Present concerns

The land deed originally called for a free cemetery opened to all. This was a literal meaning. Anyone could bury their loved ones here by simply claiming a spot. No deeds were issued. No record exists of anyone paying for a grave in the cemetery.

Over the years, this produced a cemetery with no plot design or layout. There are no roads or walkways. There is no scheme of internment. As one views the grounds, this 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 kept growing. And the stones would break and fall.

The Trustees of the church addressed the problem in 1974 and opened a cemetery fund with the goal of producing perpetual paid maintenance. Needed contributions to the cemetery fund can be made through the church.

After many years of neglect, Zion’s Free Cemetery was restored to its current appearance by George Carmen and Harry Hammell. These men spent countless hours returning the cemetery to a place of honor for all those men, women and children who were laid to rest in this free cemetery.

CEMETERY TOUR

Zion United Methodist Church

652 Zion Road

Bargaintown

Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234

(609) 927-5544

zumcbargaintown.org

Cemetery Tour

Begin at the gate by the big oak tree. The number on the grave identifies a personality we can share some anecdote 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 invite you to appreciate the past.

  1. Zephaniah Steelman, 1760-1836

Revolutionary Soldier

  1. John Madara

Homemade marker

  1. Andrew & Sarah Blackman

Human tragedy – deaths

  • 1 year old Nicholas, 1849
  • 2 month old Hosea, 1850
  • Andrew – lost at sea, 1857
  • 19 year old Helen, 1874
  1. Robert & Alice Best

Robert Best Road

  1. Reverend Josiah Flint Canfield

Served Zion, 1851-1852. Exact location of grave unknown. Memorial stone erected in 1989.

  1. Amos and Ann Lewis

Amos served as sail maker for the US warships Constitution and Constellation.

  1. John Price

Local Methodist Episcopal Preacher

  1. Daniel Tilton

Original Trustee and first Sexton, 1814

  1. Japhet Ireland

Original Trustee and served on sanctuary building committee.

  1. Acid Rain has deteriorated this stone. Compare with the others, they will all deteriorate.
  1. Andrew Frambes, 1759-1790

Revolutionary Soldier; also, oldest dated stone in the cemetery. Andrew’s father, John Peter, oldest stone, 1782.

  1. Thomas Garwood

Original Trustee and served on sanctuary building committee. Donated land to Zion Church.

  1. Joshua & Lydia Garwood

Donor of land to Zion.

  1. Nicholas Frambes, 1758-1835

Revolutionary Soldier

  1. David Blackman, 1753-1821

Revolutionary Soldier

Mary Blackman, wife

Son of Andrew Blackman who donated the original acre of land for the building of the Blackman Meeting House. David & Mary entertained Circuit Riders and Bishop Asbury in their English Creek home. Two of their sons, Nehemiah and Learner became Circuit Riders. One daughter, Sarah, married John Collins, a Circuit Rider.

  1. John Jeffers, 1765-1840

Revolutionary Soldier

  1. Joseph Scull (father), 1731-1810

Revolutionary Soldier

  1. Able Scull (son), 1760-1809

Revolutionary Soldier

  1. John H. Tilton, 1752-1846

Revolutionary Soldier

  1. John R. Tilton, 1750-1821

Revolutionary Soldier

  1. Thomson Price, 1766-1853

Revolutionary Soldier

  1. Daniel Edwards

Blacksmith and original Trustee. Completed the iron work for the sanctuary.

  1. John Baker, 1734-1815

Revolutionary Soldier

  1. Daniel Baker

Judge and Commissioner who served in and named Atlantic County

  1. Levi Price,

Revolutionary Soldier and served in War of 1812. Served on the US Constitution during the battle in which the British ship Guerriere was sunk. Unmarked grave, near the grave of his son, also named Levi Price.

  1. Rebecca Cressy

Stained glass window memorial

  1. Ann Eliza Doughty

Stained glass window memorial, side of pulpit.

  1. Florence L Doughty

The bell was rung for the first time at her funeral, January 29, 1911, 2:30 pm. Unmarked grave.

  1. Sunken grave – notice all the sunken, unmarked graves.
  1. Lewis B Lake

Most recent grave and a good spot to observe the random placement and variety of headstones.

  1. Japhet & Sarah Garwood

Stained glass window memorial

in the balcony.

  1. Thompson & Mary Lake

Trustee and member of Zion. Stained glass memorial by piano.

  1. Price family plot – 5 children
  • Enoch, 1872
  • Lizzie, 1875
  • Izze, 1876
  • Elvie, 1878
  • Livezley, 1881