The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1889-11-06
ANOTHER oBLIrRRATEp CEMETERY.

Iffn9os, monthly published by G. w.
Larson, NJ. d., at Rlngocs:
ANOTHER oBLITERATED CEMETERY.
In the village of Ringoes, in the N. W.
corner of the tract belonging 10 Lambert
Service and adjoining lands of Mrs. Mar
tina Holcombe and William Brown is a
spot of ground in which, tradition tells
US, they buried Philip Ringo and bis de-
scendants. In early times-up till some
40 or 30 years ago, James Agin and David
Williamson informs us, there was a good
substantial wall around this yard, and
upon Il several stones that marked the site
of graves. While tho land adjoining This
spot waa ia nossesaien- OF JSeae. q. I.uusiis,
the stones OF the wall were hauled away,
the gravestones knocked down and the
surface allowed to overgrow with trees, or
else to be subjected to the processes of
agriculture. About twenty-six years ago,
/, with DIR. Cicero Hunt, Peter Young
and others, visited this ancient burial
place. There was then not a grave mark
ed. Some large cherry trees stood near
the northwest corner of the plot less
ones grew over that part Of theplo where
imagine, the most OF the graves were
There was little to mark the site of the
foundation of the wall that once inclosed
1t; but the little that was visible led me
TO believe that the plot was, at the least
20 feet square. In support OF this notion,
James Agin who, with me, visited the
site this 2lst day of October 1880, showed
me, by tracing lines upon the ground of
the old site, how large plot the old
foundation incloscd.
There are now upon the spot few CO
or y fiat sand stones, the remnant OF the
wall, ! think, evidently brought from
Sandy Ridge. One of these stands upon
edge as stone would that had been
planted to mark grave but its situation
is certainly very modern, as, only few
years ago, could find not stone stand
ing on edge, or in any other position that
indicated that 1t had been placed by de-
sign, or intended to mark a sepucher.
This Cemetery contains the remains of
others than the Ringoes. They say there
were several stones, rudely marked with
the initials OF those who filled the graves.
But of such, no record can be found and
tradition points only TO the Runkles, the
Robsons, the Dagwurths, the Peters aud
the Moores. But, there must have been
other families buried here we are inform
ed by David Williamson, who knew the
place go years ago, that the site inclosed
by the wall was completely filled with
graves.
The early settlers Of Ringoes made, us
they thought, provision for the preserva-
ton Of this plot as Cemetery. In the
deed made'by sheriff Joshua Corshon, in
the sale Of lands belonging to tho est.,e Of
John Ringo, TO Joseph Robson, occurs
this provision. ''In the 20 acre tract, ex-
cepting thereof 20 feet square, in the
northwest corner for burial place. +"
Then, substantially fenced with wall
made of good fiat stones, laid in lime and
sand, they might well think the ashes of
their sires would rest in peace throughout
the ages. But unprincipled cupidity aud
that Unsuitable spirit of vandalism too
often found in the breast Of the average
American seem 10 be powerful enough
and nnprincipled enough to tear down
even the walls OF Cemeteries graves
of their monuments and appropriate that
which has been consccrated to the dead,
to their own purposes. Such actions can
not be Too strongly Deprecated