Present Concerns

appearance by George Carmen and Harry Hammell. These men spent countless hours Present concerns returning the cemetery to a place of honor The land deed originally called for a free for all those men, women and children who Zion United Methodist cemetery opened to all. This was a literal were laid to rest in this free cemetery. Church meaning. Anyone could bury their loved ones 652 Zion Road here by simply claiming a spot. No deeds were issued. No record exists of anyone Bargaintown paying for a grave in the cemetery. Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234 Over the years, this produced a cemetery with no plot design or layout. There are no roads or walkways. There is no scheme of (609) 927-5544 internment. As one views the grounds, this zumcbargaintown.org random selection becomes obvious.

No perpetual care fund exists. The care of the cemetery falls to the local congregation of Zion United Methodist Church. Through the years, upkeep has been a burden as well as an embarrassment. This is due to depending on volunteer help. In the past, sextons, youth groups, workdays, and concerned individuals would do what they could for a time. But the grass, briars, saplings, vines and poison ivy CEMETERY TOUR kept growing. And the stones would break and fall.

The Trustees of the church addressed the Cemetery Tour problem in 1974 and opened a cemetery fund with the goal of producing perpetual paid Begin at the gate by the big oak tree. The maintenance. Needed contributions to the number on the grave identifies a cemetery fund can be made through the personality we can share some anecdote church. about. No attempt is being made to say we are respecters of persons or that one is greater than or less than the others. We After many years of neglect, Zion’s Free invite you to appreciate the past. Cemetery was restored to its current 1. Zephaniah Steelman, 1760-1836 Revolutionary Soldier Revolutionary Soldier; also, oldest The bell was rung for the first time at dated stone in the cemetery. 19. John H. Tilton, 1752-1846 her funeral, January 29, 1911, 2:30 2. John Madara Andrew’s father, John Peter, oldest Revolutionary Soldier pm. Unmarked grave. Homemade marker stone, 1782. 20. John R. Tilton, 1750-1821 29. Sunken grave – notice all the sunken, 3. Andrew & Sarah Blackman 12. Thomas Garwood Revolutionary Soldier unmarked graves. Human tragedy – deaths Original Trustee and served on  1 year old Nicholas, 1849 sanctuary building committee. 21. Thomson Price, 1766-1853 30. Lewis B Lake  2 month old Hosea, 1850 Donated land to Zion Church. Revolutionary Soldier Most recent grave and a good spot to  Andrew – lost at sea, 1857 observe the random placement and  19 year old Helen, 1874 13. Joshua & Lydia Garwood 22. Daniel Edwards variety of headstones. Donor of land to Zion. Blacksmith and original Trustee. 4. Robert & Alice Best Completed the iron work for the 31. Japhet & Sarah Garwood Robert Best Road 14. Nicholas Frambes, 1758-1835 sanctuary. Stained glass window memorial Revolutionary Soldier in the balcony. 5. Reverend Josiah Flint Canfield 23. John Baker, 1734-1815 Served Zion, 1851-1852. Exact 15. David Blackman, 1753-1821 Revolutionary Soldier 32. Thompson & Mary Lake location of grave unknown. Memorial Revolutionary Soldier Trustee and member of Zion. Stained stone erected in 1989. Mary Blackman, wife 24. Daniel Baker glass memorial by piano. Son of Andrew Blackman who Judge and Commissioner who served 6. Amos and Ann Lewis donated the original acre of land for in and named Atlantic County 33. Price family plot – 5 children Amos served as sail maker for the US the building of the Blackman Meeting  Enoch, 1872 warships Constitution and House. David & Mary entertained 25. Levi Price,  Lizzie, 1875 Constellation. Circuit Riders and Bishop Asbury in Revolutionary Soldier and served in  Izze, 1876 their English Creek home. Two of War of 1812. Served on the US  Elvie, 1878 7. John Price their sons, Nehemiah and Learner Constitution during the battle in which  Livezley, 1881 Local Methodist Episcopal Preacher became Circuit Riders. One daughter, the British ship Guerriere was sunk. 8. Daniel Tilton Sarah, married John Collins, a Circuit Unmarked grave, near the grave of his Original Trustee and first Sexton, 1814 Rider. son, also named Levi Price.

9. Japhet Ireland 16. John Jeffers, 1765-1840 26. Rebecca Cressy Original Trustee and served on Revolutionary Soldier Stained glass window memorial sanctuary building committee. 17. Joseph Scull (father), 1731-1810 27. Ann Eliza Doughty 10. Acid Rain has deteriorated this stone. Revolutionary Soldier Stained glass window memorial, side Compare with the others, they will all of pulpit. deteriorate. 18. Able Scull (son), 1760-1809 Revolutionary Soldier 28. Florence L Doughty 11. Andrew Frambes, 1759-1790