Area History

The Osborn Burial Ground

Osborn Burial Ground; please click photo to see a larger version

In January 2001, the Governor William Livingston Chapter NSDAR undertook a fundraising project to provide financial assistance to The Union Landing Historical Society of Brielle, NJ. The project was to provide funds for the restoration of the Osborn Family Burial Ground, an historic site. The graves are located on Holly Hill Drive in Wall Township, New Jersey.

On May 26, 2001, the restored burial ground was commemorated in a ceremony organized by The Union Landing Society, which was attended by numerous community groups. Our chapter has raised and donated funds for the new Burial Ground gate, named in honor of the Governor William Livingston Chapter, and for the establishment of a maintenance fund to assist in the continuing care of the burial ground. The chapter also rededicated the DAR marker which had been placed on the grave of American Revolutionary patriot, Lt. Abraham Osborn, in 1936. We continue to support this project.

Mr. John Belding, former presient of the Union Landing Historical Society and the Borough of Brielle historian, who spearheaded and continues to oversee this project, has offered to provide a personal tour of the Osborn Burial Ground on request.Our chapter donated the new gate, which was.

Biography of Abraham Osborn
Lt. Abraham Osborn was born in Brielle (then Shrewsbury), New Jersey, in 1752. In 1773, he married Elizabeth Pintard Allen, sister of his friend, Samuel Allen. In time, the couple became the parents of eight children. Thirteen or more members of the Governor William Livingston Chapter are descendants of Abraham and Elizabeth Osborn.

Abraham Osborn grave marker; please click the photo to see a larger version

During the summer of 1776, he enlisted to serve as a private in the local New Jersey militia. Osborn served under General Forman, Colonel Hendrickson and Captain Longstreet. Following the Battle on Monmouth, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. Although he was not a member of the Continental Army, he served with them, fighting side-by-side during battle. This group of Minute Men harrassed the British troops on their march across New Jersey. It was the duty of Lt. Osborn's company to guard the central new Jersey coast from the British and the Tories, who were searching for food and valuable supplies. On April 21, 1780, Osborn and Samuel Allen were captured by the British, but managed to escape while theywere being marched up the coast, to Sandy Hook. Lt. Osborn is listed on the pension rolls of Monmouth County, New Jersey.

The Osborn home was burned seven times by British troops and Tories. In 1822, they constructed a new brick home which, today, is a part of the Manasquan River Golf Club clubhouse. Abraham Osborn died in 1835 and is buried in the Osborn Burial Ground with his wife, Elizabeth, and several descendants. His epitaph, from Revelations 14:13 reads: “Blessed are the Dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spririt that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.”

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