| Comment | This cemetery has not been found
Date of Arnold’s visit: Feb. 25 1880 His number: #29
Arnold’s comments: “on land of Judge E. R. Potter on plain about 20 rods southeast from farm house across a pond which borders yard on one side is a yard otherwise unprotected in which we find 16 large and 20 small graves with rude markers only.” His notes, more colorful than usual, offer interesting information on the less staid aspects of South Kingstown in the nineteenth century:
In this yard lies buried the celebrated Thomas Mount who was hung at Kingston for Robbery [27 May 1791 the last to be executed in Washington County]. The place of execution is still pointed at by three lengths of fence between walls on north side of lead from Kingstown to Depot. It is said he cut off a girls finger once to obtain a gold ring from it. A cherry tree used to mark grave but it blew down in Sept. 1869 and grave now is unknown precisely.”
Close beside this southerly is another yard unprotected in which we find 25 large and 9 small graves with rude stones only. Here was buried Knickerbocker who hung himself in Kingston Jail with his necktie about 1855. Was put in because he was insane and thought dangerous to be at large. Here also was buried a stranger found on the railroad dead. A mystery which his death was natural, a suicide, or a homicide wraps his case in an awesome grandeur.
Judge Potter has allowed these to be buried as common and no doubt white and colored are here mixed. Those who had no place of burial and were too poor to afford one used formerly to avail themselves of this offer and inter here. This kindness on the part of the Judge betrays his natural goodness of heart, but it is only one among his numerous good deeds.”
Our comments: Nailer Tom attended Mount’s execution. The lot was formerly known as SK 508. |