"…In later years, as
settlers began to take up lots farther
north, it became necessary to have a
cemetery more centrally located; and by
consent of the owner, a plot of land
belonging to Gen. Dearboirn was used for
this purpose. This buryiomg ground was
in the field on the east side of the
road, nearly opposite the farm buildings
of Mr. George L. King, below Monmouth
Center. Not far from one hundred bodies
were buried there. After the cemetery
was established at the Center, in 1799,
many of these were taken up and
re-interred in the new ground, but a
large number still lie in their first
resting place. …"Harry
Hayman Cochrane, History of Monmouth
and Wales, Pp. 37-38
"The second (town) meeting for the
year 1787 was held at Ichabod Baker's
house, on Monday, the 20th
day of April. Capt. James Blossom was
chosen moderator, and Levi Dearborn,
James Blossom and Ichabod Baker, a
committee to consult Col. Dearborn in
relation to securing a title to the
'burying-place.' The meeting was then
adjourned to the 23d of April, 1787.
"At the adjourned meeting, held April
23, it was 'voted that Benjamin Dearborn
be overseer to keep the obligation that
shall be drawn and signed to fence and
clear the burying-place, and see that
the work is done. Each man subscribes
his name, and the meeting is dissolved.
John Chandler, Clerk.'
"The burying-place referred to is the
one mentioned on page 37 as being on
land nearly opposite George L. King's,
south of Monmouth Center. As has been
stated, many bodies were interred there,
and a large number of them still remain
in their first resting place; among
others, the first wife of Robert
Withington. There is no evidence that
Gen. Dearborn ever gave the plantation
abt title to this land, nor that the
obligation to clear and fence it was
ever fulfilled."
Harry Hayman Cochrane,
History of Monmouth and Wales, P.
127
"To carry out the ancient custom of
having a burying lot in close proximity
to the church, the town voted, at a
meeting held yje 29th day of Sepotember,
1805, 'that the town do appropriate and
relinquish foe a Burying ground the
following part of the land that was
given by Lady Temple, viz: Beginning at
the South-east corner of said piece,
then running north 22 1-2 degrees, east,
ten rodfs; thence running west
north-west, carrying the width of ten
rods so far as that a line parallel with
the Range will run within two rods of
the east end of the East porch to the
meeting house.' It will be seen that the
whole of this lot lay east of the
meeting house. A few were interred in
this place before any action was taken
to have it set apart as a cemetery.
Later, the town voted to change the
location to the present site, on account
of the condition of the low land east of
the meeting house. When this removal was
effected, it was the intention to use
only the upper part of the lot, and
bodies that had been buried east of the
high land were taken up and reinterred
near the road. But, as this part of the
yard has become filled, a gradual
encroachment on the low land has been
made, until, now, the portion that was
discarded as unfit for burial purposes
has become the most attractive part of
the cemetery. "Samuel Avery, who died in
1799, was the first persoin buried in
the new yard."
Harry Hayman Cochrane,
History of Monmouth and Wales,
Pp. 390-391
