Gravesend in Brooklyn in Kings County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Gravesend Cemetery
Revolutionary War Heritage Trail
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, April 24, 2010
1. Gravesend Cemetery Marker
On the morning of August 22, 1776, the British invasion force, approximately 20,000 troops, began landing on the shores of Gravesend Bay, supported by naval forces under the command of Admiral Lord Richard Howe. The invaders followed the King’s Highway to seize the villages of Gravesend and Flatlands to the east. They took the Old Road to capture Flatbush village and to confront the American forces guarding the Flatbush Pass, where the road up to Brooklyn Village cut through the hills above Flatbush.Many of the residents of Gravesend from the Revolutionary War era are buried in Gravesend Cemetery including Colonel Rutgert Van Brunt (1722-1812), command of the Kings County Regiment and Captain Rem Williamson (1739-1825), commander of the Gravesend Company.
Erected by New York State.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • War, US Revolutionary. A significant historical year for this entry is 1776.
Location. 40° 35.714′ N, 73° 58.446′ W. Marker is in Brooklyn, New York, in Kings County. It is in Gravesend.
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Battle of Brooklyn (here, next to this marker); Gravesend (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Gravesend (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Lady Moody Square (about 600 feet away); Gravesend Veterans Memorial (about 600 feet away); PO Jeff Herman Ballfield (approx. 0.4 miles away); McDonald Playground (approx. 0.4 miles away); Meucci Triangle (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Brooklyn.
More about this marker. The bottom of the marker contains “An original sketch by an English officer on board Adml. Howe’s Fleet, depict[ing] British ships massing in the Narrows in August 1776. Emmet Collection, Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs, The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations.” Three more pictures appear on the marker. The first shows marching British troops and has a caption of “This image is reminiscent of the scene that the residents of Gravesend and Flatlands awoke to in August of 1776.” The second is a picture of “The grave of Captain Rem Williamson. Photo by Alyssa Loorya.” The last picture is a map of “A Plan of the Battle of Brooklyn. This map highlights the approximate location of this historic site.”
Also see . . .
1. The Battle of Long Island, August 27, 1776 at Long Island, New York. The American Revolutionary War website. (Submitted on April 24, 2010, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
2. Battle of Long Island, August 27, 1776. (Submitted on April 24, 2010, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
3. The Battle of Long Island 1776. A British perspective of the battle from BritishBattles.com. (Submitted on April 24, 2010, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, April 24, 2010
2. Brooklyn Markers
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, April 24, 2010
3. Markers in Gravesend Cemetery
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, April 24, 2010
4. Gravesend Cemetery
Gravesend Cemetery, which dates back to 1643, is the oldest burial ground remaining in New York City.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 24, 2010, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,594 times since then and 46 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 24, 2010, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.
