Introduction to Burial Ground
This Burial Ground was established by the original Welsh settlers shortly after their arrival in 1682 for the infant daughter of Edward Ap Rees. Since then, about 2,100 graves have been dug. As Quakers believe that all are equal in the eyes of God, grave markers are plain, and Friends did not ring bells, use hearses, or bring coffins into the Meetinghouse. Early graves often lack headstones as they were discouraged by Quaker Meetings until the middle of the 19th century. Most of the dead were members of Merion Meeting, but many others were buried here as well. Twenty percent of the burials are of children, and at least 30 African Americans are listed in the burial records. Over the years, causes of death have included alcoholism, apoplexy, accidents, bilious fever, burns, childbirth, cholera, consumption, diabetes, drowning, dysentery, freezing, kidney stones, heart attack, hives, lockjaw, murder, palsy, pneumonia, polio, poison, smallpox, suicide, typhus, war wounds, white swelling, and yellow fever. Other causes include drowning, falling off horse, and being run over by wagon.On the east wall of the Meeting House, ivy was taken from William Penn's grave site in England.
Crypt
As you face the Meeting House, notice the steps on the right that lead down to the underground crypt. There, bodies were stored when the ground was frozen until it thawed enough to dig a grave. As graves were unmarked in the early years of the burial ground, the more recent deceased were often placed atop earlier burials. (See tour stop #3)The First 300: The Amazing and Rich History of Lower Merion states, "In 1849 an arched vault over a chamber below ground off the east wall was built to hold bodies for burial until graves could be dug." (p. 20) In keeping with Quaker testimony, plainness and simplicity were emphasized. Quakers were encouraged to avoid pride, pomp and show during a Quaker funeral. P.C. O’Donnell wrote in Winterthur Portfolio, vol. 49. No. 1, p. 48), “Except on rare occasion, they did not carry the coffin into the meeting house before interment. Friends found ways to remain faithful to their testimonies and distinct from the world, however, while at the same time upholding their families’ status through their choice of coffins” (of mahogany or walnut rather than pine).
T. Thomas Zell
T. Thomas Zell (1828-1905) was a member of Merion Meeting who participated in the Civil War as captain of Company A of the 121st Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. Zell mustered out as a lieutenant colonel.At the end of the war, he started a publishing business and published Zell's Encyclopedia.Grave diggers found a previous burial of bones in a sitting posture facing the West. The bones were straightened out and laid flat and then Zell’s body was put above them. Many of his family are laid close to him in the Merion Meeting Burial Ground, comprising "Zell Row".
Samuel Levick
Samuel J. Levick (1819-1885) worked for the abolition of slavery and was treasurer of the Junior Anti-Slavery Society when I was young. He was also active in several other anti-Slavery societies, participating in debates on abolition and supporting the free-produce movement. Secretly, he belonged to William Still's Vigilance Committee, which aided fugitive slaves coming into Philadelphia; served on both the Standing Committee and the Finance Committee.
Revolutionary War Veterans
There are 63 Revolutionary War Veterans buried here. Many of their stones are marked with a flag and Revolutionary War marker. How many can you spot?
John Roberts III
John Roberts the Third (1721-1778) was hanged in 1778 for selling a horse to British troops during the Revolutionary War. He was a member of Merion Meeting and wealthy miller whose house still stands on Old Gulph Road near Mill Creek Road.From the AP May 28, 2015 — In 1778, wealthy Pennsylvania businessman John Roberts III and fellow Quaker Abraham Carlisle were convicted of treason against the American cause and hanged from a gallows in Philadelphia. Three signers of the Declaration of Independence were among his allies who called for a pardon.Roberts owned a mill and hundreds of acres of farmland in Lower Merion. In September 1777, the British marched into the city. Roberts moved there weeks later and stayed into 1778, when the redcoats left that June.He and Abraham Carlisle were arrested in August 1778 and charged with treason against the Americans. His accusers testified that he fled the countryside because he was a British loyalist. Both men were executed on Nov. 4, 1778.As a pacificist Quaker, Roberts strived for neutrality during the war. But his mill and farm provided prime foraging of food and livestock for both the American and British armies and Roberts was likely caught between both forces. "It was a tough place to be scrambling around in order to protect yourself," said David Maxey, who wrote a 2011 book on Roberts. "A lot of people got victimized by both armies."Starting in June 1777, Roberts kept a ledger of the property that was "taken" from him by the Continental Army, often listing the officers and units that received the goods. None of his entries note money being exchanged. "Did he do it under duress? Was it like a raid? They're taking valuable stuff and he's very, very detailed about what they're taking," said Devon Eastland, of Skinner Auctions.
Cherry Trees
The oldest cherry trees lining the walkway through the burying ground were planted as a test before the same type (Yoshino) was donated to Washington D.C. by the country of Japan.
Joshua Owen
Infant Joshua Owen is listed as having died January 31, 1697, but you won’t see a headstone. Most early graves lack headstones because they were discouraged by Quaker Meetings until the middle of the 19th century. Since infant Joshua died fifteen years after young Catherine Reese, it may be assumed that he, too, was buried near the Meetinghouse, perhaps right by the stone wall there today. But, as there were no headstones, and as bodies were buried atop earlier burials, who knows where he might rest all these years.Joshua’s parents, Joshua Owen and Martha Stockton Shinn, were married the year before under the care of Burlington (NJ) Monthly Meeting. Meeting records indicate that Joshua and Martha lived in Merion for several years and their children (another Joshua, Joseph, Margaret, Rebecca, Sarah, Roland, Martha, and Mary) were probably born there before they crossed the Delaware River to live in West New Jersey. Between 1713 and 1722, Joshua and Martha and their family lived in Springfield, Burlington County, NJ, and Joshua is buried there. His will is dated 14 March 1727.Joshua Owen came to Pennsylvania in 1683 with other Welsh Friends and settled in what we know as The Welsh Tract, 40,000 acres granted in an agreement with William Penn. Joshua carried with him a removal certificate from the Friends Meeting at Tyddyn-y-Garreg, describing him as “Late of Llwyn-du”. Joshua’s removal certificate was from Quarterly Meeting of Dolgelly, Merionethshire; it was signed by his father, Owen Humphry. Joshua was the fourth child of Owen Humphrey and his wife Elizabeth; and here is where we see an instance of the Welsh naming system which at this time was to use the father’s given name as we might use a surname; that is, patronymic surnames are based on the father’s given name. Therefore, Joshua Owen’s name in Welsh tradition would be Joshua ap (son of) Humphrey, as his father’s given name was Humphry.
Two Robert Owens
I. Robert and Jane Owen came to America on the ship Vine, reaching Philadelphia in 1684. They came from Dolsereu, near Dolgelly, Merionethshire, in Wales, and were interred at the Merion Friends Burial Ground within a few days of each other in July 1685. They had nine sons, some of whom remained in Wales, and at least two who removed to New Castle County, Delaware. The family arrived with five indentured servants: a boy named Edward Edwards, and four servant maids: Lowry Edwards, Margaret Edwards, Ann Owen, and Hanna Watt. (See T.A. Glenn, Merion in the Welsh Tract, p 122)II. The second Robert Owen was married to Rebecca Owen, daughter of Owen Humphrey of Llwyndu, Merionethshire, and sister of Joshua Owen mentioned elsewhere here. Robert was born ca. 1657 in Fron Goch, near Bala, Merionethshire, Wales. Known as an eminent preacher, he was among the early Welsh Quakers who were persecuted for their religious beliefs. (See Besse's A Collection of the Sufferings of the People Called Quakers, Vol I, p. 755). Robert Owen's house was built in 1695 in the 445 acres he purchased in 1691. Called Penn Cottage, it is said that he hired the same stonemasons to build his house as who built the Merion Meetinghouse. Penn Cottage is located two miles east of the Meetinghouse on what were once wagon tracks, not Montgomery Avenue. This Robert Owen died in Merion Township, 10th month, 8th day, 1697, several months after his wife Rebecca died. Their infant daughter Rebecca, born January 14, 1697, died the same year as her parents and was buried September 21, 1697.
Catherine Reese
Two-year old Catherine lived from 1680-1682 and was the first person to be buried in the burial ground.
Jesse George
Jesse George-lived from 1785-1873, owning Ridgeland in West Philadelphia. A member Philadelphia Meeting Western district, and an Orthodox Quaker, it is notable that he is buried in Merion's Hicksite burying ground. He and his sister Rebecca donated the 80 acres known as George's Hill to the City of Philadelphia. The land was used to build a reservoir, located east of the present-day Mann Center. Jesse George appears the censuses of 1840 and 1850 and 1860.
Thomas Wynne
Thomas Wynne (1733-1782) was a member of Merion Meeting and fought in Revolutionary War for the rebel Americans. He served in the Pennsylvania "Flying Camp" and was taken prisoner by the British at the Battle of Fort Washington. Thomas spent time being held on a prison ship off of New York Harbor.His great-grandfather was Thomas Wynne (1627-1692), who served as William Penn's physician.Wynne's family tree includes John Cadwalader, Lambert Cadwalader, John Dickinson, Sally Wister.
John M. George
John M. George (1802-1887)-member of Merion Meeting who held a farm in Overbrook. He never married, and in 1881 he endowed most of his estate to establishing the boarding school just 74 days before his death.www.georgeschool.org
Joseph Price
Joseph Price (1753-1828)-member of Merion Meeting and carpenter, innkeeper and caretaker of the burying ground.He built numerous houses in Merion, many of which are standing today.His detailed diary from 1788-1828 provides a sense of life in colonial and Revolutionary Merion. You can read Price's diary and about his life at the Lower Merion Historical Society.
Horse Sheds
The existing sheds for horses and equipage were probably built in the 1820s, but stables were there in the 1790s as mentioned in the Price diary. (p. 20)As many worshippers must have arrived by carriage, it seems likely that horse sheds were built earlier.The Merion Friends website tells us more about the horse sheds:Prominent structures on the hill above Montgomery Avenue where Merion Friends Meetinghouse stands, the current horse sheds have probably been in place since the 1820s. Although there were stables at Merion Meeting in the 1790s at least, the current sheds represent the historical explosion of horses and carriages.The carriage quickly became a status symbol of the rich, so for Quakers these mobile conveniences represented a potential challenge to their notions of simplicity (or Plainness). In the 1750s, carriages were in use in Philadelphia and Quakers were among those taking advantage of this mode of conveyance, but some, fearful of elite consumption, refused even to ride in one. Although the average assessment of wealth among Quakers was higher than among non-Quakers, some did not own a carriage at all.Although the horse sheds nearest the General Wayne Inn may have been used for horses drawing stagecoaches, the others were built to provide cover to Merion Meeting worshippers' horses. It is hard to know exactly how Quakers parked in the carriage sheds. Based on the evidence of chew marks on the inside back wall and on partitions within the sheds, the owners probably unhitched the horses from the carriages and provided them with hay or oats.More information can be found from The First 300: the Amazing and Rich History of Lower Merion. Published by the Lower Merion Historical Society in the year 2000, there is an account of the horse sheds at the Merion Friends Meeting House:
Saw pit
This is the site of a saw pit that was used by Merion Friends meeting.A pit where a tree and or timber was positioned over it, deep enough for a person to stand in the pit. Two sawyers would work together with a two-handled saw to saw the timber into planks. One sawyer would stand above ground, above the timber and hold one handled end of the saw; the other sawyer would stand in the saw pit and hold the other end of the saw.
Tricentenniel Tree
An American sycamore, aka American planetree, Platanus occidentalis had been on this site for over 300 years.The beloved tree was taken down in the early 2000s and a cross section of the tree is preserved in the Activities Building.This tree had seen George Washington pass by and may have been planted by the Lenape people, who would plant sycamores to mark nearby water sources. Its great white bark is thus a harbinger of life and hope.A stone slab for mounting horses used to be here.
Philadelphia-Columbia Railroad Sleeper Stones
Sleeper stones supported the rails of the Philadelphia-Columbia Railroad which ran in front of the Meeting House on what is not Montgomery Avenue. The railroad was active from 1834-1857, and originally featured horse-drawn cars.The stones were cut by convicts at Sing Sing prison.
