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CEMETERIES

Sandgate Center Cemetery

          The first cemetery established in the town was on a hill back of the "Meeting House" or Congregational Church. There are a number of gravestones that show no markings, either worn over a long period of time, or perhaps never having been marked.

          The earliest gravestone record is that of Capt. Nathaniel Jones who died February 6, 1794, at the age of 49 years.

In reminiscence --
"June 5, 1878

          Decoration Day passed off grandily. At 1 o'clock a procession formed in front of the Church, headed by the Stars and Stripes, and led by a band of martial music, next came the veterans Of the Civil War, the decorating committee of six ladies, the officers and speakers of the day. The procession marched to the cemetery, which is pleasantly located on a hill, a short distance northwest of our little village, and decorating the graves of the heroes of the Civil War, and also those of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. It returned to the Congregational Church, which was crowded to overflowing. A name being proposed, which was adopted by vote of the assembly, viz;

'HILLSIDE CEMETERY'

"May 8, 1879 Sandgate
          The good people here turned out on Wednesday, April 30th, and worked on the cemetery. They cleared off the brush and some old trees that were somewhat decayed, righted up the gravestones, set out a row of maple trees nearly around the grounds and altogether made the SILENT CITY ON THE HILL look very much better. Another such 'bee' one of these days to repair the fence and finish the row of maples, and we shall have completed a good work."

          The name Hillside Cemetery did not remain in use, but later became known as Sandgate Center Cemetery.

          In 1954 the cemetery grounds were enlarged through the gift of land by Mr. and Mrs. Fred W. Lomberg, Sr. and Mr. and Mrs. Theodore H. Cowee.

          This cemetery also is located on a hillside, by the West Sandgate road that leads into Camden Valley. Here, too, it is probable that there are many unmarked graves.

          Earliest gravestone records show date of 1796, Grace Nichols, wife of Nathaniel Nichols, and 1797, Cloe, wife of Rev. James Nichols. There are many of the Bristol, Peck, Prindle, Tucker and Tuttle families buried here.

          In 1949 the cemetery grounds were enlarged through gift of Mr. Horace W. Schwarz.

          Several other small burial grounds, widely separated, are no longer in use:

          On Hazletine Hill in Beartown are buried Col. Simeon Hazletine and his wife Mary. Col. Hazletine died in 1824 at the age of 87. The epitaph on his tombstone reads --

          Matthew Covey, who settled in Beartown soon after 1800, also is buried there. He died in 1822 at the age of 44 years. His epitaph reads:

          Members of the Parkhurst and Reed families are also buried there.

          In this burial ground are members of the Curtiss family. Hull Curtiss and his wife Rhoda were among the early settlers of the town, prior to 1790.

          Members of the Wyman and Wilcox families are also buried there.

          Here are buried Isaac and Sarah Sherman, with a number of their family. Earliest record is 1818, Legrand Sherman, age 20, son of Isaac and Sarah Sherman.

          Ephraim and Huldah Morehouse are also buried there, as are some of the Phillips family.

          This burial ground is located on the old Sherman homestead grounds, Rupert Road.

          This is located off the Rupert Road, near the Sandgate-Rupert town line. Members of the Scott family are buried there, and two infant children of William Waters.

Printed by
Farnham & Farnham
Shaftsbury, Vermont
1961

Introduction | Origin | The Terrain | Early Settlers | The First Years
Churches | Cemeteries | Schools | Changing Times | Bibliography