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

Inscription. 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. It is on Gravesend Neck Road, on the left when traveling west. Marker is located in Gravesend Cemetery, on Gravesend Neck Road between Van Sicklen Street and McDonald Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Brooklyn NY 11223, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in New York City.

It is also in the American Northeast.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

the Western Hemisphere,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers.

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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); Private First Class Armond Cutinella (approx. ¼ mile away); Cutinella Triangle (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Private First Class Armond Cutinella (approx. ¼ 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
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 24, 2010

2. Brooklyn Markers
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.)

4. Old Gravesend Cemetery - National Archives. National Register of Historic Places documentation (Submitted on March 3, 2024, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York.)

Markers in Gravesend Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 24, 2010

3. Markers in Gravesend Cemetery

Gravesend Cemetery image. Click for full size.

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.

American Revolution in Brooklyn image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jack DePalma, September 15, 2025

5. American Revolution in Brooklyn

Heritage Trail

Photographed by Jack DePalma, September 15, 2025

6. Gravesend Cemetery Heritage Trail

Van Sicklen Cemetary image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jack DePalma, September 15, 2025

7. Van Sicklen Cemetary

Next to Gravesend Marker and Gravesend Cemetary.

Gravesend Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jack DePalma, August 28, 2024

8. Gravesend Marker

The Village of Gravesend Marker by the Old Cemetary.

Gravesend Marker is nearby. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jack DePalma, August 28, 2024

9. Gravesend Marker is nearby.

A history of the place now called Gravesend. From Canasie Pier to Denyse Pier.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 25, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 24, 2010, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 2,182 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 24, 2010, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 5, 6. submitted on September 16, 2025, by Jack DePalma of Brooklyn,NY, New York. 7. submitted on September 17, 2025, by Jack DePalma of Brooklyn,NY, New York. 8, 9. submitted on September 24, 2025, by Jack DePalma of Brooklyn,NY, New York.