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Able I. Smith Farm Burial Ground
Secaucus, New Jersey


The following is an excerpt from History of Secaucus NJ by Reed

The best known burying ground in Secaucus is located in a charming grove on one of the highest spots in town. West of County Avenue, just bordering on the grounds of the Mental Disease Hospital, the little plot overlooks the wide expanse of the central, Secaucus meadows and away over to the Hackensack River. The entire area is shaded by wild cherry trees, and in summer the high grass covers over most of the tombstones, long since knocked over or broken . Away from the busy noises of  the town and  highways, only the signing of the birds breaks the silence. An underground vault once held the bodies of the Abel I. Smith family, but the bodies were removed some time ago because of grave robbers. The crypt has 24 shelves, 12 built for adult coffins, and 12 for children. The gravestone inscriptions have been worn smooth by time, and long years of neglect or misuse have resulted in the breaking or complete disintegration of many of the markers. Oldest of the readable stones is one of 1803. The following inscriptions have been copied from the stones:
 

 

. . . of Daniel Smith of Weehawk,
who Departed This Life
October . ., 18 . .
At 1 o'clock in the Morning
In the 50th Year of his Age

Both few and ill the days of man
Away do quickly pass
Just as a hand breadth or a span
All flesh is like the grass

In memory of
Ezekiel Stillwell
Who Departed This Life
October 8th, 1803
Aged 22 years and 7 months

. . . John Constantine
A native of Darbyshire in England
A loving husband and a faithful friend
Lies sleeping here

John H. Smith
This stone which fond affection here hath placed,
Which feebly speaks the genius of my mind,
So in my breast they monument is raised,
And there in bright remembrance dwell my name

Sarah Post (1826)
Weep not for me, my children dear
I am not dead; just sleeping here.

Maybelle Dean
As I am now, so you will be;
Prepare for death and follow me.

The sweet remembrance of the just
Shall flourish, while they sleep in dust.

Other names on the gravestones are those of John Hen, 1811; William Myers, 1858; Egbert Post, 1825; Henry Post 1823; John H. Post, 1811.

  In 1948 Mrs. Marion Dudley, librarian, suggested to the town officials that the Abel I. Smith graveyard be set as a memorial park because of its age and its position, overlooking the town of Secaucus.

 



The cemetery was never set aside as a memorial park. It is believed that the UPS company warehouse is built atop this cemetery. There was never a mention of any of the bodies being removed. If you believe you have ancestors that were buried at this cemetery, further research should be done about its fate.


The following is copied from the July 1947 New York Genealogical and Biographical Society Records 78:131-3

INSCRIPTIONS FROM THE BURIAL GROUND
 OF THE ABEL SMITH FARM, SECAUCUS,
 HUDSON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY

Contributed by  Abel I. Smith,
 Laurel Way, Norfolk, Conn.

 

John Constantine, a native of Derbyshire in England, died Sept. 25, 1799, aged 40 years.
John Hen died Oct. 28, 1811, aged 73 years.
Margaret, daughter of Archibald and Martha McNair, died Aug. 13 1834, aged 6 months, 12 days
Jane, daughter of John and Eliza Burnett, died Apl. 7, 1804, in the 7th year of her age.
Ann, wife of Peter Voorhis, Died Feb. 7, 1806, aged 36 years, 9 mos. and 7 days.
A partly illegible inscription of a person who died in 1755 marked thus: 1755 A 85 MT. [ This is Abel Smith as he died in that year.]
Jacob Keyser died Sept. 1, 1814, aged 71 years, 1 mo. and 4 days.
Ezekiel Stillwell died Oct. 8, 1803, aged 22 years, 7 months. [In 1798 he married Polly Earle, widow of Job Smith]
Daniel R. Earle died Aug. 17, 1812, aged 46 years, 8 mos. and 21 days.
Charlotte Earle died Nov. 24, 1833, aged 52 years, 3 mos. and 1 day.
James Van Valen born Aug. 20, 1832; died Sept. 18, 1841.
Benjamin C. ---- died June 9, 1847, aged 55 years. [Footstone marked B.C.C]
William Myers died Sept. 22, 1838, in the 67th year of his age.
Mary, daughter of Jonathan Stout, born the 8th and died the 16th of April 1803, aged 8days.
A small white stone marked C. S. [Cornelia Smith, wife of John d. Smith.]
John Smith died May 7, 1801, aged 51 years, 7 mos. and 9 days.
Daniel Smith of Weehawk. died at 1 o'clock in the morning Oct. 28, 1801, in the 50th year of his age.
Margaret Blaw died Oct. 10, 1827, aged 72 years. [Next stone to Daniel Smith.]
Abel I. Smith died June 18, 1840, aged 64 years, 8 mos. and 18 days; erected by his son, John H . Smith . [He was probably a son of Phillip Smith.]
Peter, son of Daniel and Rachel Smith, died May 30, 1838, aged 9 years, --mos. -- [bottom broken off.]
Adrian Post died Mch. 18, 1839, aged 72 years, 11 mos. and 18 days.
Rachel, wife of Adrian Post, died Apl. 30, 1839, aged 68 years, 6 months.
Egbert A. Post died Mch. 3, 1823, aged 35 years, 3 mos. and 17 days.
Jane Post, wife of John Compton, died Oct. 1, 1828, aged 29 years, 2mos. and 15 days.
Henry Post died June 15, 1845, aged 54 years, 1 mos. and 13 days.
Leah, wife of Henry Post, died Aug. 7, 1849, aged 53 years, 5 mos. and 29 days.
Henry Post died Aug. 9, 1849, aged 26 years, 6 mos. and 18 days.
Cornelius, son of Henry and Leah Post, died Apl. 9, 1828, aged 1 year, 5 months.
Leah Ann, daughter of Adrian and Mary Ann Post, died Aug. 17, 1849, aged 8 years, 4 mos. and 11 days.
Mary Leah, daughter of John and Ella Post, died Jan. 6, 1847 aged 1 year, 2 mos. and 23 days.
Also about 30 old gray and brown stones without marks.

Caskets in Vault

Lawrence H. Smith born June 17, 1875, died in 1875, son of Able I. and Laura Smith.
John Otis Smith died July 31, 1855, aged 5 months.
Jane Smith died Apl. 16, 1870, aged 76 years.
Prudence C. Smith born Apl. 8, 1812; died in 1850.
 

 

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