Historic St. George Cemetery

Historic St. George Cemetery. . , Buried here are the first families of Hempstead; the Martins, Hewletts, Seaburys, Clowes, Bedells, Carmans, Van Wycks, and Woods just to name a few. Their stories offer a glimpse of life, their religion, disease, and family during the last three centuries of Long Island history. From revolutionary soldiers, to shipbuilders, and politicians, each grave has a story waiting to be told!, The first burial took place in 1724 for the first rector, Reverend John Thomas who established the Anglican Congregation. Sarah Jenney’s gravestone is the oldest in the graveyard dating to 1738. Location: B-89, Alice Hermione Pelham Banister McNeill (1787-1823): , Daughter of Thomas Banister (Rhode Island Banisters) and Rachel Martin of Rock Hall in Lawrence. Alice married William McNeill in 1806, who later served as the Town of Hempstead Justice of the Peace for twelve years. Together they had seven children. She was an accomplished artist, and musician who attended a private school for young ladies in Newport, and later the Columbian Academy of Painting in New York. In a sad twist of fate, Reverend Seth Hart presided over her baptism, marriage and later her burial when she died at only 36 from breast cancer. She was the last Martin descendant to live at Rock Hall, in Lawrence, circa 1767. It is her grave that was the catalyst for this entire project! Location: B-78, Samuel Seabury (1706-1764): , Rector of St. George Church from 1743 to 1764. Location: B-83, Henry Eckford (1775-1832): , Scottish-born American shipbuilder, naval architect, industrial engineer, and entrepreneur who worked for the United States Navy and the Ottoman Empire in the early 19th century. His largest patron, John Jacob Astor, commissioned him for numerous ships, including the Fox in 1809, which thanks to Eckford’s streamlined hull design, made the trip from Calcutta, India, to New York City in only 90 days – a record that would stand for 40 years. He relocated to Lake Ontario to better supply the navy with ships during the War of 18 12 eventually expanding his ship building to Lake Erie. After the war, he returned to work at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and became involved in local politics, and was soon implicated in the Tammany Hall scandal. Hoping to rebuild his fortune and reputation, Henry went to Turkey to build ships for the Ottoman Empire. Eckford died in Constantinople in 1832, most likely the result of cholera. Location: D-87, Edward Greswold (1766-1836): , Lawyer who represented Aaron Burr during many of his business dealings. The myth is that the black metal fence was installed to prevent his evil spirit from escaping. Location: A-24, William Laing (1831-1864): , Posthumously presented the Medal of Honor for military valor during the U.S. Civil War. “Among the first to scale the parapet” during the Battle of Chaffin’s Farm in Virginia. Location: D-10, James Ellsworth DeKay (1792–1851): , Famous physician, naturalist, and American zoologist. Location: D-101, Dr. Edwin Webb (1804-1890): , Graduate of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, he was one of the founders of the Queens County Medical Society, and served as president for four terms. Location: D-171, Nehemiah Sammis (1796-1823): , One of the proprietors of Sammis Tavern, home to seven generations, and when closed was the oldest inn in the United States., Richard Hewlett (1729-1789): , Served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the DeLancey’s Loyalist Brigade during the Revolutionary War, and most notable for leading British Forces during the Battle of Setauket. During the war, he received weapons from British war ships off the coast of Long Island to deliver to British soldiers. Hewlett planned an almost successful coup through the capture of George Washington. For these reasons, he was considered the most wanted Loyalist and topped the list of Tories to stand trial before the Continental Congress, though he evaded capture. After the British defeat in the war, Hewlett fled to Nova Scotia where he received land from the crown along with many loyalists. Location: C-144, The Wood Brothers (Samuel, Epenetus, Abraham, and David): , The four brothers owned a successful liquor distribution business in Brooklyn. The brothers made a pact to remain unmarried and leave their estates to the last surviving brother. Samuel, the surviving heir, purchased most of the farmland in Brower’s Point after the Civil War with the intention of building a fashionable resort. He opened the Woodsburgh Pavilion, a grand three-story hotel on Broadway and Woodsburgh Boulevard as well as a sister hotel, The Neptune. Woodmere derives its name from this esteemed family. Location: C-172, Louise (1860-1947) and Roswell Eldridge (1856-1927): , Roswell managed the property and steamship division of the Udall Company and made a fortune in the reorganization of the Hoboken, Union and Astoria ferries. Roswell was also a famous breeder of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. In 1906, he founded the Great Neck Bank. In 1910, the two built Udallia, a huge sprawling columned mansion on Long Island, landscaped by the famous female landscape gardener/architect, Beatrix Farrand. Roswell provided the town of Great Neck with its first public library as well as its bathing beach and many parks. Together they founded the Village of Saddle Rock in 1911. Roswell was the first mayor of Saddle Rock, and Louise succeeded him when he died in 1927, thus becoming the first female mayor in the State of New York. Location: E-51 and E-52, Augustus Denton: , Residence at Denton House of New Hyde Park now dubbed the McMansion, houses what many call “the world’s most beautiful McDonalds.” Location: D-53, Samuel Carman (1749-1817): , He was a veteran of the Revolutionary War, serving in the Continental Army from 1775-1783. Location: C-43, Thomas Hewlett (1793-1841): , Thomas Hewlett acquired Rock Hall in 1824. Hewlett was able to develop sources of revenue directly from Rock Hall itself including rental of farm land and sale of firewood. As wreckmaster, Hewlett made significant income from the salvage of wrecks which became stranded along the shore. Hewlett took notice of the rising popularity of summer tourism in the Rockaway area during the 19th century and opened the home to paying guests as early as 1828. He was one of the founders of Trinity Chapel in Rockaway now Trinity-St. Johns Church in Hewlett, long coveted because of the difficult two hour journey by horse and carriage to Hempstead. Location: D-187b, George Coleman DeKay (1804-1849): , A skilled navigator, and shipbuilder, he was awarded rank of Commodore in 1828 while in the navy of the Argentine Republic after running his brig, the “Brandtzen,” inshore to prevent capture. In 1847, he received permission through an act of congress to take the U.S. frigate, “Macedonian,” to Ireland, filled with supplies to help those suffering from famine. Every June, the Ancient Order of Hibernians still pay homage to him at his gravesite. Location: D-108