Milford chronicle., 1926-11-12
CENTURY OLD GRAVES
OPENED and REMOVED
The Potter Family Moved From
Yard OF Historical Site In Mil
ford To Odd Fellows Cemetery.

One hundred years ago 1t was Gus
tomary for families to inter their
dead in the shadow of the home !;
generally in the yard about the
front or rear of the dwelling. This
was especially usual when the
church cemeteries were far distant
and in most of the old estates on
the peninsula this was generally
practiced.
With the coming of incorporated
cemeteries and improved roads and
automobiles. there has been a slow
but steady abandonment of the pri-
vate grave-yards, and removal of
graves and tomb markers from
about the homes, to the modern
cemetery.
The property at the west side of
North Milford, now owned by Geo.
H. Draper. Sr., and which was
known as the "ParsOn ThOrne"
Mansion tract, during the 18th Cen
tury. but during the last century as
the BENJAMIN Potter Home and
in more recent years as the Henry
B. Fiddeman Farm, was the site of
burial places by some of the we'll
known families of Delaware.
In a stone walled enclosure near
the old residence on this farm, the
Claytons inferred several of their
family. but the State of Delaware
many years ago had the remains of
several of these removed to Dover,
where imposing monuments were
erected over them.
Nearer the back yard of the resi-
dence in the early part of 1914 the
family of Benjamin Potter, the crea-
tor of the Potter Estate in Kent
county. which was intended to be
used to help the INDECENT poor out
side the almshOuse of Kent county,
started to inter their dead. The
stones marking the graves were not
protected from damage for many
years, other than that afforded by a
wooden fence, and the changing
times had relegated their burial
place to obscurity from public view
or interest
The Chancellor of Delaware is
charged with the management of
this particular estate, and the con-
dition of affairs having been brought
to his attention, he directed the Su-
perintendent, James Harry Latchum,
the State Senator elect from Mil
ford in Kent county, to purchase
burial lot in Odd Fellows Gene
terry, in Milford, and remove the
graves, five in all, to that place.
This Senator Latchum has done;
by carefully taking down the slabs
and grave markers and what re-
mains that could be found, and re-
placing them as near like their for
mer conditions. in the new site
The graves removed by direction OF
the Chancellor are as follows:
Colonel Benjamin Potter, who
died October 21st. 1S45, aged about
q years
Mrs. Elizabeth Potter, his wife
died January 18th, 1858, aged 7t
years.
Mrs. Maria Hall Williams, daugh-
ter Of Colonel and Elizabeth Potter
died May 18th, 1914.
Edmond S. Potter, son of COlOne
and Elizabeth Potter, died February
Bird. 1888.
DR.. Benjamin Potter, nephew o
Colonel and Elizabeth Potter, diet
May 3rd, 1858, aged 25 years.
In replacing the graves attemp
was made to have them present thu
same appearance in everyway and i
was well accomplished. The Origina
slabs, bricks so far as possible
were used and the ideas as express
ed by the Chancellor to keep the an
cient appearance was the result.
The oldest property in Milford
and one that is a landmark in tn
history of this part of Delaware, ha
undergone the rehabilitation sine
it came into the hands of Mr.. ORA
per, and now that the grave-yar'
at the back door has been changet
to a more suitable place with cita
tions to show the facts; both will b
far more valuable to the public a
we'll as individuals.