Morris County, New Jersey

The following information was contributed by: Letha Holmes.

From Morris County Gravestones we learn that the Walnut Grove Baptist Church was organized on October 3, 1795, and land was purchased from Isaac Hulbard around 1797 for a burying ground.

At the present time, although still surrounded by a stone wall, this burial ground is overgrown most of the year and has fallen victim to vandals and decay. It is located on the north side of Shongum Mt. Road (Morris Co. Rte. 650), 0.2 mi. east of its intersection with Sussex Ave. (Morris Co. Rte. 617) in the village of Mount Freedom, in Randolph Township.

Inscription appearing in the Monumental Inscriptions Morris Co. Vol. I but not found in the list compiled in 1982 are enclosed with brackets. An asterisk after a name indicates that the person and the relationship were given in an inscription, but no gravestone was found for that person. Inscriptions "on same stone," "in same plot," etc., suggest a family relationship but none was stated on the stones or is assumed.

Abers, Daniel, d. Mar 22 1821, ae 47.25.00
    wife Elizabeth*; 
    [dau. Elizabeth Ann, d. Dec 22 1820, ae 3.6.8]

Aber, Jacob Y., "Co B 33 Infty N.J. Vols.," d. Dec 17 1908, 
	GAR marker on grave

Alexander, John S., b. May 9 1808, d. June 13 1883
    wife Barbra, 
     "dau. of Andrew & Jane Tinder of Smithfield Fews (Tews?)
      Dundee, Scotland," b. Nov 17 1804, d. Nov 21 1843

Barker, Morgan*; 
    wife Eleanor*; 
    son Morgan Seymour, d. Sep 9 1849, ae 8.1.7

Blackford, Benjamin, "Elder", [d. Mar 23 1822, ae 71.4.20]; 
    wife Marah, "widow," d. July 25 1832, ae 74 yrs 9 mos.
    Benjamin's stone completely scaled off

Blackford, Benjamin*;
    wife Julia Ann, d. May 14 1845, in 29th yr
    son Isaac R., b. Sep 7 1840, d. June 3 1845;
    dau. Julia Ann, d. Aug 8 1845 ae 6 mos;
    wife, Mary M., b. Jan 11 1819, d. June 23 1859;
    dau. Mary C., d. Aug 13 1858, ae 0.5.1

Blackford, Ella B. - See Henry Seward

Blackford, Gilbert L.*; 
    wife Mary A.*;
    dau. Hattie L., d. Aug 10 1880, ae 17 yrs 9 mos.
    dau. Frances L., ae 4 mos 13 dys, no dates;
    dau. Mary I., ae 6 mos 24 dys;
    dau. Mary I., 2d, ae 7 mos 8 dys, no dates;
    son Charles C., ae 1 yr 1 mo, no dates;
    dau. Mary E. ae 5 mos 6 dys, no dates;
    dau. Margaret H., ae 2 yrs 10 mos, no dates:
    son Isaac B., ae 1 yr 2 mos, no dates;
    son Theodore R., ae 2.1.24, no dates

Blackford, Isaac, "Deacon," d. Aug 11 1858, ae 70.7.22;
    wife Elizabeth, d. Sep 7 1848, ae 58.10.00

Blackford, Isaac N., b. Oct 11 1853, d. May 26 1917

Blackford, James, b. Mar 8 1825, d. Jun 11 1899;
    wife Maria K. Larrison, b. Apr 2 1828, d. July 5 1893;
    dau. Emma F., b. Apr 20 1855, d. Apr 3 1860
    dau. Charlett Agusta, d. Aug 10 1851, age 1(4?) mo. 29 dys

Blackford, John B., b. Feb 1 1855, d. Feb 16 1926

Blackford, Nathaniel C., b. July 20 1821, d. Apr 9 1894;
    wife Catharine N. Hughson, b. Dec 19 1825, d. Sep 21 1890

Blackford, Theodore G. - See Benjamin Blackford

Burnett, E.D.*;
    wife J.C.*;
    son Howell B., b. Aug 13 1899, d. Sep 25 1899

Canon, S.C.*;
    wife Phebe Ann Stage, 1847-1875

Chips, Mary, b. Sep 9 1777, d. Dec 23 1876. 
	-See Harriet L. Wager

Clark, Ebenezer, d. Oct 4 1843, in 57th yr.;
    wife Phebe, "widow," b. July 22 1792, d. Sep 27 1850;
    dau. Sybila Ann, see John Osborn

Clark, Rev. Henry, d. Feb 4 1849, ae 80 yrs 8(18?) dys;
    wife Mary, d. Apr 5 1815, ae 55.10.2;
    [son Aaron Hutchinson, d. Sep 27 1794, ae 3 yrs 24 dys]
    Rev. war veteran's marker in plot

Clark, Jane, d. Feb 10 1849, ae 63 yrs 28 dys

Colley, Hamilton A., 1802-1852;
    wife Abigail, 1810-1855
    On same stone:
        Samuel, 1834-1856; 
	William H., 1833-1864; 
	John, D. June 17 1921 age not given

Colley, Harriet B. See Sidney W. Stalter

Colley, Samuel. See Hamilton A. Colley

Colley, Sarah D. See Arthur Colley Wilson

Colley, William H. See Hamilton A. Colley

Coriell(?), William*;
	wife Stella*;
	dau. jennie May, D. Oct 9 1877, ae 1.2.15
	Stone in very poor condition

Cummings, William T., d. Jan 31 1870 ae 67.7.7;
	wife Mahala, d. Dec 23 1848, in 46th yr

Dickerson, Nathaniel, d. May 31 1849, ae 50.7.1;
	wife Ann, "widow," d. Nov 22 1850, ae 48.7.17

Guerin, Richard, d. Oct 24 1859, ae 80 yrs 10 dys

Hughson, Catharine N. See Nathaniel C. Blackford

Hulbert, Joshua, d. Feb 8 1847, ae 78 yrs;
	wife Martha, d. Sep 24 1825, ae 51 yrs;
	son Isaac Babbit,"died suddenly," Jan 17 1813, 17th yr

Hulbert, Mary. See Joseph Sanderson

Hulbert, William, Senr*;
	wife "Mrs. Mary ... relict," d. Aug 21 1803 ae 78 yrs

Ianson, John. See Miles Ianson

Ianson, Miles, d. May 24, 1856, ae 90 yrs
	on same stone:
	John Ianson, d. July 8 1861, ae 78 yrs,. "Brothers"

Ianson, Thomas*;
	wife Nancy J., b. June 22 1816, d. May 2 1884

Larrison, Maria K. See James Blackford

McCord, James. See Joseph McCord

McCord, Joseph*;
	wife Chloe, d. Apr 3 1806, in 41st yr

McCord, Joseph, d. Apr 10 1854, ae 83 yrs 11 mos
	wife Anna, d. Nov 20 1852, ae 61 yr 3 mos
	dau. Mary Ann, d. Jan 10 1835, ae 13.5.27;
	son James, "farewell wife and parents dear..."
		d. Dec 20 1848, ae 29.4.13

Meeker, Caleb*;
	wife Susan, "widow," d. May 13 1851, ae 86 yrs

Meeker, Elisha, 1827-1900;
	wife Nancy K., 1829-1915
	With Ianson stones

Nixon, Henry, d. Oct 26 1857, ae 82 yrs;
	wife Mary, d. July 17 1851, ae 73 yrs

Nixon, James V., d. Jan 8 1886, ae 87 yrs;
	wife Temperance, b. Jan 9 1800, d. Sep 19 18_1
	Stone in poor condition, death year uncertain

Nixon, Thomas, d. Dec 30 1827, ae 84 yrs

Orsborn, John*;
	wife Sybila Ann, dau. of Ebenezer & Phebe Clark,
		d. July 1 1839 in 20th yr

Pool, Henry, b. Apr 10 1810, d. Aug 4 1891;
	wife Charity S., b. Oct 14 1816, d. blank;
	dau. Sibbia A., "of H.& C.S." 
		b. Feb 18 1843, d. Apr 13 1889

Pruden, Nathaniel C., d. Aug 14 1850, in 21st yr

Roff, John V.*;
	wife Elizabeth*;
	son Whitfield H., d. Jan 18 1848, ae 2 yrs 11 dys

Sanderson, Joseph*;
	wife Hannah, "relict...dau. of Mary Hulbert, Dec'd...
		d. Apr 26 1812, in 63rd yr

Seward, Henry*
	wife Ella B. Blackford, b. Aug 29 1848, d. Feb 8 1921

Smith, George, 1849-1908
	wife Lena, 1854-blank

Smith, Henry, "Co K 7th N.J. Inf." 
	Government stone & GAR marker

Smith, Jesse*;
	wife Eunice, d. May 12 1791, in 34th yr

Smith, Samuel C.*;
       wife Rebecca Till,"widow" b. Jan 1 1775, d.Aug 26 1858
       dau. Elizabeth Cotheal, b. Mar 4 1817, d. Feb 23 1897

Stage, Henry, "Grandpa" b. Feb 14 1798, d. May 10 1880;
	wife Jane P., "Grandma" b. Oct 31 1817 d. Nov 16 1910

Stage, Phebe Ann. See S.C. Canon

Stalter, Sidney W., b. Jan 16 1836, d. Dec 3 1891;
	wife Harriet B. Colley, d. Dec 9 1920, age not given

Thorpe, John, 1771-1827;
	wife Elizabeth, 1772-1852

Till, Rebecca. See Samuel C. Smith

Tinder, Barbra. See John S. Alexander

Totton, James H., d. Apr 10 1877, in 52nd yr
	wife Sybylla A., b. Nov 10 1826, d. Apr 14 1905;
	[son George W., d. Oct 20 1851, ae 3 mos 19 dys]
	George W. & Sybylla's surnames are spelled Totten

Vail, John B., b. Oct 18 1823, d. Jan 8 1899;
	wife Phebe, b. Apr 9 1826, d. Sep 16 1881;
	dau. Lucy T., b. Sep 22 1872, d. Oct 22 1894(?)

Wager, Harriet L., b. Apr 5 1801, d. Nov 22 1886
	Identical-style adjoining stone for Mary Chips

Wilson, Arthur Colley, May 25 1895 (one date)
	In same plot:
	Sarah D., 1848-1926;
	Katie Colley, 1862-1863

Wilson, Charles E., 1854-1932;
	wife Abigail C., 1850-1942
	In same plot:
	Herbert, 1884-1885

Wright, John, "Co. H 11th Regt. N.J. Vols" d. May 17 1887 
	ae 74(?) yrs - GAR marker on grave

Wright, Mary M., b. Jan 8 1815, d. Apr 16 1897
	Next to stone for John Wright

Methodist Episcopal Church of Walnut Grove

The following information was contributed by: John Cresseveur (1949-2003).

Munsell's 1882 History of Morris County, pg. 308 states the following:
"The Methodist Episcopal Church of Walnut Grove is the successor of an old Baptist church, the history of which has not been preserved, but which with its graveyard dates back to an early period in the settlement of the township [Randolph]. The Baptist church was for a time used as a union meeting-house; but the Baptist society has become extinct, and the old house of worship has disappeared. The Methodists have erected on the old site or near it a new and commodious edifice, worth about $5,000, and are in a prosperous condition. Rev. John Stilman was their first pastor. The church has a membership of 110. The pulpit is supplied by C.L. Banghart."

I have the following inscriptions taken from tombstones in the above cemetery about 21 years ago. I remember there were two separate cemeteries. The newer one, where the church still stood, was surrounded by a stone wall. The older section was across the street. The information on your site, as supplied by Ms. Letha Holmes lists the cemetery as the "Walnut Grove Baptist Church". Much of my information, which verified the inscriptions, was obtained from The Records of the Millbrook & Walnut Grove Methodist Episcopal Churches of Randolph Township, Morris County, N.J. located at the Morristown Public Library. Included in the records was a listing from 09/11/1824 appointing Phillip Till, my ancestor, as a Trustee. Another record, dated 01/16/1847 appoints Phillip to dispose of the Church grounds and construct the now existing stone wall around the cemetery. A Morris County deed (Book K4, page #501, 03/12/1847) also lists the transfer of 0.75 acre of land to the Methodist Episcopal Church from Phillip and Anna Till for the purpose of building a new church. I do not have Ms. Holmes' E-mail address. Would it be possible for you to contact her to determine if the church changed affiliations? Through my father, born in 1899, the Till side of the family were all Episcopal.

All italics are mine:

OLDER SECTION:

James McCord (son of Anna (Till) and Joseph McCord)

Died: December 20, 1848

Age: 29 yrs, 4 mths, 13 days

Anna (Till) McCord

Died: November 20, 1852

Age: 61 yrs, 3 mths

Joseph McCord

Died: April 10, 1854

Age: 83 yrs

NEWER SECTION:

Phillip Till

Died: November 9, 1878

Age: 88 years (verified by death certificate)

Anna Till (wife of Phillip)

Died: May 30, 1867

Age: 66 yrs, 10 mths

Epitaph:

My husband and my children all

A mother from you Christ has called

Weep not for me (?)

To call me to your sight again

Caroline (Till) Abers (daughter of Phillip & Anna, named in Will)

Born: December 20, 1826

Died: June 6, 1918

Phebe A. Till (daughter of Phillip & Anna, named in Will)

Born: December 5, 1832

Died: March 30, 1896

Sara Till (daughter of Phillip)

Died: August 31, 1866

Peter K. Abers (husband of Caroline Till, daughter of Phillip & Anna, named in Will)

Co. B, 27th Reg., NJ Volunteers (Civil War)

Died: August 10, 1908

Age: 71 yrs

Isaac Steelman (husband of Mary Till, daughter of Phillip & Anna, named in Will)

Co. K, 7th Reg., NJ Volunteers (Civil War)

Died: September 30, 1891

Age: 72 yrs

Andrew Lanterman (husband of Harriet Till, daughter of Phillip & Anna, named in Will)

Born: March 29, 1830

Died: May 19, 1901

Harriet Lanterman (daughter of Phillip & Anna, named in Will)

Born: June 9, 1838

Died: September 9, 1916

Julia (Till) Blanchard (daughter of Phillip & Anna, named in Will, mother of Phillip & Georgina Blanchard)

Died: October 22, 18(?)

Age: 39 yrs, 2 mths, 2 days

The following information was contributed by Sherry Reichert.

Albert Harrison Beam 1891-1958
Louise Ann Kenneybrook Beam 1895-1962
Dorothy Helen Beam Sherrer 1913-1984
Evelyn G. Beam Hoehne 1923-1990

From interment.net a few more transcriptions.