Old Scots Burying Ground

Old Scots Burying Ground
Old Scots Burying Ground is located in Monmouth County, New Jersey
Old Scots Burying Ground
Old Scots Burying Ground is located in New Jersey
Old Scots Burying Ground
Old Scots Burying Ground is located in the United States
Old Scots Burying Ground
LocationGordon's Corner Road, Marlboro Township, New Jersey
Coordinates40°20′23″N 74°15′35″W / 40.33972°N 74.25972°W / 40.33972; -74.25972 (Old Scots Burying Ground)
Area1 acre (0.40 ha)
Built1692 (1692)
ArchitectJ & R Lamb Studio
NRHP reference No.01000841[1]
NJRHP No.3777[2]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPAugust 15, 2001
Designated NJRHPJune 19, 2001

The Old Scots Burying Ground is a historic cemetery located on Gordon's Corner Road in the Wickatunk section of Marlboro Township, in Monmouth County, New Jersey. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 15, 2001, for its significance in history and religion.[3] The Old Scots Burying Ground is about an acre in size,[4] about 195 feet above sea level[5] and dates back to 1685.[6][7] The total number of burials at the cemetery is not precisely known, suggested by Symms, "There are a large number of graves in Old Scots yard without any inscribed stones".[8] Some reports place the number as at least 100 known graves[9] with most headstones of brown sandstone. However, more recent research using ground penetrating radar reported by the Old Tennent Church in 2001 has put the number of confirmed sites at about 122 graves with a possible 140 more unmarked; placing the number at about 262 total graves in the cemetery.[10] In 1945, in an attempt to clean out the site of vegetation and over-growth, a bulldozer was used on the property and as a result some headstones were dislodged and broken stones removed.[3] The defining structure in the cemetery is a tall monument to Rev. John Boyd, created by the J&R Lamb Company.[11] Built to commemorate the first recorded Presbyterian ordination of Rev. John Boyd.[12] The monument is currently owned by the Synod of the Northeast who holds the property deed but it is maintained by the Old Tennent Church. The last identified burial was in 1977.

  1. ^ "National Register Information System – (#01000841)". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
  2. ^ "New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places - Monmouth County" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection - Historic Preservation Office. March 23, 2021. p. 11.
  3. ^ a b Scharfenberger, Gerry P. (March 2001). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Old Scots Burying Ground". National Park Service. With accompanying 26 photos
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference auto8 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Early Church and Graveyards in Monmouth", The Red Bank Register, December 23, 1937, Page 5
  6. ^ "Scottish Clans to Gather to Play Highland Games", Asbury Park Press, September 3, 1936, Page 21
  7. ^ "Halloween Activity Ancient Pagan Rites", Asbury Park Press, October 30, 1983, Page 20
  8. ^ Symmes, Frank Rosebrook, History of Old Tennent Church, 1905, page 260
  9. ^ "Work is Completed on Old Scots Cemetery", Asbury Park Press, March 12, 1951, Page 1
  10. ^ "churchhistory".
  11. ^ "Gods Acre", The Assembly Herald, Volume 3, Issue 6, Page 157
  12. ^ Unveil Monument to Presbyterians, Asbury Park Press, 15 Jun 1909, Page 1