Trinity Church Burial Ground
City of Watertown, Jefferson County, New York
Path to Destruction
The Trinity Church Burial Ground, also referred to as the Old Burial Ground, was the first cemetery in the Village of Watertown. Originally located on the east side of Court Street behind the City Hall and the Trinity Episcopal Church, both of which have been removed, was situated on land donated by Henry Coffeen. Today all vestiges of this historic final resting place has been removed and is now a parking lot. The following excerpts from Watertown newspapers help document it's path to destruction.
The oldest burial-place in the city is the Trinity church yard wherein several of the old residents of the county were laid to rest, the remains of many of whom have since been exhumed, and reinterred in Brookside. The monument of Phineas Sherman, deceased in 1813, and his wife, who died in 1847, still remains in the old burial-place. The receiving vault for the dead of the city, for use in the winter season is located in this burial ground and was built by the city in the year 1873. It is a solidly-built stone structure, standing in the rear of Trinity (Episcopal) church, and cost the sum of over $4000. (Everts History of Jefferson County 1878).
A forcible illustration of the futility of making appeals to popular sympathy in any attempt to right an admitted wrong is illustrated by the failure to do the right thing in saving from desecration the few graves left standing last fall in the old Trinity church burying ground in the rear of the new city hall. When the first article appeared in the newspapers over a year ago calling attention to the deplorable condition of that oldest cemetery in the village of Watertown, the five graves of the Jonathan Cowan family were all intact, the headstones erect and all in line. The Mayor of the city faithfully promised that they would be protected.
A visit to that cemetery during the last spring showed that some of the city employees had deliberately broken off all these Cowan headstones even with the ground and had then broken the large stones into small pieces and thrown them over the fence. Such has been the result of a public appeal to the humanity of the public, and the Grumbler can only regret that such an appeal was ever made, for it seems too bad to believe that our people are indifferent to so flagrant a piece of vandalism. I doubt if another such an instance can be found in the whole state of New York. The city authorities have shown themselves indifferent to the wishes of our people in this matter, all the more flagrant because the city has not legal title whatever to this old burial ground which its officials have ruthlessly entered upon and desecrated. (The Watertown Herald Saturday September 25, 1897 Vol XIL No. 18)
The heirs of the Coffeen estate are to commence action against the city on account of the lot which was deeded to the city as a burial ground and which is now abandoned as such. The ground in question is back of the city hall and the heirs maintain that as the property is not used as was meant the title reverts back. (The Watertown Herald Saturday, December 10, 1898)
According to one surveyor's notes, about eight inches of the north wall of the city hall, all of King Street and the little squatter block of Diefendorf & Fuess stands on the lot originally deeded to the city for a burying ground, to revert to the heirs should it ever be used for other purposes. The plot of ground behind the city hall is also part of the original lot.
Shortly after the building of the city hall, the leveling of the graves, breaking down of headstones and other evidence of vandalism, called by courtesy public enterprise, the question of the city's right to thus use the lot has raised and the city officials thought the matter ought to be cleared up.
Attorney W. H. Gilman undertook the task, found one of the heirs of Henry Coffeen, who deeded the lot in 1819, and began legal proceedings. No obstacles were thrown in his way by the city officials, who were anxious to get title at the least expense, and the lot was sold in partition sale. It had been understood all along that the city would be in the premises, thus perfecting its title.
On the date of the sale two aldermen were present, but they found that while everything was understood, no resolutions had been passed, and without power to bid for the city, it was sold to James A. Ward for $1,594. The money was paid and the small margin left from expenses went to the heirs.
Now the city is asked to pay $20,000 or vacate the premises which it might have obtained for $1,500 or there about. Possibly the city can fight the matter in the courts and prove it is yet technically used for a burying ground, as a lone grave is marked by a marble slab out in the grounds and many measures of reform have been buried in the city hall. (The Watertown Herald Saturday, August 6, 1904 Vol. XIX No 6)
The city hall lot is up for litigation. The city's title is not good. It was given as a burial ground and when it ceased to be used as such was to revert to the heirs of Henry Coffeen, the original owner. The city took possession, leveled down the graves and is using it for storing tile, the steam roller, the street sweeper, log chains, wagons used by the city and also for a cartman's stand.
The council of a few years ago investigated the matter, found the city's title poor, and Lawyer Gilman was told to go ahead and get a good title. This he proceeded to do by having one of the Coffeen heirs bring an action in partition. Over one hundred heirs were cited to appear at the time of sale and the city was represented by a couple of aldermen, who were to bid in the property and thus secure a perfect title for the city. But they discovered that they had not been authorized by a resolution of the council and refused to bid. Lawyer Ward bid in the property for enough to cover the legal expenses - about $1,500. Since that time has come new councils, a new city government and the matter has rested. Now John Francis Ward turns up as the owner and brings action to eject the city.
Every year the lot increases in value, and the longer the city delays in securing a title the more it will have to pay, if it pays anything besides lawyers. The present council doesn't seem inclined to do anything but try to hold possession under the original deed, whose terms are clear enough; but courts make queer decisions sometimes and one of these may strike the city favorable.
Mr. Ward seeks to make the injunction permanent and says he will cause a high board or wire fence to be built about the lot. He says he will thwart if possible the city from coming into possession of the lot through having occupied it twenty years. It has now had it thirteen years. (The Watertown Herald Saturday, July 8, 1905)
City Attorney J. B. Muzzy has spent some time looking over the old burying ground back of the city hall. He stated that he believes that there are yet many bodies interred in the lot, and that there is good reason to think that the old line fence dividing the city hall lot from the burying ground ran on a line thru the center of what is now King Street. (The Watertown Herald Saturday, November 18, 1905)
In the case of James A. Ward against the city of Watertown, an action brought to decide as to the ownership of that portion of the City Hall lot which formerly contained the burial ground such as was discontinued as a burial ground about two weeks ago, when the bodies of the late Phineas Sherman and his wife, Emma Sherman, were exhumed and placed in Brookside Cemetery, a motion was made to dismiss the plaintiff's complaint unless some law could be found to uphold the plaintiff's claim. The case will be held open by Justice Andrews until December 1. John N. Carlise will assist City Attorney Muzzy on the defense. (The Watertown Herald Saturday, November 25, 1905)
TO BE REMOVED - The old cut stone vault at the rear of the former Court street city hall will be demolished shortly in connection with urban renewal development. Much of the cut stone, including the cross, and some of the city hall foundation stone, will be moved by Benvenuto Brothers, the razing contractor, to Cape Vincent where a vault will be built in the new section of Riverside cemetery overlooking the St. Lawrence river. (The Watertown Daily Times, date unknown)