TF Green International Airport in Warwick in Kent County, Rhode Island — The American Northeast (New England)
The Peter Freeman Lot
Warwick Historical Cemetery #26
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 21, 2019
1. The Peter Freeman Lot Marker
The Peter Freeman Lot (Warwick Historical Cemetery #26) is an historic cemetery protected by State and City regulations. The Lot is described as 100 feet by 75 feet in size, containing 22 individuals (with 20 inscribed headstones and one fieldstone). Peter Freeman traveled from Paris on a ship with the Marquis de Lafayette and fought in the Revolutionary War. (*inscription on headstone) Also buried in the cemetery are William Dawley and William J. Tourgee who served in Company A of the 2nd Regiment of Rhode Island Volunteers during the Civil War.
The Peter Freeman Lot is actually located approximately 630 feet north of this location, adjacent to Runway 5-23 within the secure portion of the airfield.
The arrangement of headstones and footstones before you is an exact replication of the original location of these monuments. The burial sites themselves have not been disturbed. Granite markers with the inscriptions on the monuments have been set to mark the original burials.
The monuments were moved here because the extension of Runway 5 placed the Peter Freeman Lot within the "Object Free Zone" and the "Runway Safety Area"
this page online
The decision to move the monuments and leave the burials in place was the result of extensive coordination and consultation among the Rhode Island Airport Corporation (RIAC), the City of Warwick, and the Warwick Commission on Historical Cemeteries that began with the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement that addressed impacts to the cemetery, and culminated with a Record of Decision and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in compliance with Federal, State, and City regulations.
The Timeline
2011 The cemetery boundaries are delineated and the location of each monument is recorded and mapped. Five unmarked graves are discovered.
2011 Environmental Impact Statement, Record of Decision and MOU are finalized.
2012-2013 Research to establish family relationships and
2. Marker detail: Original Peter Freeman Lot
2014 Monuments are evaluated to determine the best conservation methods.
2015 Monuments requiring treatment are carefully removed.
2016 Repair and restoration. The original monuments are set in their new location.
2017 Inscribed granite markers are set to mark the original burials.
Erected by Rhode Island Airport Corporation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • War, US Civil • War, US Revolutionary.
Location. 41° 42.478′ N, 71° 26.22′ W. Marker is in Warwick, Rhode Island, in Kent County. It is in TF Green International Airport. It is at the intersection of Main Avenue (Rhode Island Route 113) and Walnut Glen Drive, on the right when traveling west on Main Avenue. Marker and cemetery lot are located at the south end of the T. F. Green Airport. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 44 Gladys Ct, Warwick RI 02886, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Providence and on Narragansett Bay. It is also in the American Northeast,
3. Marker detail: Why The Move
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Varnum Memorial Armory (approx. 3.1 miles away); Rhode Island State & National Guard Units (approx. 3.1 miles away); Varnum Continentals (approx. 3.1 miles away); June 12, 1775 (approx. 3.2 miles away); General James Mitchell Varnum Home (approx. 3.3 miles away); Armory of the Kentish Guards (approx. 3.3 miles away); Michaud Memorial (approx. 3.3 miles away); Kentish Guards Drill Field (approx. 3.4 miles away).
Also see . . . Headstones take flight from airport cemetery. Warwick Historic Cemetery Number 26, known as the Peter Freedman lot, was a familiar site off Main Avenue on Rhode Island Airport Corporation (RIAC) property at T.F. Green. The small plot of 25 graves stood behind the airports fence near the end of the runway, with grave markers that
4. Marker detail: The Process
Recording the location of cemetery monuments.
Removal of cemetery monuments.
The headstone of Harriet Card before restoration.
The restored headstone of Harriet Card
Inscribed granite markers set to mark the original burials.
The original monuments set in their new location.
Removal of cemetery monuments.
The headstone of Harriet Card before restoration.
The restored headstone of Harriet Card
Inscribed granite markers set to mark the original burials.
The original monuments set in their new location.
5. Marker detail: Site Plan of The Peter Freeman Lot
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 21, 2019
6. The Peter Freeman Lot Marker
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 21, 2019
7. Peter Freeman Headstone
1753-1830
He came over from Paris at the age of 18 in the vessel with Lafayette and fought in the American Revolution and made this country his home.
Mary Gammett
his wife
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 21, 2019
8. William J. Tourgee Headstone
Birth: unknown
Death: 11 Mar 1866 (aged 59 years)
Civil War Veteran
Death: 11 Mar 1866 (aged 59 years)
Civil War Veteran
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 21, 2019
9. William M. Dawley Monument
Birth: 24 Apr 1827
Death: 1 Feb 1902 (aged 74)
Civil War Veteran
Death: 1 Feb 1902 (aged 74)
Civil War Veteran
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 21, 2019
10. The Peter Freeman Lot
Credits. This page was last revised on July 13, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 19, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 569 times since then and 100 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on May 19, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 7, 8, 9, 10. submitted on May 20, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
