Speer Cemetery
Encyclopedia
Speer Cemetery is located on Vroom Street near Bergen Square
in Jersey City, New Jersey
.
Slightly over one acre, the burial ground had been used by the De Mott family, early settlers to Bergen, New Netherland
from the 1660s. Although it has been called the "oldest cemetery of European settlers in New Jersey," it is contemporary to that of the nearby Old Bergen Church
. The earliest surviving gravemarker in the cemetery is dated 1756.
The cemetery is named for Abraham Spier, an undertaker and acting sexton for the church, who bought the land from the De Mott estate in 1857 and made it a public cemetery, selling burial plots for $16 each.
It was used as a potter's field during the nineteenth century. The absence of records makes it impossible to verify who and how many were buried in the cemetery over the years. Headstones indicate the burial of the veterans of the American Revolutionary War
, War of 1812
, American Civil War
, Spanish-American War
. Its last interments occurred during World War I
.
Bergen Square
Bergen Square, at the intersection of Bergen Avenue and Academy Street in Jersey City, is in the southwestern part of the much larger Journal Square district...
in Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...
.
Slightly over one acre, the burial ground had been used by the De Mott family, early settlers to Bergen, New Netherland
Bergen, New Netherland
Bergen was a part of the 17th century province of New Netherland, in the area in northeastern New Jersey along the Hudson and Hackensack Rivers that would become contemporary Hudson and Bergen Counties...
from the 1660s. Although it has been called the "oldest cemetery of European settlers in New Jersey," it is contemporary to that of the nearby Old Bergen Church
Old Bergen Church
The Old Bergen Church is located in Jersey City, New Jersey and is the oldest continuous congregation in New Jersey dating back to 1660. The congregation embraces a combination of Reformed Church in America and Presbyterianism....
. The earliest surviving gravemarker in the cemetery is dated 1756.
The cemetery is named for Abraham Spier, an undertaker and acting sexton for the church, who bought the land from the De Mott estate in 1857 and made it a public cemetery, selling burial plots for $16 each.
It was used as a potter's field during the nineteenth century. The absence of records makes it impossible to verify who and how many were buried in the cemetery over the years. Headstones indicate the burial of the veterans of the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
. Its last interments occurred during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
See also
- Hudson County Cemeteries
- Van Wagenen HouseVan Wagenen HouseThe Van Wagenen House, also known as Apple Tree House is located near Bergen Square in Jersey City, New Jersey. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 16, 2006.-History:...