Fulford Pioneer Cemetery

Dear Ancestor

Your tombstone stands among the rest

Neglected and alone.

The name and date are chiseled out

On polished marbled stone.

It reaches out to all who care

It is too late to mourn.

You did not know that I exist.

You died and I was born.

Yet each of us are cells of you

In flesh, in blood, in bone.

Our blood contracts and beats a pulse

Entirely not our own.

Dear Ancestor, the place you filled

One hundred years ago

Spreads out among the ones you left

Who would have loved you so.

I wonder if you lived and loved.

I wonder if you knew

That someday I would find this spot

And come to visit you.

- Author Unknown

Fulford Pioneer Cemetery is in a charming location on the banks of the St. Lawrence River 5 miles west of Brockville at Fulford Point. 

It was dedicated in 1786 and is the last resting place of some of the early settlers of the Brockville area.  The last burial was in 1958.  This was of Eleanor Fulford Seaman, a descendant of the founder, Jonathan Fulford.  There were no more burials in this cemetery since it was declared "abandoned".  

Mary Beacock Fryer's mother was a Seaman from Rockport and related to the founding family.

Most of the stones are of white limestone.  However, a few later ones were of red granite.  One large one is to Peter Cole 1850-1929,"Whose generous bequest provides the perpetual care of this cemetery".  He left two bonds, one for $1000 and one for $200, the interest to be used to maintain the grounds.  Montreal Trust handled it with the help of three trustees appointed from among the descendants.

   Cemetery Background

(Explained by Mary Beacock Fryer)

The land was given by Jonathan Fulford, born in Wallingford, Connecticut and was a Sergeant in Jessup's Corps.  He was granted 108 acres of land on Lot 28 in Concession 1, Elizabethtown.  John and Jacob Elliot shared Lot 29, Adam Cole had Lot 31 and Lot 30 went to Thomas Sparham.  Lots were drawn from a hat, not chosen.

The first grave in the burial ground was Jonathan's infant son, on June 7th, 1786.  Families using this private burial ground have been descendants of Jonathan Fulford, and shared by the Cole family.  Jonathan's sister, Thankful Fulford, married Adam Cole before the war, which suggests that Cole also came from Connecticut.  Cole was a private in Jessup's Corps.  Through intermarriage, the families of John and Jacob Elliot also used the burial ground.  Robinsons are also buried there. 

This cemetery is believed to be the first one of its kind in Ontario.

Click on the thumbnail prints.

Photos by Fraser Carr

Reference:

The Recorder and Times-Friday, May 25, 1973

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