History comes alive in Salisbury’s 13 cemeteries

SALISBURY — At one time there were 14 separate school districts and 14 cemeteries in the township of Salisbury. In 2015, we have one public school (Salisbury Central) and 13 cemeteries — one was legally moved and placed within another town- owned cemetery. Of the 13, five are owned and maintained by the town. The others are on private property, such as the Marsh cemetery on Belgo Road consisting of two stones: George Marsh, an ensign in the American Revolution, and his daughter, Rebecca Graves.

The oldest of the five cemeteries is the Old Burial Ground behind Town Hall. Originally three-quarters of an acre, it was given to the town on May 29, 1750, by Richard Walker of Stratford, Conn., who was one of the original proprietors of Salisbury. 

On Jan. 22, 1919, George Coffing Warner gave the town the land he owned immediately behind the cemetery with the understanding that this property was to be used as a memorial to Salisbury soldiers in “The Great War” and for no other purpose.

The oldest stone is that of Dr. Wade Clark, with the date of Aug. 6, 1750. According to Rev. Crossman, who was the Congregational minister at the time, there was another early burial of Jehiel Moore, but no date was given. The latest burial was that of John Churchill Coffing, May 14, 1873; his is the large monument high up on the hill. 

In 1964, the chairman of the Cemetery Commission of the Salisbury Association (Lila Nash) along with Mrs. Howard DuBois, another member of the committee and a DAR member did a survey to locate and mark graves of veterans from the French and Indian War and the American Revolution. 

It took many months and much time to locate and authenticate the graves to be marked. Finally, 86 patriot graves were found; 33 are in the Old Burial Ground. 

As word got out about this, the townspeople of Salisbury were inspired to contribute funds to buy bronze markers and flags to indicate each grave. All flags and markers were installed by Memorial Day. It was the first time these graves were located and suitably marked.

In 2012 the Salisbury Association installed a bronze plaque listing 25 American Revolutionary soldiers. James Brazee is now the custodian in charge of veteran graves; standards and flags are put on the graves each Memorial Day in all 13 Salisbury cemeteries.

Here also are buried such men as Nathaniel Evarts, a veteran of the French and Indian War, Joshua Porter, a colonel in the American Revolution and members of other illustrious local families such as the Hollisters, the Bushnells and the Sellecks.

Chapinville Cemetery

Another historic cemetery in town is the Chapinville Cemetery. This small plot of ground (100 by 120 rods) lies in Chapinville, suitably named after the Chapin family. Seven members of the family are buried here. 

Where is Chapinville, you ask? Today we call it Taconic. The name was changed in 1915 by the railroad, because there were too many “-villes” in the state. 

This cemetery lies near the former Isabella Baldwin estate and is a hidden spot. The property was deeded to Salisbury by John Weldon Sr. on Jan. 5, 1789. The town had voted in the previous December to grant and accept his offer. The price was 40 shillings.

There are 14 American Revolutionary soldiers buried here. Here also is buried the Weldon family (John Sr. and Jr.). 

There is an anecdotal story about a small truncated obelisk made by E. Marston and raised in the memory of Elijah Frink. He was born in Preston, Conn., on July 20, 1766, and he died in Salisbury on Sept. 5, 1854. According to the caretaker, people from out of state came once a year to lay flowers on his grave — a fitting tribute to a beloved minister.

Dutcher’s Bridge Cemetery

This one is tucked away on Twin Lakes Road, a third of a mile from Dutcher’s Bridge. Both the bridge and the burial ground were named for the Dutcher family. This too was given to the town, for the minimal sum of $2, by Capt. Ruluff Dutcher on Nov. 8, 1802. 

There was a stipulation that the town fence the property, but the good captain retained the right to pasture his sheep and calves on the spot.

There are about 99 stones here. The oldest stone is dated 1767 and the latest 1882. There is at least one French and Indian veteran, seven American Revolutionary veterans and two from the Civil War. 

The gravestone of E.G. Bement was discovered in 1910, flat under the sod in back of the Russell farm house. 

Hannah Wood’s tombstone was carved and signed by A. Savage, a noted tombstone carver of the time.

Town Hill Cemetery

This cemetery is hidden in plain sight on the campus of The Hotchkiss School. The hilltop location was supposed to be part of the village on a busy main road. Route 112 was originally an Indian trail. It later became the main wagon route between the ore bed at Ore Hill Mine and the furnace at Lime Rock. 

The land was purchased by the town fathers on April 11, 1757 — with a burial that same day. Seth Cary, a carpenter working on a house for a member of the Bissell family, fell off the structure and was killed. 

An expensive and sturdy stone post and iron rail boundary fence surrounds the spot. This was paid for by Mrs. H. M. Gillette and Mr. C. H. Bissell. Both the Bissell and Landon families contributed money for a permanent upkeep fund.

In 1943, the 42-acre plot was quit claimed to Hotchkiss. In 1957, Route 112 was moved; the land the road had been on was quit claimed as well, but the town retained a right of way. 

Buried here are veterans of five wars: the French & Indian, the American Revolution, the Civil War and World War I and World War II. 

The latest burial was that of Stephen Bolmer, a longtime Hotchkiss teacher. 

Mount Riga Cemetery 

The Mount Riga Cemetery is tucked away in the former hamlet of Mount Riga. This used to be a booming town, during the Iron Industry era of the Salisbury Iron Company. 

The old burial site has two sections. The new part is owned by the town and the old part is managed by the private Mount Riga Corporation.

 The new part, about one quarter of an acre in size, was purchased by the town on April 27, 1817, for $2 from John Milton Holley and John Churchill Coffing. In the deed of sale it is referred to as being on “Taconnick Mountain.”

Here are buried veterans of several wars including at least one American Revolutionary soldier, eight Civil War men, five from World War II and one from the Korean conflict. 

Joseph Pettee (1781-1838), the first iron master of the Salisbury Iron Company, is buried here. His obelisk stands in the new part of the cemetery and was carved by A. Savage, a noted tombstone carver of the time.

Jean McMillen is the historian for the town of Salisbury.