Old City in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

What Happened to the Headstones?

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), November 19, 2022

1. What Happened to the Headstones? Marker

Inscription.
In the 1700s, Philadelphia Quakers declared grave markers were "Marks of Superfluity and excess." Grave markers and stones were deemed "inconsistent with the plainness of [Quaker] Principles and Practice," and many were removed or buried in a pit on the property. Some Quaker, however, ignored this practice and continued marking graves. Several surviving grave markers and stones are on display inside our museum.

Find the Headstones
Where are our remaining headstones? If you look hard enough you might just be able to find all four.

[Caption:]
This 1770s map shows the Norris section of the burial ground. The Norrises are the namesake of Norristown, northwest of Philadelphia.

Erected by Arch Street Meeting House.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Churches & Religion • Colonial Era • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 39° 57.118′ N, 75° 8.791′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in Old City. Marker can be reached from Arch Street just west of North 4th Street, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 312 Arch St, Philadelphia PA 19106, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. You're Standing on a Burial Ground (a few steps from this marker); The Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 (a few steps from this marker); Sarah Mapps Douglass / Quakers & Social Justice / Arch Street Meeting House (a few steps from this marker); About the Meeting House / A Master Builder / Arch Street Meeting House (within shouting distance of this marker); Arch Street Meeting House (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Arch Street Meeting House (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Arch Street Meeting House (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Arch Street Meeting House (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), November 19, 2022

2. What Happened to the Headstones? Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 21, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 78 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 21, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.