Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1901-01-31
SACRED SPOT
is NOW ENCLOSED.
Patriotic Ladies Preserve the
Ancient Burying Ground Be-
low FairtOn.

low FairtOn.
At a meeting of Cohanzick Chapter,
Daughters of the Revolution, of this
city, held on Tuesday evening of this
week, a report was read, which will
prove of great interest to everyone
who has at heart the past history of
Cumberland County.
In 1896, a committee Of ladies be-
longing to this Chapter of the d. of
r., was appointed to see what could
be done to keep in order the cemetery
belonging to the old Church of Christ,
in Fairfield Township. The grounds
were not enclosed, and the small boy
and cattle wandered at will among
the graves of the sires and danes of
olden times and there was much dam
age being wrought. 1t is one of the
desires and purposes of our patriotic
societies to preserve these historic
old spots. and few in this country
are more deserving of care, than the
romantic, picturesque resting place of
the dead, beside the waters of the
CohanSey.
The prospect of enclosing the
ground was first suggested in Decem-
Der 1896. There was much to be
done, but after many preliminaries
the ladies secured the permission of
the Presbyterian Church in Fairton
to place fence around the cemetery,
and the church, for their share,
agreed to keep the grounds in order.
Then commenced the work of raising
money. 1t was desired to reach as far
as possible, some descendant of every
person there buried; in this they did
not succeed, but hundreds of letters
were written, as many papers were
sent, personal calls were made, and
every effort put forth to raise sufffi-
cient funds for the enterprise.
At last the work has been accom-
plished. At the expense of several
hundred dollars, good, strong, sub
stantial fence has been placed around
three and eighteen ne-hundredths
acres; two large gates afford entrance.
1t is not known just how our fore
fathers reached the church once
standing on this site, but certain it
is, there is now no mode of entr ance
into the ground except over private
property. Until the fence was placed
it was customary to go through pri-
vate field. A few years ago an ar
rangement was made with the Meth
odists who own the cemetery adjoin-
ing the old Church of Christ Gene
terry, by which persons visiting the
latter, might go through the Metho-
dist grounds, and for this purpose,
two double gates were placed in posi-
tion. Consequently when the d. of
Il. erected the fence, it was neces-
sary for them to carry out the same
arrangement. Therefore, any one
visiting the old cemetery has a per-
feet right, and is entirely welcome
to pass through the Methodist Gene
terry, known as Swings burial ground.
The many friends who have con-
tributed to this enclosure, will doubt
less be rejoiced to know Of it's COM
pletion, and the ladies are duly grate-
full to all who have in any way aided
them in the work-to those who con
>nted money, and to Messrs. Jos.
Ter, William D. Garrison, Fur
Sheppard and Richard Lam
valuable assistance and cour-
IDes rendered.
The names of all who assisted will
be carefully preserved in the archives
OF the State Society d. of r. and of
the Cohanzick Chapter D. of r.. of
this city, where they will be free of
access to any friend OF this cause.