1648 • One of the Oldest Tombstones in Connecticut • Ancient Burying Ground • Wethersfield, CT

Filmed February 3, 2020. #ancient #burial #Wethersfield #Connecticut #colonial #veteran #revolutionarywar #Lexingtonalarm #1648

[@alexwallace6120]

I grew uo in Old Wetherfield in the 1960's/1970's.and we often rode our bikes or walked through the cemetary.We did read some of the tombstones ..especially up on the hill One time at night a few friend and my younger brother went there to have a Seance. When the lighted candle we ran so scared for our young lives.

[@musicman8186]

Leonard chester is the grandson of Thomas Hooker. One of the founders of Hartford CT. My great grandfather x 10 Matthew Marvin was one of the 25 Adventures that walked from the Massachusetts colony and settled in Hartford CT.

[@CemeteryRidgeFilms]

This is a really cool place. I've seen very few of those table-style graves in person, but they're so interesting (I'm surprised as many are standing properly as there are) And that oldest grave is amazing!

[@ladybearbaiter]

Some of the oldest stones were "wolf slabs", large flat stones that laid upon the ground so the wolves would not dig up the deceased. The oldest stone I can remember seeing in CT is that of an ancestor buried in the Stratfield Burying Ground, dated 1699 and marked with his initials R H, but it looks more of a rock than a gravestone.

[@brendaesdohr7336]

I am looking for Thomas Couch d March 24 1687 Wethersfield ...your video was awesome!!!

[@IntrepidsRus]

So interesting to see other cemeteries. Cheers Stan

[@GhostTheory]

That's incredible, amazing history, thanks a lot for sharing.

[@Stan_CT]

Thanks for watching. I've found where even older original tombstone is, hope to check it out soon.

[@GhostTheory]

@@Stan_CT please give us a shout when you do, I'll watch it straight away.

[@Stan_CT]

@@GhostTheory Will do.

[@rpmimprovementoutdoorservi9968]

That is truly amazing. 39 yrs old! I was just starting to hit my groove at 39

[@Stan_CT]

Yep, they died young back in those days. Very few lived past 55 or so.

[@mj28inpa]

Really cool! Wow!

[@MsJeua]

Nice place. Thank you for showing us in there. :)

[@Stan_CT]

Thank you for watching.

[@richdiscoveries]

Wow, that's pretty incredible. I do not know of any older than that myself.
I just filmed a small Cemetery in the back side of Hamden the other day, that was from the 1800s.
Wethersfield has some nice areas, especially Old Wethersfield. Such a beautiful old homes out that way

[@Stan_CT]

Hey Rich. I was driving to Hartford on business early this morning and I-91 was getting backed up so I got off the exit in old Wethersfield and stopped by the cemetery, before taking Wethersfield Ave into Hartford.
Looks like the groundhogs have taken up residence in the hilltop where the oldest burials are. There were older Europian burials in Connecticut before this in the 1630s, but legible markers that old are rare to non-existent. This is the oldest readable one I've found to date. I'm looking into even older Indian burial places and I hope to document some of those this year.

[@IrishAnnie]

That table stone has been cleaned. There is no way it would look that good on top without it having been cleaned in the last 50 years. The letters are too clean. What an amazing place.

[@Stan_CT]

Yes, I'm sure it was cleaned recently. Thanks for watching.

[@Henderson182]

I have an ancestor Timothy Stanly buried at the ancient burial ground in Hartford, Connecticut which was dated April 1648

[@AjaOlander]

I used to live across the street from that cemetery as a kid, and it was one of my favorite places. I want to say there is a grave marker from the 1620’s there, closer to the church. There are some terribly worn down smaller markers at the bottom of the hill, and it may not be legible anymore.

[@Stan_CT]

Thanks for watching. I'll have to take a closer look there the next time I'm in the area.

[@AjaOlander]

Stan Explores if you ever head back you should make a longer video! There aren’t many out there and it’s such a cool cemetery. I recommend the grave of Lydia Beadle and her children, Wethersfield’s first murder victims, killed by her husband William. They’re on the hill and it’s one of the big stone tablets that lay flat. The inscription is wild and the story is a weird and dark bit of lore we all grew up hearing about!

[@Stan_CT]

@@AjaOlander Thanks, I'll definitely follow up soon and make a video of Lydia Beadle and her children.

[@roybrooks268]

That tombstone is not only one of the oldest in Connecticut but in the Western Hemisphere. But I am pretty sure that the oldest original tombstone with a readable death date is Ephraim Huitt's box tomb at Palisado Cemetery in Windsor, CT. He died in 1644.

[@Stan_CT]

I believe you are correct Roy. I will try to get up to the Windsor cemetery this summer.

[@ladybearbaiter]

Impressive

[@louskunt2.020]

This is really cool! Wow!

[@Stan_CT]

Hey Lou, glad you watched. Hope those groundhogs aren't feasting on the old corpses. 😬

[@louskunt2.020]

Stan Explores haha don't think there's much left .....

[@havardbauer9303]

Ephraim Hewitt, 1644, Windsor burying ground, one of 1st 2 pastors who shared the work.. Check Windsor Historical Society.

[@Stan_CT]

Thanks, I'll have to check that one out

[@flash_channel2161]

1648 the year isaac newton was born fascinating.

[@flash_channel2161]

Im wrong its 1643.

[@Stan_CT]

@@flash_channel2161 Yes, this is one of the oldest original burial stones in Connecticut. Newton would have been 5 years old when this gentleman died. Amazing the history you can find in cemeteries. Thanks for watching.

[@IrishAnnie]

What in the heck are those holes? Animals?

[@Stan_CT]

Yes, probably gophers.

[@staceyl3365]

Any Lovelands buried there.

[@Stan_CT]

Yes, there are at least 17 'Loveland' burials there. Check findagrave . com for full list of names.

[@Aqu181]

👻😂👍