Society Hill in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Old St. Mary's Cemetery
Established in 1759, St. Mary's Cemetery became the burial ground for Catholics in Philadelphia starting in the colonial era. Victims of various yellow fever and cholera epidemics were interred here as well as orphans from St. Joseph's Orphanage, the oldest Catholic orphanage in the United States, and Revolutionary War heroes such as Commodore John Barry, Stephen Moylan, and US Constitution signer, Thomas FitzSimons.
Other prominent Philadelphians buried within these walls include Matthew Carey — colonial publisher, Michael Bouvier — famous cabinetmaker and progenitor or St. Katherine Drexel and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and Postmaster General James Campbell, foreign dignitaries from the colonial period include Don Juan Bernabeu of Spain and Manuel Torres of Columbia.
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Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Churches & Religion • Colonial Era • Communications • Industry & Commerce • War, US Revolutionary. A significant historical year for this entry is 1759.
Location. 39° 56.748′ N, 75° 8.988′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in Society
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Commodore John Barry (here, next to this marker); St. Charles Seminary (here, next to this marker); The Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph from Emmitsburg, MD (a few steps from this marker); Anthony Quervelle (a few steps from this marker); Magnolia Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); Oldest Legible Tombstone In The Cemetery (within shouting distance of this marker); George Meade (within shouting distance of this marker); Right Reverend Michael Francis Egan, D.D. (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 22, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 71 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 22, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
