by Mrs. Caroline Myrick
Before the formation of the Second Church of Windsor in 1694 (the first church east of the River), there was no established cemetery on the east side of the River. Most burials were across the river in old Windsor. In 1708, a cemetery was begun next to the meetinghouse. The first grave is reported to be that of a man, Thomas Morton, who fell from an apple tree. This burial ground was to later contain the remains of many famous men and soldiers; however, none perhaps more famous than Timothy Edwards. A second cemetery was begun next to the “new” church after it had been relocated down the street to the South. This, now large, cemetery was begun about 1760 and is the one depicted on the quilt square. Another small cemetery was created behind the Theological Institute. In Wapping, a cemetery was begun next to the meetinghouse in 1766. The first grave was that of an Indian squaw, Molly Mohawk. Another much larger cemetery, Wapping Cemetery, was created across Ellington Road in the early 1880s. The oldest stone is dated 1815. This cemetery has many markers with well known and remembered Wapping names: Grants, Stoughtons, Loomis, Foster, Sadd and Collins to name but a few. There is a small family cemetery on Rye Street that was begun by Jeremy Bissell. Many years later, the Bissell family deeded this plot to the Town and it has been used as a “pauper’s cemetery.” Another little known plot is located up off Route 5 near the Scantic River. This plot contains but one monument, Anne Bliss Watson, wife of John Watson.
Please note that despite possible inaccuracies, we will include the description of each quilt square as published in the 1995 revised and corrected second edition booklet. This second edition was published in celebration of South Windsor’s “sesquicentennial” anniversary, 1845-1995, and was dedicated to the memory of Gail Woodard, who passed away in 1994. The revised edition was compiled by Charles E. Woodward in September, 1995, with the assitance of Doris Burgdof who provided many historical corrections.