THE JERUSALEM SOCIETY OF FRIENDS CEMETERY

The Jerusalem Friends Cemetery 1s located on Wantagh Avenue, north of Jerusalem Avenue behind the Baptist Church.
The Society of Friends was established in England in the mid-seventeenth century.  The faith quickly spread through the British
Isles and to America.  Because of their unorthodox Protestant views, their trust in the "Inward Light", lack of a formal ministry, and re-
fusal to bow to authority, the Quakers, as they were called, were often savage ly persecuted, particularly in the New England colonies.
Friends meetings were held in Jerusalem very early in its history.

It is recorded that Captain John Seaman scandalized his neighbors by permitting such gatherings to be held in his home, "Cherrywood."
The visits of prominent English Quakers to Long Island brought many new converts.  In 1697 Friends decided meetings, should be kept
every five weeks on the First Day, to be held on successive First Days at Jericho, Bethpage , Jerusalem, andHempstead.  Gradually the 
Jerusalem Friends meetings came under the care of Bethpage ,which,in turn, was supervised by the Jericho meeting.

Jerusalem Friends continued under this arrangement until 1820 when a separate meeting was established at Jerusalem.  For several years the 
group met in the houses of members.  A conmittee appointed by the Jericho meeting to supervise the new meeting reported regularly that 
"the order and solemnity prevalent was satisfactory."

By March, 1828, it was clear that the congregation was solidly established and was desirous of building its own Meeting House. A 
committee was appointed "to confer with friends then as to a suitable spot and the plan and size of a House, to wit. John Ketcham, Samuel 
Jones, Willet Robbins, Samuel Willis and Jesse Merritt." One hundred twenty rods of land needed for the building and its grounds was  
purchased from Arden Seaman and his wife Elizabeth for $60.

Several extracts from the minutes of the Jericho Monthly Meeting tell the story of the construction of the small wooden frame building:
At Westbury Quarterly Meeting held at Westbury the 26 of 4th Mo. 1827.

By a minute from Jericho Monthly Meeting it appears they propose to build a meeting house at Jerusalem the size 34 by 28 feet with  
14 feet posts.  Estimate costs 965 that 200 Dollars had been subscribed by that meeting leaving a balance of 765 Dollars wanting.

On consideration the proposed size of the house with the estimate of the cost was agreed to by this meeting & our Monthly Meetings 
are requested to raise their respective proportions of 765 Dollars the balance wanting - pay the money to the trustees of the building
and report.

******
At Jericho Monthly Meeting held the 18th of 10th Mo.1827.
The Committee appointed in third Mo. last to superintend the building a Meeting House at Jerusalem.  
Report it completed and that the money raised have been all expended.

On March 2, 1861 the Monthly Meeting of Jericho purchased an additional plot "for burial purposes" lying eastward from the Friends
Meeting House, and containing 134 2/3 rods.  It was surveyed by Robert B. Jackson.  "Each subscriber of the sum of eight Dollars to
be entitled to burial privileges in one lot eighteen feet widesaid lots running north and south from the walk, and being about forty
four feet long."

The Deed was recorded April 13, 1861 from William S. Hicks and Letitia (Seaman) Hicks, his wife, to the Trustees of the Monthly 
Meeting of Friends in Jericho.  No individual deeds were issued to the subscribers.

The care of the grounds, the conducting of funerals and all other matters appertaining thereto were to be subject to a committee 
appointed by the Jericho Meeting.

There were 21 plots each side of the middle path - a total of 42. Lists of the subscribers have survived as a record of those who paid 
$8 for a full plot privilege - or $4 for a half plot privilege.

It is believed that a Seaman burial plot was adjacent to the land that was sold to the Friends, and the new burial ground extended 
beyond the old one.  
This belief is borne out by the fact that the earliest headstone, that of Ann SEAMAN, age d 11 years 8 mos. 12 dy.,
is dated July 10, 1819.

Among those buried behind the Meeting House during the next half century were three Civil War veterans:

Lieut. H. R. Jackson, Adjet 5th NYBA

Gilbert SEAMAN, Company G. 139th Regiment NY Volunteers -
died October 5, 1901 age 63 years,

Charles Wilson - Co. H. 119th Reg. NY Volunteers - died
1872 age 32 years.  He had been wounded in the Battle of Gettysburg.

As the older Friends died, the once-flourishing Meeting became smaller, and finally, on November 11, 1908, the regular First Day
Meetings were discontinued.  However, until 1949 so-called appointed Meetings were held at intervals during the summer months.

Burials in the old cemetery became less frequent.  Many of the old family members were interred in Greenfield, the Town of Hempstead Cemetery, 
which was established in 1856.   Interest in preserving and maintaining the meeting house and grounds declined.  The vulnerable position of the 
property on a main artery made it a prey for vandals.

In 1952 the Wantagh Baptist Church, a new congregation, which had been meeting at the Sunrise Park School, purchased the property from 
the Jericho Monthly Meeting for the sum of $2,500.  The burying grounds were specifically excluded from the sale.  But, according to the terms 
of the deed, "Grantee covenants to maintain the cemetery premises, now owned by grantors, and immediately adjacent on the east to the extent 
of at least two grass mowings and cleaning up of debris and cuttings annually."

As a Bicentennial project the Jerusalem Chapter of the NSDAR hopes to restore and fence in the burial plot, in coordination with the Town
of Hempstead Department of Cemeteries.

THE JERUSALEM SOCIETY OF FRIENDS CEMETERY

BAKER, 	 Tredwell, d. July 24, 1867 age 59 yrs 6m 22d.

BALDWIN, Selah, d. Sept. 22, 1925 age 86 yrs.
BALDWIN, Mary Ann, d. July 31, 1910 age 71 yrs 5m.(mos?)

BRITTON, Florence E., d.             age          3m                

BUNTING, Elizabeth, d. Aug. 14, 1833 age 59 yrs.

CLOCK, Asa M., d. Feb. 20, 1862 age 20 yrs. 2 mos.
			("Near Alexandria, Va.")
CLOCK, Mary KNIFFEN, dau.J.M. & Elizabeth S. CLOCK, d.Oct.20,1880 age 36 yrs 2 mos.
CLOCK, Elizabeth S.W. of Jesse M. CLOCK, b. Jan. 29, 1819, d. Apr. 18,1891
CLOCK, Jesse M., d. June 10, 1894 age 77 yrs. 5 mos. 18 dy.
CLOCK, Elbert V., d. Oct. 15, 1843 age 3 yrs. 8 mos.
CLOCK, Jesse A., d. Jan. 13, 1853 age 4 yrs. 3 mos.
CLOCK, Jettie Pierce, d. June 24, 1861 age 4 yr. 11 mos.

CORNELIUS, Jane, d. Sept. 20, 1860 age 30 yrs.
CORNELIUS, Henry, d. June 12, 1855 age 75 yrs.
CORNELIUS, Samuel, age 78 yrs. (no date of birth or death)
CORNELIUS, Mary J. age 56 yrs. (no date of birth or death)
CORNELIUS, Antoinette, b. Aug. 17, 1843, d. Aug. 7, 1921

FARRELL, Libby, w. of Wm. Farrell, dau. of Tredwell & Hannah BAKER,
			d. Nov. 10, 1872 age  18 yr.
FLEET, Phebe, d. July 30, 1859 (?) age 61

DODGE, Henry, 1830-1857
DODGE, Eliza B. 1806-1894

EMEIGH, Anna M.,dau. of Ardon S. & Eliza SEAMAN, b.Feb.19, 1818,d.May 26,1864

GOULD, Mary Ann, d. Aug. 15, 1861 age 45 yrs. 4 m. 23 dy.

HAFF, Henry, b. Sept. 22, 1809, d. Jan. 12, 1881
HAFF, Mary A., w. of Henry HAFF, b. May 9, 1822, d. July 21, 1900
HAFF, David, b. April 14, 1844, d. Feb. !Q, 1915
HAFF, Edgar, 1841-1922
HAFF, Frankle, b. Sept. 18, 1872, d. Nov. 6, 1872
HAFF, Frannie, d. June 20, 1880 age 82 yrs. 3 mos. 5 dy.
HAFF, Nelson, d. Feb. 16, 1831 age 12 yrs. or 17 yrs.
HAFF, William Watson, d. Sept. 16, 1858 age 7 yrs. 8 mos.

HICKS, Mary M., b. Feb. 22, 1832, d. Nov. 6, 1897
HICKS, Whitehead, b. Dec. 20, 1797, d. Mar. 1, 1853
HICKS, Ann, w. of Whitehead Hicks, b. Feb. 1, 1799, d. May 27, 1887
HICKS, Merritt, b. March 3, 1827, d. Sept. 20, 1849

HORTON, Orion J., b. May 27, 1870, d. Dec. 3, 1874

HOWARD, Susie, b. Sept. 28, 1886, d. Aug. 2, 1887 age 10 mos. 23 dy.
HOWARD, Gracie, b. Apr. 2, 1885, d. Aug. 3, 1885
HOWARD, Wm. H., d. July 4, 1879, age 2yrs. 2mos. 3 dy.
HOWARD, I, d.  Jan.  1,  1879, age 3yrs.  10 mos.  29 dy.

JACKSON, Jane Elizabeth, w. of Noah Jackson, dau of Wm. & Elizabeth

BUNTING, b. Feb. 19, 1812, d. May 28, 1895
BUNTING, Robert B., b. Sept. 13, 1832, d. Sept. 11, 1905
BUNTING, Mary S., w. of Robert B. Jackson, b. June 28, 1835,d. Aug.30, 1889
BUNTING, Jeremiah B., d. June 4, 1875, age 70 yrs.
BUNTING, Jerusha, w. of Jeremiah B. Jackson, d. June 3, 1861, 54 yrs.11 mos. 16 dy.
BUNTING, Lieut. H. R. Adjet, 5th, N. Y. B. A. (no date)
BUNTING, Ann T., w. of Sq. S. Jackson, d. April 25, 1865

JAGGER, Mary E. SEAMAN, w. of William Jagger, d. Nov. 5, 1917,age 86 yrs.

JONES, Townsend,b. Mar. 16, 18Y8,d. Oct. 21,1884
JONES, Israel S. b. Aug. 20, 1812, d. Jan. 29, 1893
JONES, Elizabeth, w. of Israel S. Jones, b. Sept. 5, 1814,d. Jan.11,1887
JONES, Adelia, b. July 25, 1845, d. Nov. 15, 1845
JONES, Ellen, dau. Wm. H. & Alma Jones, b. Apr. 7, 1867,d. Aug.18,age . 4 mos.11 dy.
JONES, Eleanor, dau. of Israel & Eliza Jones, age 6 mos.
JONES, Mary J., w. Elbect Jones, d. July 31, 1820 age 29 yrs.1 mno.14 dy.
JONES, Martha A., dau. Elbert & Mary J. Jones, b. 1849
JONES, Elbert, b. Apr. 5, 1816, d. Aug. 16, 1846, age 30 yrs. 4 mos.10 days
JONES, Almy, b. Feb. 3, 1787, d. Apr. 6, 1843, age 56 yrs. 2 mos.
JONES, Mm. D., b. Apr. 5, 1771. d. Sept. 2, 1845, age 74 yr. 4 mo.27 dy.
JONES, David, b. May 23, 1807, d. Jan. 28, 1831, age 23.
JONES, Eliza, b. Nov. 10, 1719, d. Mar. 26, 1831, age 81 yrs.

KNIFFEN, Mary (see Clock)

LAURIE, Mary, infant dau. of Mm. & Fanny Laurie (no date)

LIVINGSTON, Henry, 1850-1923

LOINES, Sarah W., b. Aug. 18, 1801, d. Oct. 2, 1895

POST, Ann B., widow of John B. POST, d. Feb. 15, 1842, age 38 yrs.4 mos.3 days
POST, John B., d. Sept. 9, 1897 age 87 yrs. 5 mos. 8 dy.
POST, Maria, w. John B. POST, d. May 22, 1886, age 73 yrs. I mo. 4 dy.
POST, Asa J., b. Dec. 23, 1844, d. Aug. 16, 1895
POST, Mary A., w. of Asa J. POST, b. April 16, 1848, d. May 6, 1919
POST, Mary Louisa, d. Nov. 20, 1872 age 20 yrs.
POST, Samuel C., d. Nov. 26, 1872 age 53 yrs. I mo. 7 dy.
POST, Mary M., w of Samuel C. POST, b. Jan. 13, 1822, d. Jan. 2, 1901

POWELL, John T., d. Aug. 26, 1877 age 54 yrs.
POWELL, Wm., d. Oct. 18, 1908 age 82 yrs.
POWELL, Susan, d. Jan. 11, 1908, age 80 yrs.
POWELL, Coles C., d. Sept. 28, 1906, age 63 yrs.
POWELL, Eliza. b. July 9, 1808, d. Jan. 18, 1886
POWELL, Ann, b. Mar. 5, 1799, d. Jan. 22, 1872

SEAMAN, Charles P., d. Feb. 16, 1913, age 73 yrs.
SEAMAN, Wm. B., d. July 15, 1909, age 79 yrs.
SEAMAN, Davis Sands, d. Jan. 10, 1880, age 81 yrs.
SEAMAN, Ann Maria Bunting, w. of David Sands SEAMAN, d. Jan. 22, 1864,age 55 yrs.
SEAMAN, Ellen A., dau. David Sands and Ann Maria SEAMAN, 24 yrs.
SEAMAN, Sarah Jane, dau. of David S. & Ann M. Seaman (date covered)
SEAMAN, John J., b. Oct. 25, 1824, d. Dec. 4, 1876, age 52 yrs.
SEAMAN, Esther, w. John J. SEAMAN, b. Feb. 14, 1826, d. July 31, 1894
SEAMAN, Benjamin, b. 1798, d. 1848
SEAMAN, Jemima, w. of Benjamin Seaman (date covered)
SEAMAN, Elizabeth, dau. of Benjamin & Jemima SEAMAN, d. Apr. 15, 1853
SEAMAN, Jacob, d. Feb. 22, 1868, age 81 yrs.
SEAMAN, Albert, d. May 2, 1886, age 1-7-4
SEAMAN, John R., d. Dec. 11, 1883, age 1-11-2
SEAMAN, Susan, d. May 5, 1886, age 39-2-22
SEAMAN, Enoch, b. Dec. 10, 1822, d. Oct. 28, 1873
SEAMAN, Eliza, d. Dec. 8, 1871, age 45 yrs. 2 mos. 13 dy.
SEAMAN, Julia, d. Sept. 20, 1860 age 11 yrs.
SEAMAN, Fanny, d. Mar. 21, 1861 age 4 yrs.
SEAMAN, Ann, d. July 10, 1819, age 11 yrs. 8 mos, 12 dy.
SEAMAN, Mary  ATTMORE, w. of Albert SEAMAN, b. Nov. 22, 1861, d. Dec28, 1898
SEAMAN, Edward HALLOCK, infant son of Albert & Mary SEAMAN, d. Mar. 17,1895
SEAMAN, Albert W., son of Albert & Mary SEAMAN,b. Aug.25, 1887, d.Aug.14,1888
SEAMAN, Mary, dau. Edward H. & Martha A. SEAMAN,b. Dec.3, 1848, d.Aug.19,1876
SEAMAN, Martha ALTHAUSE, widow of Edward H. SEAMAN, b. March 1828,d. Feb.9,1899
SEAMAN, Edward H., b. Mar. 22, 1822, d. Feb. 12, 1881
SEAMAN, Eliza, b. Oct. 20, 1793, d. Feb. 3, 1875
SEAMAN, Ardon, b. Sept. 5, 1795, d. Apr. 2, 1875
SEAMAN, Phebe, w. of J. J. SEAMAN, d. Nov. 29, 1855, age 32 yrs. 6 mos.14 dy.
SEAMAN, Daniel, d. Aug. 3, 1841, age 78 yrs. 3 mos, 22 dy.
SEAMAN, Charlotte B., b. Oct. 31, 1805, d. Feb. 20, 1831
SEAMAN, Mary, b. Nov. 23, 1768, d. age 71 yrs.
SEAMAN, Mary, wife of Zebulon SEAMAN, b. Aug. 11, 1774, d. Sept.19,1861.
SEAMAN, Zebulon, b. Jan. 30, 1771, d. Sept. 7, 1838
SEAMAN, Gilbert, Co. G. 139 Reg't N. Y. Vols. d. Oct. 5, 1901, ae 63
SEAMAN, James, d. Mar. 16, 1891, age 59 yrs.
SEAMAN, Armenia, d. July 14, 1896, age 59 yrs.
SEAMAN, Sarah M., d. Oct. 25, 1916, age 74 yrs. 4 mos. 28 dy.
SEAMAN, Dorothy, d. June 12, 1864, age 72 yrs. 9 mos.
SEAMAN, Mary, w. of Daniel, d. Sept. 1, 1861 age 89 yrs, 10 mos. 8 dy.
SEAMAN, Alfred, d. Oct. 18, 1901 age 95 yrs. 1 mos. 1 dy.
SEAMAN, Martha, w. of Alfred, d. Oct. 6, 1861 age 50 yrs. 5 mos. 28 dy.

SEELIG, Geo. W., 1901-1915

SOUTHARD, Lucilla, b. June 23, 1862, d. Aug. 21, 1865
SOUTHARD, Mary, b. May 27, 1841, d. March 24, 1910
SOUTHARD, Emeline D., w. of John H. SOUTHARD, d. June 7, 1880
SOUTHARD, Sarah E.,dau. of John H. & Emeline SOUTHARD,d. Sept.19,1880,3 mos,3 dy.

SMITH, Howard E.,son of Richard & Angeline SMITH,d.Oct.4,1884,age 1yr.11mos.10 dy.
SMITH, Angel ine, w. of Richard SMITH, d. Oct. 5, 1884, age 24 yrs.7 mos, 9 dy.
SMITH, John G., son of George G. & Almy J. Smith, d. Dec. 26, 1877.age 11 yrs.3 mos.
SMITH, Nancy B., w. of Hewlett SMITH, d. Dec. 18, 1874 age 62 yrs.8 mos. 27 dy.
SMITH, Hewlett, d. March. 22, 1871 age 60 yrs. 7 mos. 3 dy.
SMITH, Eliza Ann, dau.of Hewlett & Nancy SMITH, d. Mar. 23, 1863,age 11 yrs.7 mos.

STEIN, Mary A., b. Mar. 20, 1809, d. Dec. 19, 1878

TITUS, Hewitt C., d. June 24, 1859, age 32
TITUS, Martha, w. Amuel TITUS, d. Aug. 8, 1859, age 67

TOTTEN, Richard, 1810-1887
TOTTEN, Sarah A. w. of Richard TOTTEN, d.Sept.15,1885,age 69 yrs.10 mos.28 dy.
TOTTEN, Elizabeth, w of Jacob TOTTEN,died Oct.2.1864 age 72 yrs.

VALENTINE, Sidney, b. Dec. 3, 1864, d. Feb. 18, 1866 
VALENTINE, Charlotte B., w. of Daniel VALENTINE, b. May 18, 1836,d.Jan.5,1866

VANWYCK, Richard, 1830-1902

Van SISE, Everett H., d. Feb. 20, 1885 age 3 yrs. 5 dy.
Van SISE, Elbert, b. July 31, 1837, d. Aug. 1, 1917
Van SISE, Maria A. Smith, w. Elbert Van SISE, b. Aug. 3, 1848, d.Dec.25,1907

VERITY, Mary E., d. Oct. 29, 1856 age 11 yrs.
VERITY, Edward, 1846-1928
VERITY, Jacob J., b. Jan. 7, 1812, d. May 14, 1901
VERITY, Ann Maria, b. May 22, 1817, d. Oct. 20, 1884
VERITY, Jones, s. of Charles & Ann VERITY, d. Jan. 20, 1862 age 1 yr.8 mos.
VERITY, Stephen H., d. Sept. 22, 1901, age 80 yrs. 7 dy.
VERITY, Hannah, w. Stephen H., d. May 14, 1895, age 42 yrs. 7 mos.
VERITY, Samuel C., s. of Stephen & Hannah VERITY, d.Sept. 8,1883,age 25 yrs.10 mos.

WEEKS, Luke B., s. of Jesse & Sarah WEEKS, d. Nov.11,1850,age 12 yrs.4 mos.3 dy.
WEEKS, Julia, w. of Luke B. WEEKS, d. Sept. 19, 1849, age 30 yrs.25 dy.

WILLETS, Martha Louisa, dau. of David S. & Ann M. SEAMAN, w. of
		Abraham Willets, b. Mar. 15, 1854, d...(date under ground)

WILLIAMS, Mary, b. Nov. 21, 1835, d. June 6, 1911
WILLIAMS, John, b. Nov. 9, 1829, d. Dec. 2, 1904
WILLIAMS, Maryett, dau.John & Mary WILLIAMS,d.May 10,1862,age 3 yrs.8mos.21dy.
WILLIAMS, George, d. Apr. 8, 1875 age 5 yrs. 6 mos. 4 dy.
WILLIAMS, Amos D., d. Aug. 16, 1872 age 76 yrs. 5 mos. 12 dy.

WILSON, Chas. Henry,son of Samuel & Ruth WILSON, d.Apr.17,1869,age 9yrs. 2dy.
WILSON, Charles, Co. H. 119th Reg't N.Y. Vol. d. 1872, age 32 yrs.
WILSON, Willet, d. July 3, 1894 age 61 yrs. 10 mos. 6 dy.
WILSON, Eliza, w. of Willet WILSON, d. Oct. 10, 1911, age 82 yrs.5 mos.27 dy.
WILSON, Sarah M.,dau. of Willet & Eliza WILSON,d. Mar. 21, 1881, age 22yrs.10mos.23 dy.
WILSON, Edward D.,s of Willet & Eliza WILSON,d.Dec.20,1867,age 3 yrs.3 mos.5 dy.

Copies by Florence B. R. Smith, 1930, assisted by Mrs. Leonard D. B.
Smith.  Revised and supplemented by Vital Statistics, 
Town of Hempstead, by Helen L. Strang, 1975.

Source:
Old Burying Ground
Oakfield Avenue, Wantagh, N.Y.
By: Karl F. Pfeiffer
Wantagh American Revolution Bicentennial Committee
(Bellmore Library, Bellmore.N.Y.)

Transcribed by Nancy E Lutz
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