Vincennes in Knox County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The Old Cathedral “French and Indian” Cemetery
1750–1846
Photographed By Christopher Light, August 28, 2007
1. The Old Cathedral "French and Indian" Cemetery, 1750-1846 Marker
Contains the graves (mostly unmarked) of some 4,000 inhabitants of early Vincennes, including soldiers and patriots of the American Revolution who helped Colonel George Rogers Clark to capture nearby Fort Sackville in 1779. The cemetery marks the site of the log church where the people of vincennes swore an oath of allegiance to the Republic of Virginia and the United States on July 20, 1778. During the siege of Fort Sackville (February 23–24, 1779), Clark’s men took up positions at the church and cemetery. It was at the church that Colonel Clark and the British commander, Lieutenant Governor Henry Hamilton, negotiated terms of surrender on February 24. The surrender of Fort Sackville occurred the next day, February 25, 1779. As a result, Hamilton’s plan to crush the Revolution in the West was checked and a basis was laid for the United States to later claim the area northwest of the Ohio River from which were eventually formed the states of Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, and part of Minnesota.
The Old Cathedral and Cemetery are located in the Vincinnes Historic District, which was placed on the National Register of Historical Places on December 31, 1974.
Erected 1998 by Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin Societies of the Sons of the American Revolution.
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Churches & Religion • Colonial Era • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1846.
Location. 38° 40.754′ N, 87° 32.054′ W. Marker is in Vincennes, Indiana, in Knox County. Marker is at the intersection of South 2nd Street and Church Street on South 2nd Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Vincennes IN 47591, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Old Cathedral (within shouting distance of this marker); Pierre Gibault (within shouting distance of this marker); Inside the Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Constructing a Legacy (within shouting distance of this marker); St. Rose Chapel (within shouting distance of this marker); Lincoln Memorial Bridge (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); U.S.S. Vincennes (about 300 feet away); Inscription on the Big Bell of the Old Cathedral (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Vincennes.
Additional keywords. NRHP
Photographed By Christopher Light, August 28, 2007
2. The Old Cathedral "French and Indian" Cemetery, 1750-1846 Marker
Photographed By Christopher Light
3. The Old Cathedral "French and Indian" Cemetery, 1750-1846 Marker
In Memory of
Caroline Benedict
consort of
Daniel Benedict
who departed this life
May 17th 1845
in the 18th year of her age
Photographed By Christopher Light, August 28, 2007
4. Cemetery and Cruicifix
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., January 15, 2012
5. The Old Cathedral and “French and Indian” Cemetery Marker
Photographed By Shane Oliver, June 19, 2021
6. Crucifix at the center of the cemetery
None of the tombstones in this cemetery are approximate gravesites. It is believed that the church contains at least 4,000 graves: in which many bodies were buried on top of each other.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 2, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 17, 2007, by Christopher Light of Valparaiso, Indiana. This page has been viewed 3,123 times since then and 63 times this year. Last updated on June 30, 2021, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 17, 2007, by Christopher Light of Valparaiso, Indiana. 5. submitted on December 13, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 6. submitted on June 30, 2021, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
