The Old Burying Ground

The Old Burying Ground. . , The cemetery dates from 1715. One of the first to be interred here was 21 year old Simon Huntington, who died from a rattlesnake bite, probably while haying., Today, only 1,300 tombstones remain visible. It is thought that perhaps thousands may have been buried here. The headstones bear the names of many Norwich founding families. Among them are 69 individuals who fought in the struggle for independence. Together with these, are buried French soldiers, our allies during the revolution, and the mother of Benedict Arnold, Hannah Waterman Arnold. Other early settlers of Norwich are buried in an older nearby cemetery, but those grave markers too have long since disappeared. Nestled into the hillside, is the red brick tomb and resting place of Samuel Huntington. He was elected president of the Second Continental Congress from 1779 and served until July of 1781. This was the Congress which framed the Declaration of Independence, to which he was a signatory for Connecticut. He was also chief justice of the state and its governor until his death., Marker donated by Major J. D. Robertson family.