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Smallpox victims believed buried in southern corner of Old Milford Cemetery
DIRK PERREFORT [email protected]
Article Launched:10/20/2006 07:02:15 AM EDT
MILFORD — The state archaeologist and local officials will take another look at the Old Milford Cemetery next week in hopes of locating the graves of Revolutionary War soldiers who died from smallpox in the 18th century.
"It would be great if we could find out where the soldiers are buried," said Thomas Beirne Jr., chairman of the city's Board of Aldermen. "If the graves are found, we could install a proper monument showing their actual burial site."
Richard Platt, the city's historian, said 46 soldiers died of smallpox after they were dropped off on the city's shores by British forces. It is believed the soldiers were buried in the southern corner of the cemetery in a mass grave, he said. Although a monument in their honor is in the cemetery, the graves have never been discovered.
State Archaeologist Nick Bellantoni will visit the cemetery next Wednesday to survey old maps of the burial grounds and to determine what nonobtrusive tests, such as ground-penetrating radar, could be used to locate the graves.
But Bellantoni
and Platt stressed that identifying the bodies and their graves is a difficult endeavor because unmarked graves are common in older cemeteries. Portions of the southern corner of the cemetery were taken by the railroad in the 1840s when tracks were laid through the city.
"The graves could well be underneath the railroad," Platt said. "Even if we find an unmarked grave, it would be difficult to determine whose grave it is unless we find some artifacts like a button or a buckle, which people usually didn't bury with the dead at the time."
Despite the obstacles, searching for the graves is worthwhile, officials said.
"It would be nice if we could find the graves so they can be marked and memorialized," Bellantoni said. "That way, we can also make sure the graves are protected into the future. These are soldiers who gave their lives for this country. We should do the best we can to find them."
Bellantoni visited the city last spring after some historians speculated the graves could be on an adjoining property on Prospect Street, where a 51-unit condominium complex is proposed. Although the development has been approved by city officials, the project is on hold pending a court appeal filed by neighbors of the property.
Robert Smith, the developer on the project, said an archaeological firm from Westport has been hired to survey the property. Officials with Historic Perspectives have reviewed historical documents and developed a plan for a more complete on-site investigation, he said.
"The next step would be to execute the plan, which will be done prior to construction," Smith said.
Dirk Perrefort, who covers Milford, can be reached at 878-2130. http://www.connpost.com/news/ci_4521736
DIRK PERREFORT [email protected]
Article Launched:10/20/2006 07:02:15 AM EDT
MILFORD — The state archaeologist and local officials will take another look at the Old Milford Cemetery next week in hopes of locating the graves of Revolutionary War soldiers who died from smallpox in the 18th century.
"It would be great if we could find out where the soldiers are buried," said Thomas Beirne Jr., chairman of the city's Board of Aldermen. "If the graves are found, we could install a proper monument showing their actual burial site."
Richard Platt, the city's historian, said 46 soldiers died of smallpox after they were dropped off on the city's shores by British forces. It is believed the soldiers were buried in the southern corner of the cemetery in a mass grave, he said. Although a monument in their honor is in the cemetery, the graves have never been discovered.
State Archaeologist Nick Bellantoni will visit the cemetery next Wednesday to survey old maps of the burial grounds and to determine what nonobtrusive tests, such as ground-penetrating radar, could be used to locate the graves.
But Bellantoni
and Platt stressed that identifying the bodies and their graves is a difficult endeavor because unmarked graves are common in older cemeteries. Portions of the southern corner of the cemetery were taken by the railroad in the 1840s when tracks were laid through the city.
"The graves could well be underneath the railroad," Platt said. "Even if we find an unmarked grave, it would be difficult to determine whose grave it is unless we find some artifacts like a button or a buckle, which people usually didn't bury with the dead at the time."
Despite the obstacles, searching for the graves is worthwhile, officials said.
"It would be nice if we could find the graves so they can be marked and memorialized," Bellantoni said. "That way, we can also make sure the graves are protected into the future. These are soldiers who gave their lives for this country. We should do the best we can to find them."
Bellantoni visited the city last spring after some historians speculated the graves could be on an adjoining property on Prospect Street, where a 51-unit condominium complex is proposed. Although the development has been approved by city officials, the project is on hold pending a court appeal filed by neighbors of the property.
Robert Smith, the developer on the project, said an archaeological firm from Westport has been hired to survey the property. Officials with Historic Perspectives have reviewed historical documents and developed a plan for a more complete on-site investigation, he said.
"The next step would be to execute the plan, which will be done prior to construction," Smith said.
Dirk Perrefort, who covers Milford, can be reached at 878-2130. http://www.connpost.com/news/ci_4521736
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