Perrysburg Township in Wood County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Fort Meigs Union Cemetery Potter's Field
Photographed by Craig Doda, May 26, 2025
1. Fort Meigs Union Cemetery Potter's Field Marker, Side One
A potters field is a designated place for the burial of unknown, unclaimed, or indigent people. The term "potter's field is of Biblical origin referring to the site traditionally known as Akeldama, in the Hinnom Valley, which After the clay was was a source of potters high-quality red clay. removed, such a site would be unusable for agriculture, being full of trenches and holes, thus becoming a graveyard for those who could not afford burial in an orthodox cemetery.
In the mid-1800s, very few people traveled with identification. he or she lone traveler were to die along the way without identification, Most municipal cemeteries would be buried in the local potter's field. While non-secular cemeteries generally have a designated potter's field. provide for burial of indigents, they typically do not have a designated area for such burials.
There are two potter's fields in this cemetery, the original large one in the northwest corner of Block 2 and a second one encompassing a few spaces in the northwest corner of Block O.
In addition, there Block 2 potter's field contains 92 documented burials. are unknown number of burials
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In 1855, many lots in the cemetery were not paid for leading the trustees to notify the owners that if they did not ante up the full amount due, that any burials on their lot would be disinterred and buried in potter's field. There are no records of any of these burials.
In 1891, the Perrysburg Journal reported that the trustees had spent $35.00 to remove bodies from potter's field that had been buried there by mistake. Cemetery records do not identify these burials.
In 1922, a second potter's field was opened in Block O occupying Spaces 1 to 18 in the northwest corner. The first burials were two unknown individuals who died in August and November of that year.
Erected 2024 by Concerned Perrysburg And Area Citizens.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Forts and Castles. A significant historical date for this entry is July 24, 1913.
Location. 41° 33.21′ N,
Photographed by Craig Doda, May 26, 2025
2. Fort Meigs Union Cemetery Potter''s Field Marker, Side Two
Regionally, this marker is in the Black Swamp, in the Till Plains, and in the Toledo Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, on the Great Lakes, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Veterans Memorial (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Fort Meigs Union Cemetery (approx. 0.2 miles away); Perrysburg (approx. ¼ mile away); Interior Earthworks
Photographed by Craig Doda, May 26, 2025
3. Fort Meigs Union Cemetery Potter's Field Marker
Other markers no longer nearby. to Fort Meigs / to Fort Meigs (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been confirmed missing); to Fort Stephenson / to Fort Meigs (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been confirmed missing).
Photographed by Craig Doda, May 26, 2025
4. Fort Meigs Union Cemetery Potter's Field Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on May 27, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 26, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 137 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 26, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
