In the year 1944, historian and genealogist Charles R. Barker compiled his seminal work, A Register of the Burying Grounds of Philadelphia, in which assembled the deeds to hundreds of public and private burial grounds in and around the Philadelphia. Located at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, the manuscript is an invaluable resource for researchers and historians in the region.
Prior to his completion of this multiyear work, the Pennsylvania Historical Survey of the Works Progress Administration compiled the Index to Registration of Deaths, City of Philadelphia, 1803–1860, as part of Project #11791. To this project, Barker contributed an introductory letter explaining how the records were organized and provided a summary of their contents and some of the “difficult names.”
It has remained unpublished and un-transcribed — until now.
Copied from the digitized microfilm, the document is presented here for the benefit of researchers studying Philadelphia’s history. It has been lightly edited and contextual notes have been provided, where necessary.
An appendix to Mr. Barker manuscript follows after, which contains details on additional burial grounds not noted by him in his introduction.
A PDF version of the manuscript can be downloaded here.
Index to Registration of Deaths, City of Philadelphia, 1803–1860
This is a transcription of the index prepared by Project #11791 Work Projects [sic] Administration. The original records are deposited with the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, 1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia, having been transferred from the Philadelphia Health Department under ordinances of Councils, dated April 26, 1934. The subsequent records, from 1850 to June 30, 1915, are held by the Philadelphia Health Department, Room 524, City Hall. The records from July 1, 1915 to date are filed with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Vital Satistics.
Pennsylvania Historical Survey
Work Projects Administration
Pennsylvania Historical Commission
Letter A
Typed by: Mr. S. Argentina
Checked with Cards.
Date: December 12, 1938
Checker: Mr. E. Hopkins
Mr. G. Chapman
Board of Health: Registration of Deaths by Charles R. Barker
These records, so far as yet available, are divided into three groups:
- The Returns made to the Board by sextons of churches, superintendents of cemeteries, etc., together with certificates of physicians, which accompanied them. These are the original papers, covering the period 1825–32, inclusive, but with 1827 and 1830 missing.
- Register of Deaths, but without the names of places of burial. This is a book, covering the period 1833–37, inclusive.
- Register of Deaths, giving places of burial. These books cover the period 1838-60, inclusive.
The following notes are intended as an aid in understanding the names of the places of burial, many of which are so obscurely stated, or so abbreviated, as to be puzzling No attempt whatever has been made to prepare a complete list of burying-grounds, which are legion.
The Board of Health of the City of Philadelphia did not have jurisdiction over the entire county until 1854. Other boards operated in the outlying sections. Up to that date, therefore, the reports cover only the old city and some of the adjoining districts; but with the Consolidation Act of 1854, there is a noticeable number of old burying-grounds reporting for the first time.
Probably there was, at first, much laxity in reporting, as the returns from some of the older churches seem few and far between.
Occasional burials are recorded at Darby, Reading, Whitemarsh, Norristown, Wilkes-Barre, Chester, Radnor, and Evansburg Pa.; at Westfield, Jamestown, Salem and Woodbury, N. J.; and at Burlington, N. Y.
For twenty years, Samuel P. Marks, Clerk of the Board of Health, kept the records. After his death, on December 23, 1856, clerks of inferior education and penmanship succeeded, with an evident and disastrous effect on the registers.
Often, however, the clerk was at the mercy of the person making the return.
A few examples of choice blunders will serve as illustration:
Central Bushill; Cateme Luderien (Academy, Lutheran ?); Jewish Congestion; Genesis Israel; Friends Jewish; Baptist Mills (Milestown ?); Ashberry; Philanthrophy; Thomas Church in Acorn Alley; Publich Ground, Kinseton (Public Ground, Kensington ?); E. Lutherian St. John St. (Lutheran is uniformly reported as Lutherian).
The following call for close study:
Union Society of Penn Township, “a member of the New Jerusalem”; New Jerusalem at Fairmont [Editor’s note: this refers to the First Church of the New Jerusalem, Broad and Brandywine Sts.]; Little Westley in Hurst [Editor’s Note: this refers to the Little Wesley A.M.E Zion Church on Hurst Street, now S. Randolph Street, at Rodman Street]; Dr. P. Family burial ground [Editor’s note: this refers to Doctor Joseph Pfeiffer’s Burial Ground. See “Peifer”.]; Independent U. C.; Presbyterian Schuy. Front; Dutch Reformed Presbyterian ; New Federal Cemetery [editor’s note: this probably refers to the Philadelphia National Cemetery]; Old Brick Colored [editor’s note: this probably refers to the African Zoar Methodist Episcopal Church or the First African Presbyterian Church].
Some of the abbreviations found in the Registers:
B. of H. — Board of Health.
C. of H. of Israel. — Congregation House of Israel.
C. S. S. — Combined Sunday School.
F. A. — First African.
F. R. — Frankford Road.
F. R. D. S. G. — First Reformed Dutch, Spring Garden.
G. H. — German Hebrew.
K. — Kensington
M. E. P. — Methodist Episcopal Protestant.
N. L. — Northern Liberties.
P. R. — Passyunk Road.
S. — Southwark
SW. — Swedish
A guide to some of the difficult names follows:
All Saints. — P. E. (Church on 12th St. bel. Fitzwater).
P. E. (Lower Dublin)
Arabaella, Ribella. — There was a Jewish burying-ground on Arabella (now Randolph St., above Federal, opp. Union burying-ground.
“Asbury African”. Reports in 1838; “Asbury Presb. Col.”, in 1844. M. E. — (West Phila.)
Axe’s. — The upper burying-ground of Germantown, at Concord School House.
Big Wesley. — (See Wesley).
Bishop’s Ground. — St. Joseph’s R. C. (So called because purchased in the name of Bishop [Henry] Conwell).
Blockley. — The City Hospital, in Blockley Township (Now West Philadelphia).
Buttonwood. — (See. Dr. Carol)
Byberry. — Probably refers to the Potter’s Field at that place, which is in the north-east section of the present city. [Editor’s note: this ground is John Hart’s ground in what is now Crestmont Farms.).
Cedar Street Presbyterian. — This is the Twelfth Presb. Church on Cedar St. (now South) ab. 11th.
Carpenter Street. — The 3d Presb. Church had a burying-ground on Carpenter St., sometimes known as “Dr. Ely’s”, (from the Church’s pastor).
Central. — Presbyterian (Church at 8th and Cherry).
Presb. of Northern Liberties. — (Church on Coates St., now Fairmount Ave.)
African Presb. — Church on Lombard St.).
City and Districts. — Interments in the Almshouse burying-ground, other than those from the Almshouse itself, were so designated. The “Districts” were the municipalities outside the old city of Philadelphia, but within the county.
City Public. — Potter’s Field.
Coats. — The burying-ground of the Coats family was a 3rd and Brown.
Cohocksink. — Presb. Church, on Germantown road.
Combined Sunday School Assc.; C. S. School Assc.; Combine. — Same as “Combined Mission House”, a Reformed Church institution, with burying-ground, on Howard St., bel. Girard Ave.
Covenanters. — (See Dr. Wylie)
Dr. Berg’s Church, (1859). — Rev. Jos. F. Berg was pastor of the 2nd Dutch Reformed Church, at this time.
Doctor Carol. — Dr. D. L. Carroll was pastor of the 1st Presb. Church of the Northern Liberties, Buttonwood St., near 6th. Reports of interments at “Dr. Carol’s” or at “Buttonwood Street” (the two names sometimes found together) presumably refer to this church.
Doctor Eustace. — Rev. Thomas Eustace, was pastor of the Twelfth Presbyterian Church, (afterwards Cedar St. Presb.)
Doctor Wylie. — Dr. Samuel B. Wylie was pastor of the First Ref. Presb. Church., (sometimes known as the “Covenanters”).
Emanuel. — P. E. Church in Kensington.
Epiphany. — P. E. Church at 15th and Chestnut Sts.
Eneu. — James Eneu’s family burying-ground was on 5th St., above Carpenter.
Fairmount. — Reports of interments at “Fairmount” are made in 1838–9. This cannot be Fairmount Cemetery, incorporated in 1840. Perhaps it is the “New Jerusalem at Fairmont”, reported in 1828–9. (See New Jerusalem). The 2nd Reformed Presb. Church was also at Fairmount.
Fitler. — The Fitler family intermarried with the Pfeiffer family, so some members of the former were interred in the burying-ground of the latter. (See Peiffer).
Francisville. — There were several burying-grounds in Francisville. This may refer to the 5th Presb. there, or to the Potter’s Field known as the “Vineyard”. One report refers to “Francisville Board of Health”.
Gloria Dei. — The correct name of “Old Swedes Church”.
Grace. — P. E. Church at 12th and Cherry.
Harmony Burial Co. — (See Union Harmony).
Harrowgate, Frankford Road. — Probably a public burying-ground. [Editor’s note: This is not correct; Harrowgate refers to the Congregation Rodeph Shalom burying ground at that vicinity.]
Helverson’s Ground. — Nicholas Helverson, and undertaker, was interested in several burying-grounds. (See Mutual of Kensington).
Holy Trinity. — R. C., 6th and Spruce. (See also Trinity).
Independent. — Independent Church of Christ. (Universalist).
Israel, Congregation House of. — A Jewish Congregation.
John Wesley. — (See Wesley).
Kensington; Kensington Public; Old Kensington. — Probably all these refer to Palmer burying ground, the oldest in Kensington. (The name Palmer does not occur in these B. of H. registers).
Kensington Union. — (See Union).
Little Wesley. — (See Wesley).
Lutheran, Bakerstown. — This reference of 1850 is probably to a Lutheran Church in Beggarstown. (A locality in upper Germantown). [Editor’s note: this is Saint Michael’s Lutheran.]
Lutheran, L . P. Road; Lutheran Passyunk Road. — “L. P.” appears to mean “Lower Passyunk”. Trinity Evan. Lutheran Church is situated in this neighborhood. The church was actually on Rope Ferry road, near Passyunk Road, and interments there are reported as “Lutheran, Rope Ferry”, in 1856–9.
Lutheran, Rope Ferry. — (See Lutheran, Passyunk Road).
Market Square. — A Presbyterian church on Market Square, Germantown. (Formerly the German Reformed Congregation.)
Mechanics. — An abbreviation of American Mechanics.
Mount Zion. — There was a Christian church of this name, on Christian Street.
Moyamensing. — The Almshouse burying-ground, in Moyamensing township.
Mutual. — Mutual Family burying-ground, on Washington Ave.
Mutual of Kensington. — Exact location not known. Probably at Frankford Rd. and Norris St. In July, 1846, there is one single report of 23 burials at “Helverson’s”, which previously reported only an occasional interment. This report of the Mutual of Kensington is missing for the same period. In 1859, there is a report of an interment at “Mutual, Frankford road”.
New Jerusalem. — Swedenborgian.
New School. — About 1860, the Presb. Church underwent a separation into “New School” and “Old School”. There were numerous congregations in each group, so this reference cannot be identified.
Nicetown. — There were several burying-grounds in Nicetown; one being Hebrew and one Roman Catholic. (See St. Stephen’s). [Editor’s note: there were actually three Hebrew burial grounds in Nicetown, of the congregations House of Israel, Rodeph Shalom, and Keneseth Israel. There was also one family burial ground, that of the Hagel family.].
Noble Street. — The 2nd Presb. Church had a burying-ground on Noble St.
Old Kensington. — (See Kensington).
Oxford Trinity, (1854–9). — P. E. Church in Oxford township, now part of the City of Philadelphia.
Peiffer. — Mention of “Peiffer” “John Peiffer” may refer to the burying-ground of the Pfeiffer family, although no member of that family named John is known.
Philadelphia. — This was the original name of Ronaldson’s, which begins to report under the latter name about 1855.
Philadelphia P. R. — The Philadelphia Cemetery, on Passyunk road, is usually distinguished in the reports, from Ronaldson’s (which was earlier known as “Philadelphia”) by the initials “P. R.” It is also reported as “New Philadelphia”.
Pine Street. — “Old Pine Street” is the popular name for the 3rd Presb. Church at 4th and Pine Sts.
Ribella. — (See Arabella)
Rising Sun. — St. Johns M. E. burying-ground, at the village of that name.
Rose Cemetery. — The Rose family burying-ground was on Ludlow St., West Philadelphia.
Roxburry, (1851–1853). — Probably referred to some ground in Roxborough, a township lying along the Schuylkill river. (Now part of the city of Philadelphia).
St. James. — P. E. (Falls of Schuylkill).
St. John’s. — P.E. (Northern Liberties).
Evan. Luth. (Church on Race St.) usually reported merely as “Evangelical Lutheran.”
M. E. (Church in No. Liberties).
R. C. (Church on 13th St.).
St. John Street. — An M E. Church on the Street of that name (Name later changed to “St. John’s M. E. Church”).
St. Mary’s. — R. C. (Church on 4th St.).
P. E. (West Phila.)
St. Mary Street. — 2nd African Presb. Church, on St. Mary St. ab. 8th.
St. Mathew’s. — Luth. (Church on Buttonwood St.).
P. E. (Francisville)
St. Michael’s. — R. C. (2d and Jefferson)
Evan. Luth. (Germantown).
St. Paul’s. — M.E. (Church on Catharine St.).
P. E. (Church on 3d St.).
St. Peter’s. — P. E. (4th and Pine Sts.).
German R. C. (Church on Girard Ave.).
St. Stephen’s. — P. E. (Church on 10th St.).
R. C. (Nicetown).
M. E. (Germantown).
St. Thomas. — African P. E. (Church on Adelphi St.).
Sansom St. Baptist. — This was afterwards reorganized as the Fifth Baptist Church.
Say; Dr. Say; Thomas Say’s ground, etc. — The Say family burying-ground is situated on 3d St. adjoining the Friends’ Meeting ground. There is also reports of interments in “ground adjoining Say’s” which is presumed to mean the Porteus family burying-ground. [Editor’s note: this assumption is incorrect. Porteus’ ground was limited only to that of the grave of James Porteus, who was buried behind his home in 1736/7. The ground adjoining Say’s ground was that of the Jones Family.] In 1850, there is a reference to “Private c. 3d near Arch St.”, which may be either of the two above mentioned.
Scot’s Presbyterian. — One later became the Eighth Presb.; the other merged with another congregation. A most complicated subject. (See Scharf & Westcott for exact data).
Shiloh. — An African Baptist Church.
Solame (1859, 1860). — Perhaps intended for Salem Reformed Church.
Trinity. — P.E. (Church in Southwark).
P. E. (See Oxford Trinity).
Luth. (Germantown)
Luth. (Passyunk)
Union. — M. E. (Church on 4th St.).
African Bapt. (Church on Little Pine St.).
Baptist (Milestown)
Union. — Union burying-ground, (6th and Federal Sts.).
Union; Union Independent; Union Society. — First Swedenborgian Church.
Union Coates St.; Union Coates St. Col’d. — The Union African M. E. Church was situated on Coates St. (Now Fairmount Ave.).
Union Chestnut Hill, (1866–8). — This refers to the Union Burying-ground in that section.
Union Colored. — This appears to have been a burying-ground not connected with any church.
Union Harmony Burial Co. — Its ground was on Hanover St. Kensington and adjoined that of Union Wesleyan and Kensington M. E. Churches. This is not the place referred to as “Kensington Union” or Union of Kensington.
Union, of Northern Liberties and Kensington. — A ground on Belgrade St. Kensington.
Union Wesleyan. — Methodist Church, Kensington. (See also Union Harmony).
United Brethren. — Moravian.
Upper Lutheran, Germantown, (1854–9). — Probably a reference to Trinity Lutheran Church.
Welsh Cemetery. — The burying-ground of the Welsh Society, on Market St., West Phila.
Wesley. — There were three African Methodist Churches of this name: Big Wesley, Little Wesley and John Wesley. There is also reference to Colored Wesley.
Zoar. — A colored congregation belonging to the M. E. Church of Phila. (Not connected with the A. M. E. Church).
(signed) Chas. R. Barker
Grateful acknowledgments are made to Mr. Charles R. Barker, Lansdowne, Pa., for the information assembled in this and the several pages preceding. The extensive and patient research carried on by Mr. Barker, in the preparation of this compilation, has taken a long time, and he has verified the data personally wherever possible.
Mr. Barker is a specialist in genealogical and historical research.
Addenda to the Barker Manuscript
Anshe Emeth. — Also spelled “Anshy Emeth” on some returns. Congregation Anshe Emeth had a burial ground on Frankford Road at Cheltenham Ave. which isnow known as Mt. Carmel Cemetery.
Bible Christian. — The Bible Christian Church Burial Ground was located at 3rd Street and Girard in Kensington.
Branchtown Private Ground. — (See De Benneville Family).
Catholic Nicetown. — Saint Stephen’s R. C. Church at that locality.
Chandler Ground. — Rev. George Chandler founded the First Presbyterian Church in Kensington, whose burial ground was on Palmer Street. The two terms are sometimes found together.
DeBenneville Family. — Private family burial ground established by Dr. George DeBenneville, founder of the Universalist Church in America. Due to its location, it is sometimes referred to as the “Branchtown Private Ground”.
Dutch Reformed Presbyterian. — Another term for the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church.
Ebenezer. — The Ebenezer M. E. Church, on Christian Street, Southwark.
Emanuel. — Resurrection— P. E. Church, Holmesburg
Evangelical Lutheran, Frankford
German Reformed, Bridesburg
Forrest Home. — Home for retired actors and those connected with the theater, Holmesburg.
German Baptist. — Church of the Brethren (Dunkards).
German M.E. — Another name for the German Evangelical Church, or the Evangelical Association. Churches of this faith were located in Germantown, Southwark, and elsewhere in the City.
German Presbyterian. — Another term for the German Reformed church.
Hagel Family. — Michael Hagel established a family burial ground near Nicetown in 1822. Several registrations refer to this as a “private cemetery on farm” or “private burying ground, Nicetown”.
Hagy Church. — In 1837, John Hagy gave a lot of land containing the family’s farm burial plot to the Roxborough Dutch Reformed Church. It later became the Roxborough Presbyterian Church.
Harmony; Harmonia; Harmonial; Harmonian. — The African Friends of Harmony was a benevolent or mutual aid society developed for the specific purpose of burying Philadelphia’s African American population It was located in Blockely Township, now West Philadelphia.
Harrisburg Hill. — The Bethany A. M. E. Church was located in the village of Harrisburg, north of Holmesburg.
House of Correction. — An offshoot of the Blockley Almshouse, the House of Correction was eastablished in Holmesburg in 1874 to put low-level offenders and vagrants to work.
Leach. — Leech’s burial ground was established by William Young Sr. in Kingsessing in 1744, later passing to the family of John Leech through a daughter.
Lower Dublin. — Usually referring to the poor house of Oxford and Lower Dublin, in Holmesburg.
M.E. Union. — A burial ground established in 1832 by the Union M. E. Church between Tenth and Eleventh Streets, above Washington Avenue. It became known as “Old Union” or “Tenth Street Union” when the Sixth Street Union Cemetery was opened in 1841.
Magdalen Home. — A private charitable asylum founded in 1800 to redeem “fallen” women at Race Street and Schuylkill Second Street.
Metcalf Ground (Bible). — Dr. William Metcalfe was the founder of the Bible Christian Church.
Mr. McMahon. — Nurseryman Bernard McMahon laid off a portion of his expansive gardens for a burial ground in 1811, which later was purchased by Bernard Duke as “Duke’s Garden”. Some
Prison Garden. — Several burials of prisoners’ infants are noted in the garden of the Moyamensing Prison.
Red Lion. — John Hart’s burying ground in Byberry Township. Several generations of the Rush family are interred here.
Rosine Association. — A benevolent society founded to home “fallen women” which had an institution on Germantown Avenue above 32nd Street. Some infants who died at the institution were buried on its grounds.
Rush Graveyard. — (See Red Lion).
Schaeffer’s Church. — Charles W. Schaeffer was pastor of St. Michael’s Evangelical Lutheran Church from 1849–1875.
Stenton Private. — The burial ground of the Logan family at their estate, “Stenton”.
Township Ground. — Refers to several burial grounds established by the poor boards of the various townships in the pre-consolidation County of Philadelphia, including Germantown, Penn, and Byberry.
These call for further examination: A Reformed Church Burial Ground on Spruce Street; Douglas Private Ground; Frankford (North Street); Island M.E.; North Street Frankford; North Water Meeting House; Presbyterian Milestown; Saint Philip’s African (1826); Second Convent.
A Note about the Anatomical Act of 1883
Anatomical. — Following the passage of the Anatomy Act of 1883, unclaimed bodies were permitted to be used for medical research. Corpses would be delivered to the board of anatomy and distributed to schools for teaching. Mostly, these were simply marked “Anatomical” or “Anatomy Board” in registers. However specific destinations were sometimes listed, among them:
- Hahneman
- Homeopathic College
- Jefferson College
- Medical College
- Medico-Chirurgical College
- Penn School Anatomical and Penn Dental College (University of Pennsylvania)
- German Hospital
- Sternback Collge
- University of Pennsylvania
- University of Pennsylvania Hospital
- Woman’s College
Jonathan Hoppe 