Rhode Island Historical Cemeteries

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FEATURED CEMETERY PHOTO
Photo/Image Courtesy of Rhode Island Historic Cemetery Volunteers
Cemetery NumberJM005
TownJAMESTOWN
Cemetery NameCEDAR CEMETERY
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Graves ListDisplay Graves List
LocationELDRED AVE
StateRI
DirectionN
Pole Number34
Distance10
Map Number 
Page Number 
Plat Number 
Deed Book 
Deed Page 
Size in Feet300
Size in Feet300
Burials700
Inscriptions500
Fieldstones 
Tombs 
Exist?YES
Last seen date? 
Newest2000
Oldest1697
VandalismN
Veteran 
Pole 
CommentIn 1861 Cedar Cemetery was established as a non-sectarian burial ground for the entire community. There were 42 lots laid out on one acre of land in the original Cedar Cemetery. Fifteen years later 38 more lots were added on an additional ¾ of an acre. The site was treated as a real estate subdivision, and purchases were recorded in the Land Evidence books at the Town Hall. This meant that the lot owners had to take care of their own little pieces of real estate in the cemetery. However, it turned out that not all plots were kept tidy, and by 1893 things had gotten so far out of control that a group of concerned lot owners formed the not-for-profit Cedar Cemetery Company to restore some order to the grounds. Under company management everything went along pretty well, and by 1915 almost all of the lots had been sold. At that time, John J. Watson Jr. donated about 2 ½ acres to the north, and in 1931 he gave about 5 ½ more acres along the east side and to the north to bring the cemetery to its present size. Lots in Cedar Cemetery are no longer sold as pieces of real estate: deeds give the purchaser the right of interment only. The Company provides perpetual care and supervision.
Conditiongood
Enclosurestone wall
Gateiron gate
Growthgrass-well kept
Terrainlevel
Cemetery Location
Cemetery Burial Map N/A
 
ADDITIONAL CEMETERY PHOTOS/MAPS