Downtown in Baltimore, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Building Atop the Burying Ground

Photographed By Christopher Busta-Peck, March 26, 2008

1. Building atop the Burying Ground Marker

Inscription. When leaders of First Presbyterian Church decided to build an new church atop their 18th-century burying ground, they hoped to serve Baltimore’s growing west end and protect their burial place from being diverted to other uses.

Construction began in July 1851 and Westminster Presbyterian Church was consecrated a year later. The congregation grew steadily, adding a parish hall (far left) by the late 1850’s. By the early 1900’s the neighborhood was heavily commercial and industrial, its residents a blend of African Americans, Italians, Lithuanians and Russan Jews. The church closed for nearly a decade but reopened in 1925 under the direction of the energetic Rev. Bruce McDonald.

Westminster Presbyterian Church celebrated its last service in 1977. Acquired by Westminster Preservation Trust, a non-profit created by the University of Maryland School of Law, the property was rehabilitated and rededicated in 1983 as Westminster Hall & Burying Ground.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Churches & Religion • Education • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1851.

Location. 39° 17.421′ N, 76° 37.412′ W. Marker is in Baltimore, Maryland. It is

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in Downtown. Marker is at the intersection of West Fayette Street and Greene Street, on the left when traveling west on West Fayette Street. Marker is inside the fence of Westminster Hall. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 515 W Fayette St, Baltimore MD 21201, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 26 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Final Rest (a few steps from this marker); Among the Illustrious Men (a few steps from this marker); Westminster Church and Cemetery (a few steps from this marker); Westminster Hall & Burying Ground: Where Baltimore's History Rests in Peace (a few steps from this marker); Poe’s Baltimore (a few steps from this marker); John McDonogh (a few steps from this marker); The McDonoghs of Baltimore (a few steps from this marker); A La Memorie D’Edgar Allan Poe (a few steps from this marker); A Monument to the Memory of Edgar Allan Poe (a few steps from this marker); An 18th-Century Burying Ground (within shouting distance of this marker); The Sleep of Young Innocents (within shouting distance of this marker); “…a truly affectionate wife” (within shouting distance of this marker); A Mother’s Grief (within shouting distance of this marker); The Gilmors (within shouting distance of

Photographed By William Pfingsten, September 9, 2007

2. Building atop the Burying Ground Marker

this marker); Infusing Style and Sophistication: The Influence of Maximilian Godefroy (within shouting distance of this marker); A Swashbuckling Merchant (within shouting distance of this marker); The Carriage Gates of Westminster Burying Ground (within shouting distance of this marker); Fame, Fortune and Financial Scandal (within shouting distance of this marker); Rev. Patrick Allison (within shouting distance of this marker); Monumental Lives (within shouting distance of this marker); Believe it or Not (within shouting distance of this marker); Dugan-Hollins Family Vault (within shouting distance of this marker); Among Family: Poe’s Original Burial Place (within shouting distance of this marker); Original Burial Place of Edgar Allan Poe (within shouting distance of this marker); James McHenry (within shouting distance of this marker); Bernard von Kapff (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Baltimore.

Also see . . .

Marker location image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Christopher Busta-Peck, March 26, 2008

3. Marker location

1. Wikipedia article on Westminster Hall. (Submitted on March 26, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio.)
2. Westminster Hall website. (Submitted on March 26, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio.)

Additional commentary.
1. Among the Illustrious Men Interred Within
(Text of brass tablet shown in photograph No. 3.)
Among the illustrious men interred within this enclosure who
assisted in the achievement of national independence are the following
———————In the Revolution and War of 1812 General Samuel Smith 1752–1839, defender of Fort Mifflin 1777, Commander-in-Chief of the defense of Baltimore September 1814 • General John Stricker 1759–1825, Commander at the Battle of North Point Sept. 12, 1814 • General David Poe 1743–1816 • Colonel Paul Bentalou 1735–1828 • Major Samuel Sterett 1758-1833

In the Revolution General William Buchanan 1732–1804 • General John Swan 1750–1821 • Colonel David Mc Clellan 1741–1780 • Colonel James Mc Henry 1765-1818 • Colonel Nathaniel Ramsay 1741–1817 • Major Nathaniel Smith –1793 • Captain Frederick Folger

Photographed By Christopher Busta-Peck

4. Marker location

Marker is just to the left of the large tree.

–1820 • Captain David Harris 1753–1809 • Captain George P. Keeports 1753–1820 • Captain John Mc Clellan 1838–1820 • Captain David Porter 1754–1808 • Captain Joseph Smith –1817 • Captain John Sterett –1805 • Lieutenant John Mc Clure –1825 • Dr. Andrew Aitken 1757–1809 • James Calhoun 1743–1817, first Major of Baltimore 1797 • Dr. John Boyd 1746–1790 • Isaac Causten 1758–1833 • Robert Gilmor 1748–1822 • Maybery Helm 1710–1790 • James Jaffray –1820 • Christopher Johnston 1751–1819 • John Mc Donough 1737–1809 • Robert Purviance 1734–1806 • Christopher Raborg 1750–1815 • John Smith 1722–1794 • Robert Smith 1758–1842 • William Smith 1728–1814 • John Spear –1796 • David Stewart 1746–1817 • James Stirling 1751–1820 • Matthew Swan 1743–1795 • William W. Taylor 1769–1832 • Dr. Abraham Van Ebisber 1744–1805

In the War of 1812 Commodore Joseph James Nicholson 1791–1838 • General John Spear Smith 1786-1866 • General Joseph Sterett 1773–1821 • Brigadier-General Benjamin Edes –1832 • Aide-de-Camp George Pitt Stevenson 1891–1819 • Colonel James A. Buchanan 1768–1840 • Colonel David Harris 1770–1844 • Colonel Samuel Mc Clellan 1787–1858 • Colonel James Mosher 1761–1845

Westminster Hall image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Pfingsten, September 9, 2007

5. Westminster Hall

• Captain John Smith Hollins 1737–1856 • Captain Mathias Rich –1820 • Corporal John Hollins 1760–1827 • Corporal Joseph Pearson 1785–1860 • Elijah Porter Barrows 1768–1854 • Cumberland Dugan 1747–1836 • Hammond Dugan 1797–1841 • William Mc Clellan 1771–1814 • James H. Mc Culloh –1836 • Jonathan Meredith 1765–1872 • Dr. Maxwell Mc Dowel 1771–1848 • James Purviance 1772–1836 • Jacob Schley 1783–1827 • John Torrance 1794–1832

Colonel John Stuart Skinner 1788–1851, who assisted 1780 Francis Scott Key 1843 to obtain the release of Dr. Wm. Beanes from the British Fleet in 1814 whose rescue led to the writing of the National Anthem.

Erected by the National Star-Spangled Banner Centennial Commission on the Centenary of the signing of the Treaty of Ghent Dec. 24, 1814.

— Submitted September 15, 2007.

List of notable persons buried in Westminster Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Pfingsten, September 9, 2007

6. List of notable persons buried in Westminster Cemetery

Westminster Burying Ground was formerly known as Western Burying Ground. Edgar Allan Poe was buried here prior to the construction of the sancturary. The church was built over the existing cemetery so there are graves in the basement.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 20, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 10, 2007, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 4,904 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 28, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio. 2. submitted on September 10, 2007, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 3. submitted on March 28, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio. 4. submitted on March 27, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio. 5, 6. submitted on September 10, 2007, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.