31-623: 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. The Old Scots Burying Ground is about an acre in size, about 195 feet above sea level and dates back to 1685. The total number of burials at
62-545: A crude structure of logs in 1692. By 1705 a refined church was reconstructed and by 1730 the congregation had grown and the church was removed to Freehold Township . Adjacent to the church was the Old Scots Burying Ground . The cemetery has at least 100 known graves. In 1895, seven hundred pilgrimages of the Presbyterian Synod came to the burial ground grave location of the first Pastor of
93-527: A hand-tooled bottle finish, and a quartzite fire-cracked-rock (FCR) fragment. Old Scots Burying Ground is considered a State archaeological site and on January 22, 2001; was issued number 28-Mo-294 by the New Jersey State Museum . It has been determined that in addition to the use of the property as a church and cemetery, it is possible that American Indian groups my have utilized this site as well. (4) South 12 degrees 57 minutes West, along
124-481: A late-nineteenth-century monument situated in the approximate center of the site. The base of the monument states "To the untiring effort of Rev. Allen Henry Brown, which led to the erection of this monument this tablet is set as a memorial by the Synod of New Jersey". On another side of the monument written at the base is "Elder Walter Ker" and under his name is "Acts VIII 4" (Meaning: "Those who had been scattered preached
155-469: A possible 140 more unmarked; placing the number at about 262 total graves in the cemetery. 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. The defining structure in the cemetery is a tall monument to Rev. John Boyd , created by the J&;R Lamb Company . Built to commemorate
186-445: Is adjacent west of the monument mound. As part of the 2001 survey, a total of 11 shovel tests were performed east of the monument mound. They found Twenty-two artifacts including window glass, nails and a clay pipe stem fragment. Testing in an area west of the monument mound, uncovered the remains of an intact dry-laid foundation wall approximately two-feet wide. Artifacts recovered include several fragments of shell-tempered mortar,
217-750: The General Presbytery of Philadelphia wrote a letter to the Presbytery of Dublin Ireland . In the letter they identified the congregation and location of the Old Scots Church. They stated "We have in Jersey only two congregations... one of the two was near freehold, in the province of East Jersey " In the center of the cemetery is a tall monument of Scottish and Vermont granite and Irish Graystone, surrounded by Scottish thistle carved in
248-531: The Henry Hudson Trail uses this right of way and passes through Wickatunk. The major state road passing through the center of Wickatunk is Route 79 . County Routes 3 and 520 also serve as major roads around Wickatunk. On the list of historic places, the town has a burial ground dating back to 1685. At that time the Presbyterians built the oldest Presbyterian church, starting with
279-511: The 19th century and one ornate coffin handle with the embossment, "Our Darling," was recovered near the Reid family gravemarker. This marker represents three burials: James Reid (1828-1904), Hannah Reid (1829-1899) and Emma Reid (1852-1869). It is possible that this handle became dislodged from one of the Reid coffins, perhaps the one belonging to Emma Reid, who predeceased both of her parents. The second archaeological investigations to be conducted at
310-620: The State of New Jersey. Some of the land was in Wickatunk for the construction of Marlboro Psychiatric Hospital . The hospital's original working name was "Hillsdale asylum at Wickatunk". It was later known as "The Hilldale Development" before becoming known as "Marlboro Psychiatric Hospital". Metal detector Too Many Requests If you report this error to the Wikimedia System Administrators, please include
341-662: The area was also widely used for an annual fox hunt of the "Monmouth County Hounds" which started in East Freehold and ended at the Collier Estate. In the late 1920s, a general store and post office was constructed on Route 79. Passing through many hands since then it is currently a bike store. The Post Office obtained some notoriety when the Post mistress, Sadie S. Smock died in February 1928. Her husband "carried on
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#1732783061164372-413: The business for over a year" before an issue developed which brought a postal inspector who discovered the situation. William T. Smock was later sentenced to 60 days in jail for embezzling postal funds. In the early 1900s, a buffalo brought from Yellowstone National Park by Richard W. Herbert was kept on his farm for all to see. Starting in 1928, 509 acres (206 ha) were eventually purchased by
403-534: The cemetery is not precisely known, suggested by Symms, "There are a large number of graves in Old Scots yard without any inscribed stones". Some reports place the number as at least 100 known graves 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
434-449: The cemetery was in 2001. Two passes with ground penetrating radar (GPR) were done on the cemetery site. On February 2 and again on February 17, 2001 a number of passes were done. At that time, the GPR identified 137 possible burial sites. The GPR survey also identified two areas where the original meeting house may have been located. One area is adjacent east of the monument mound and the other
465-434: The church ( Rev. John Boyd ) at Old Scots Cemetery to commemorate his life and the start of church at that location. A defining feature of the cemetery is the tall monument of Scottish and Vermont granite and Irish Graystone, surrounded by Scottish thistle carved in the granite With a 5-foot (1.5 m) spire which was lost in the 1950s. The spire was refurbished in 2002. The monument was erected in memory of Rev. John Boyd,
496-557: The community for years was the Wickatunk shipping point, part of a single track 12-mile (19 km) railroad line from Matawan to Freehold, New Jersey . Having been included on the list of most dangerous railroad crossings by the Automobile Club of America in 1908 the station and crossing were demolished in the 1970s. The rail station was on tracks formally owned by the Central Railroad of New Jersey. Currently,
527-491: The community of Toponemus (no longer in existence in Marlboro Township). Originally surveyed by George Keith , in a letter he states: "After some time I may give thee a particular account of all thy land I have surveyed for thee and what I reckon dew for it. John Laing and his family are well and lyke to do well, and so John Sym and his family. Also thou hast thy share laid out at Wickington (Wickatunk). After
558-525: The first pastor of the church. In 1915, The Presbyterian Synod added John Tennent's name to the monument. In 1901, Robert J. Collier built his summer home in Wickatunk, bought from State Assemblyman John D. Honce. Used for many years as the location of personal parties and celebrations including the township Decoration Day celebrations, it was later donated and eventually became the Collier High School . Spanning many farms and properties,
589-584: The first recorded Presbyterian ordination of Rev. John Boyd. 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. Defined in the beginning by the church that the Presbyterians built; the oldest Presbyterian church, starting with a crude structure of logs in 1692. The location
620-409: The following seals were on the gables of the monument: The Monument was to be originally unveiled on October 18, 1899, it was however delayed in shipping and did not arrive on time for that scheduled event forcing the event to be delayed to the spring. The monument was actually unveiled on June 14, 1900 at 11 am. In 1945, stairs with handrails were added to the site to help ascend to the property from
651-410: The granite. These stones were selected since the men who made up the original Presbytery were from Scotland, Ireland and New England. The monument stands twenty-five feet high, including a 5-foot (1.5 m) spire which was lost in the 1950s. The total cost of the monument was $ 1300. A fund containing an additional $ 1000 was raised for the preservation of the monument and care of the grounds. The monument
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#1732783061164682-479: The gravel road leading to Englishtown, known as Gordon's Corner Road. president of the board of trustees at Old Tennent Church || Wickatunk, New Jersey Wickatunk is an unincorporated community located within Marlboro Township in Monmouth County , in the U.S. state of New Jersey . Elevation above sea level is 180 feet (55 m). It was founded in 1695 by three Scottish servants from
713-508: The gravestone of Rev. Boyd. When McDowell first encountered the stone it was "in a neglected state and covered with lichens". He cleaned the stone at that time of the lichens. There have been a number of additional site restorations over the years: The first site survey was done in December 2000, a site survey was conducted using electronic metal detecting equipment . The survey uncovered 15 artifacts, of note are 2 matching coffin handles from
744-492: The initial settlement, the plan in the early 1700s called for a village center with small town lots surrounded by plantations. However, that plan was not workable as it did not allow for townspeople to have farming land. Research suggests the name derives from the Delaware ( Algonquian ) "wikwetung", meaning "the fishing place". Known for the potato harvest from nearby farms, in 1923 the town hosted Representatives from "all
775-560: The potato seed raising sections of the country" and Canada. In addition to the potatoes, the area was also well known for Stayman and Rome apples - winning state awards and registered Holstein Friesian cattle . Squab were also raised on farms in the area. The area was also known for manufacturing liquor and many area farms were raided for violations of the Volstead Act in the late 1920s and early 30s. A central feature of
806-503: The street. There are three signs on the property: There was an episode of reported vandalism on March 25, 1994. At that time there were several smashed tombstones and some tombstones were removed from the mounts. The first recorded interest in restoration of the site was in 1883 when Gideon C. McDowell (A local farmer and member of the State Potato Association) encountered the site and was specifically interested in
837-406: The westerly outline of said burying ground 211 9/10 feet to a cedar stake at the most westerly corner of the burying ground; thence (5) South 81 degrees 03 minutes East 208 93/100 feet to an iron pipe set in the most southerly corner of said burying ground; thence (6) North 16 degrees 57 minutes East along the easterly outline of said Scotch Burying Ground 208 31/100 feet to a bolt set in the center of
868-595: The word wherever they went.") On one side of the monument there is an inscription: "Erected under the supervision of the Synod of New Jersey in 1899 to recognize the good providence of God in planting the Presbyterian church in this county and to commemorate the first recorded ordination by a Presbytery in the American colonies. The general Presbytery assembling in the Old Scots meeting house on this ground December 1706, ordained John Boyd, who died August 30th 1708 and
899-465: Was buried here." Another side of the monument has a brass plack saying "Continuing in the tradition of John Boyd, The United Presbyterian Church in the USA was formed by merger in 1958, and the Presbyterian church (USA) was formed by merger in 1983. This reaffirmation of our reformed tradition made by the Synod of the Northeast in 2002." This was placed on the monument after the 2002 restoration. Additionally,
930-441: Was created in 1899 by the J&R Lamb Company , after submitting the winning design to the Synod committee. The monument was refurbished in 2002 and the spire was replaced. The monument was erected in memory of Rev. John Boyd, the first pastor of the church. In 1915, The Presbyterian Synod added John Tennent's name to the monument. A man made mound-like elevation measuring approximately thirty-feet square and 3.5 feet high, supports
961-508: Was known as "Free Hill" or "the upper meeting house" and was the site of the first recorded Presbytery session. By 1705 a refined church was constructed and a notation in the court record of the location as a "publick meeting house". With Rev. John Boyd as Minister, by 1730 the congregation had grown and the church was removed to Freehold Township . Adjacent to the church was the Old Scots Burying Ground. In September 1710,