchman Hancock, aunt of John Hancock. There are special monuments to Andrew Ward, Reverend John Jones, and Thomas Sherwood ("Soldier of the Pequot War"). According to a sign posted directly outside the cemetery (below), the British marched here in 1779 and burned the town of Fairfield.

Estimated number of interments, as of January 2024: at least 785.

Photos were taken 17 March 2009 and 11 February 2012.

"Up this road 2600 British marched July 7th, 1779 under command of General Tyron and burned Fairfield."

Plaque embedded into the stone wall of the cememtery, to the right of the entry gates.

"1775 - 1783

In lasting memory of the patriots and soldiers of Fairfield who served in the war of the American Revolution. Erected by the Eunice Dennie Burr chapter Daughters of the American Revolution. A.D. 1904"

Nathan Gold, who served as Connecticut's Deputy Governor and as a Justice on the state Supreme Court in 1712.

"Here Lyes ye Body of the

Honourable Nathan Gold Esq.

Lieu. Governour of His Majesties

Colony of Connecticut

dec'd Dec. 3d 1723 Aged 60"

A pair of table tombs. The one on the left reads, "Here lyes Interr'd ye (the) Body of Mrs. Eunice Dennie wife of Mr. James Dennie who Dec'd Oct'r ye (the) 16th 1740 in the 32nd year of her Age".

The stone on the right states, "Here lyes Interr'd ye (the) Body of Mr. James Dennie Husband of Mrs. Eunice Dennie and Father of Mrs. Eunice Dennie Burr who Dec'd about 1784".

Lydia Henchman Hancock was the aunt of John Hancock, who was President of the Continental Congress, Governor of Massachusetts, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

"This Stone Erected By THADDEUS BURR & EUNICE BURR to the memory of their dear friend Mrs. LYDIA HANCOCK Relict of the Hon.ble THOMAS HANCOCK, Esq.r & Dau.tr of DANIEL HENCHMAN Esqr of BOSTON Whose Remains lie here Interred Having retired to this Town from the calamities of War during the Blockade of her native City in 1775. Just on her return to the reenjoyment of an ample fortune On April 15, A.D. 1776. She was seized with the apoplexy and closed a life of unaffected Piety Universal Benevolence and extensive Charity. Aged 63."

A pair of skull and crossbones monuments for Abigail Sturges Burr and her husband, Thaddeus Burr, Esq.

Abigail died 26 June 1743, aged 49.

Thaddeus died 28 March 1755, aged 55.

A family unlucky at sea:

"This Stone is Erected by JASON GOULD in memory of his honored Father Col. ABRAHAM GOULD who fell in defence of his country at RIDGEFIELD April 27th 1777 aged 44 years

And of his deceased Brothers JOHN BURR GOULD died at Sea June 2d 1784 aged 20 years HEZEKIAH GOULD drowned at NEW YORK Oct. 30th 1789 aged 30 years and DANIEL GOULD drowned on the coast of FRANCE Dec. 28 1796 aged 20 years"

"In Memory of SAMUEL SQUIRE ESQ.R who departed this life 27th May 1801. Aged 86 Years. Praises on tombstones are but vainly spent, Assured life to come is our best Monument."

Reverend Andrew Eliot, flanked by his daughter, Sarah (who died at age 12) and his wife, Mary. Eliot's stone reads, "Rev. Andrew Eliot born in Boston Jan. 11, 1743. Ordained pastor of First Church of Christ in Fairfield June 22, 1774 in which station he served God until September 26, 1805 when he rested from his labors in the 63rd year of his age and 32d of his ministry".

"In memory of Capt. Christopher Smith aged 40 years; a native of Hanson Massachusetts, who was lost from on board the sloop Eliza Nichols on her passage from New Bedford to New York on the 4 of Jan. AD. 1823"

"Noah Burr, aged 77 years. A sea captain, an officer at Fort Union, at Black Rock, during the War of 1812." Burr died on 25 December 1859.

"In memory of Thomas Sherwood 1586 - 1655

Puritan - Pioneer - Ancestor

A founder of New England

A first settler of Fairfield

Deputy to the General Court

Committeeman

Soldier of the Pequot War

And his wives

Alice Seabrooke 1587 - 1639

Mary Fitch 1619 - 1693

Erected by the Sherwood

Kindred of America MCML"

The Rev.d John Jones was born in

Northampton England in 1593 and was a

graduate of Queen's College Cambridge

~

A Puritan divine of the Church of England

he was the first pastor of the

Church of Christ in Fairfield

which he faithfully served from 1644

until his death in 1664

~

"A valliant leader of Christ's souldiers

A holy man of God"

Erected by a Descendant

"In memory of Andrew Ward

Born in England 1597

One of the founders of

Wethersfield and Stamford.

~

An honored citizen of Fairfield, Conn.

where he died in 1659.

~

Member of a commission graunted to sev'al p'sons

to governe the people att Conecticott

by the general court of Massachusetts Bay under

John Winthrop Jr. Governor, 1635 - 1636.

~

Erected by the Association of

Descendants of Andrew Ward 1907"

A view of the Old Burying Ground, facing the right (and more densely populated) side of the cemetery.