Washington Square Potter's Field
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Washington Square Potter's Field

Also known as City Public Burial Ground #1 , Congo Square Burial Ground , Southeast Public Square Burial Ground , Strangers' Burial Ground

Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA

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  • Get directions Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
    Coordinates: 39.94710, -75.15273
  • This cemetery is marked as being historical or removed.
  • Cemetery ID:

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Washington Square was the first City Public Burial sites in Philadelphia. In the original patent granted by William Penn, 4 large plots of ground within the city limits and now known as Washington, Franklin, Logan and Rittenhouse Squares, were dedicated as an "open space forever". In 1706, however, the city found itself in need of a Potter's Field or a place of burial for paupers and strangers. William Penn granted the use of Washington Square for that purpose. During the Revolutionary war hundreds of soldiers who had died locally were buried there. Pits of 20'x30 ' in size were dug in line with Walnut Street and they were only closed when completely filled with coffins. (Its thought that upwards of two thousands of soldiers were buried then.)

As late as 1840, Washington Square wasn't a beautiful park but a disreputable looking places surrounded by huts and sheds built by the cities poor. The burial sites of soldiers, yellow fever victims, criminals were unmarked and weeds and brush mixed with trash. There was one exception though. In the center was an enclosure about 40' square surrounded by a brick wall. This area held the members of the prominent Storey and Carpenter families. A female member of the Storey family had committed suicide and was refused burial at any of the churchyard grounds. Her relatives were obliged to bury her at "Potters Field" but they build her a tomb and so she would not sleep alone, as her family died they were buried by her side. Joshua Carpenter, one of cities first aldermen was also buried there but the Carpenter Family History said his remains were eventually removed to Lancaster County

Washington Square ceased to be used as a burial place in 1815.

Washington Square was the first City Public Burial sites in Philadelphia. In the original patent granted by William Penn, 4 large plots of ground within the city limits and now known as Washington, Franklin, Logan and Rittenhouse Squares, were dedicated as an "open space forever". In 1706, however, the city found itself in need of a Potter's Field or a place of burial for paupers and strangers. William Penn granted the use of Washington Square for that purpose. During the Revolutionary war hundreds of soldiers who had died locally were buried there. Pits of 20'x30 ' in size were dug in line with Walnut Street and they were only closed when completely filled with coffins. (Its thought that upwards of two thousands of soldiers were buried then.)

As late as 1840, Washington Square wasn't a beautiful park but a disreputable looking places surrounded by huts and sheds built by the cities poor. The burial sites of soldiers, yellow fever victims, criminals were unmarked and weeds and brush mixed with trash. There was one exception though. In the center was an enclosure about 40' square surrounded by a brick wall. This area held the members of the prominent Storey and Carpenter families. A female member of the Storey family had committed suicide and was refused burial at any of the churchyard grounds. Her relatives were obliged to bury her at "Potters Field" but they build her a tomb and so she would not sleep alone, as her family died they were buried by her side. Joshua Carpenter, one of cities first aldermen was also buried there but the Carpenter Family History said his remains were eventually removed to Lancaster County

Washington Square ceased to be used as a burial place in 1815.

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  • Added: 23 Apr 2008
  • Find a Grave Cemetery ID: 2258372