Old Stratfield Cemetery

(Pequonnock Cemetery)

Bridgeport, Connecticut

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Old Stratfield Cemetery (once also known as Pequonnock Cemetery) is the oldest burying ground in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Most of the burials date from the mid-1700s to the early 1800s. The earliest stone I found legible (although it was erected much later), listed the date of death as 1698. The cemetery is tucked into a corner of a park on Brooklawn Avenue at the corner of North Avenue. The entrance contains plaques listing 42 veterans of the Revolutionary War who are buried within the cemetery. The gate is locked (and looks like it has been for decades) but a path leads around the gate. You can tell people frequently use the path, although not to pay their respects, because it is strewn with all kinds of trash.

Curious as to why Bridgeport - Connecticut's most populous city that can trace its earliest European settlement to 1644 - only has one cemetery with stones dating from the 1700s? Visit the page, The Mystery of Bridgeport's Missing Cemeteries.

Estimated number of interments, as of January 2024: at least 722.

Photos taken 27 July 2016.

The oldest burial I came across:

"MATTHEW SHERMAN.

Born Oct 21st A.D. 1645

Died - A.D. 1698

HANNAH BULKLEY,

HIS WIFE

Died about A.D. 1712."

Erected by Rowland B. Lacey 1885.

"Here lyes Buried ye Body of

Mr. MATHEW MACKHARD

Who Died Febr'y 9 Anno Dom.ni 1736

in ye 28 year of His Age."

An unusual cause of death:

"Here lyes Buried the body of Mr. DAVID SHERMAN,

Who was killed by lightning in the house of God

at publick worship on the 28th of July 1771 in ye

35th Year of his Age."

Following is an article from the Friday, August 16th, 1771 edition of The Connecticut Gazette, detailing how Mr. Sherman and Mr. John Burr, Esq. were killed by lightning while attending church services. I believe they were worshipping at the First Congregational Church of Bridgeport (established 1695), which at that time was located at the northwest corner of North and Park Avenues.

"Stratfield, July 29 Yesterday, in time of divine service about a quarter of an hour before twelve, a most terrible flash of lightening struck the new steeple, which was not quite finished, which began on the large ball, split it to pieces, it then went in directions down sundry of the rafters and shivered them, and some of the posts, together with the shingles, braces and lath down to the ground - as it approached the lower windows, it turned into the house, and killed two men viz. John Burr, Esq. and Mr. David Sherman, both of them men of worth and value, one in a public, the other in a private capacity; they have each left a sorrowful widow and small children. Their remains were this day decently interred, and a sermon preached by the Rev. Mr. Hubbard, of Fairfield, from ??? to a very large assembly who appeared suitably affected upon this melancholy occasion - These persons were killed as they were standing in their pews close by the post of the house, near the windows each side of the steeple - sundry other persons were much hurt, but are like to recover. The Rev. Mr. Ross, who was preaching, was partly knock'd down, and much the greater part of the congregation who were in the lower part of the house felt a very great shock - the report was like that of a cannon, only sharper, - And what seems remarkable, there was only that single clap of loud thunder in this or the adjacent places."

"In memory of Mrs. CATHERINE HUBBILL,

Wife of MR. AMOS HUBBILL,

who departed this life,

January 4th 1776;

Eight Days after the Birth of her Third child

in the 23rd Year of her age.

In Youthfull Bloom (?) Down,

Here to await a Trumpits Sound,

When God Commands then Will I Rise,

And meet my Saviaur in the Skies."

"JOSIAH LACEY, Esq.

departed this life

Oct. 28, 1812

in the 67th year of his AGE.

He was a Captain in the Revolutionary Army

and a leading citizen."

Erected by Rowland B. Lacey 1879.