Old Pittsgrove Presbyterian Church Cemetery
312 Daretown Rd.
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The original church that stood here was a cedar log building which was built in 1741. Although that structure no longer exists, a replica stands in the cemetery, giving a feel for how this spot looked in the mid 1700's. The current brick building was constructed in 1767. [1]
The first company of minutemen in Salem County was formed from members of this church on September 20, 1775. Its captain was Jacob DuBois, who is buried in the cemetery. A second company was formed from this church by Captain Cornelius Nieukirk. According to information on the Church's website, provided by Salem County historian Natalie W. Johnson, this company "saw considerable action. It helped General (Mad) Anthony Wayne drive the Salem County cattle to General Washington at Valley Forge in 1777-78 and saw considerable action in the Battle of Brandywine and at Mount Holly. It later drove Col. Dunlay and 2,000 Hessians from Bordentown and the vicinity of Trenton contributing to the victories of General Washington. After the combat ended, the Pittsgrove troops helped guard the confiscated property of accused Tories while they were being tried by courts by patriotic courts." Several men who served in Nieukirk's Company are buried in this cemetery. [2]
The Revolutionary War soldiers buried in the cemetery include: [3]
Thomas Banks
(died February 23, 1825, age 65)
Enlisted in Va. Reg.
Benjamin Burroughs
James Burroughs
Jonathan Burroughs
Joseph Burroughs
(died June 3, 1776)
Sergeant Elijah Craig
(died January 19, 1787)
Benjamin DuBois
(died 1778, age 17)
David DuBois
(died October 12, 1801, age 71)
Capt. Nieukirk’s 2nd Batt.
Jacob DuBois
Captain of the company of minutemen formed here in 1775
General Jerediah DuBois
(died October 10, 1824)
Drummer boy, Capt. Nieukirk’s 2nd Batt
Later served as a General in the War of 1812
Lewis DuBois
(died January 22, 1823, age 68)
With Washington at Valley Forge and Battle of Red Bank
Samuel DuBois
(died January 8, 1811, age 69)
John Elwell
(died March 7, 1803, age 56)
Sergeant Thomas Harding,
(died April 24, 1798, age 63)
Dr. Isaac Harris
(died April 21, 1808, age 68)
Surgeon with the Salem County Troops, General Newcomb Brigade,
Member of Salem County Committee of Correspondence before war
Isaac Harris
A different Isaac Harris than the one listed above
John Johnson
(died March 31, 1802, age 71)
Eleazor Mayhew, Esq.
(died November 17, 1828)
Capt. Nieukirk’s Batt.
Private John Nealy
(died March 7, 1795, age 50)
Capt. Nieukirk’s 2nd Batt.
Colonel William Shute
(died April 5, 1784, age 58)
Lieutenant in French and Indian War
Colonel in Revolutionary War
Served at the Battle of Quinton's Bridge
Old Pittsgrove Baptist Church Cemetery
98 Woodstown-Daretown Rd.
Map / Directions to the Old Pittsgrove Baptist Church Cemetery
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There are at least six Revolutionary War soldiers buried in this cemetery: [4]
Judah Foster
Died July 2, 1823 - Age 62
Frederick Denelsbeck
Died April 10, 1800 - Age 72
Cornelius Austin
Died December 29, 1787
Samuel Nelson
Died March 1839, Age 84
Wiliam Arons
Died December 18, 1795, Age 46
Sgt. John Elwell / NJ Militia
1717 - 1787
1. ^ Church history information was drawn from the History section of the Pittsgrove Presbyterian Church website.
That article lists as its own sources:
• Gilbert S. Swing, Biographical Sketches of Eminent Men: Events in the Life and History of the Swing Family (Camden: Graw, Garrigues & Graw, 1889)
• Janice Kohl Sarapin, Old Burial Grounds of New Jersey, Rutgers Univ. Press;
• Pittsgrove Presbyterian Old Church Committee;
• Journal of the Presbyterian Historical Society, vol. III, 1905-1906, pp. 94 & 95.
(I have not read these sources and so am using the Pittsgrove Presbyterian Church website as my source here.)2. ^ Information about the Jacob DuBois minutemen and the quote about the Nieukirk company are from a short article in the History section of the Pittsgrove Presbyterian Church website about the Revolutionary War connections of the church. It lists as its source Natalie Ware Johnson, former Church Historian.
• A June 8, 1987 Philadelphia Inquirer article about the then eighty-year-old Natalie Ware Johnson speaking at the 246th anniversary of the church can be read here.3. ^ Names, dates, and military information were drawn from the gravestones and markers in the cemetery, as well as from information in the Old Church section of the Pittsgrove Presbyterian Church website.
4. ^ Names, dates, and military information were drawn from the gravestones and markers in the cemetery.
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