East Norwalk Historical Cemetery

East Norwalk Historical Cemetery is a historical cemetery in East Norwalk, Connecticut. It is Norwalk's oldest cemetery, and many of the area's first settlers are buried there. The Norwalk Third Taxing District and the East Norwalk Historical Cemetery Association maintains the grounds. At the north entrance of the grounds, the Founder’s Stone honors the 31 settlers who founded the settlement of Norwalk in 1649.

The cemetery is triangular in shape, bounded on all sides by streets and enclosed by a fence. There are many graves seen which are unmarked by headstones. Many of the earliest remains were deposited before stones were available, and of which no mark or tradition is known.

In 1843, the Down Town Cemetery Association was founded to maintain and conduct the business of the cemetery. In 1933, the name was changed to the East Norwalk Cemetery Association. In 1941, the Norwalk Third Taxing District entered into an agreement to supplement the association's perpetual care fund, due to a dwindling amount of donations. In 1966, the district took the deed to the land, so as to secure better insurance. Today, the district provides for the perpetual care of the grounds, while cemetery business is conducted by volunteers of the association.

Founders Stone

The Founder's Stone

The founding settlers of Norwalk, as listed on the Founders Stone were:

George Abbitt, Robert Beacham, Stephen Beckwith, John Bowton, Matthew Campfield, Nathaniel Eli, Thomas Fitch, John Griggorie, Samuel Hales, Thomas Hales, Walter Haite, Nathaniel Haies, Rev. Thomas Hanford, Richard Homes, Ralph Keiler, Daniel Kellogge, Thomas Lupton, Matthew Marvin, Sr., Matthew Marvin, Jr., Isacke More, Jonathan Marsh, Widow Morgan, Richard Olmsted, Nathaniel Richards, John Ruskoe, Matthias Sention, Sr., Matthias Sention, Jr., Matthew Sention, Thomas Seamer, Richard Webb, and Walter Keiler.

Notable burials

The table tomb of Governor Thomas Fitch

• John Bowton (1636–1707), founding settler of Norwalk
• John Copp (1673–1751), teacher, doctor, member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from Norwalk, purchaser and surveyor of Ridgefield, Connecticut, town clerk of Norwalk and Ridgefield, town treasurer and surveyor of Bedford
• Samuel Daskam (1823–1912), warden of the Borough of Norwalk from 1874 to 1877
• Thomas Fitch, Jr. (1612–1704), founding settler of Norwalk
• Thomas Fitch, IV (1699–1774), Governor of Connecticut
• Colonel Thomas Fitch (1725–1795), widely believed to be the original "Yankee Doodle" dandy
• Reverend Thomas Hanford (1621–1693), first minister of the colony, a flat brown stone marks the grave, however the inscription is obliterated
• John Gregory (1612–1689), founding settler of Norwalk
• Daniel Kellogg (1630–1688), founding settler of Norwalk
• Richard Olmsted (1612-1687), founding settler of Norwalk
• Matthew Marvin, Sr. (1600–1678), founding settler of Norwalk (no extant stone)
• Joseph Platt (1672–1748), longest serving state representative from Norwalk
• Matthias Sention, Sr. (1601–1669), founding settler of Norwalk
• Matthias Sention, Jr. (1628–1728), founding settler of Norwalk
• Samuel Smith (1646–1735), early settler of Norwalk, Connecticut and deputy of the General Assembly of the Colony of Connecticut from Norwalk in 1691
• Richard Webb (1580–1665), founding settler of Norwalk

See also

• History of Norwalk, Connecticut
• Mill Hill Historic Park
• Pine Island Cemetery

References

Further reading

• David H. VanHoosear, A Complete Copy of the Inscriptions found on the Monuments, Headstones, &c in the Oldest Cemetery in Norwalk CT, The Standard Association, Printers; 1895
• Harold Secor-Martin, Records of the East Norwalk Historical Cemetery of CT, Self Published by Third Taxing District; 1971)