Loyalist Cemetery Profile: Trinity Anglican Church

Name: Trinity Anglican Church Cemetery

Location: 105 Second St. West, Cornwall, ON

Confirmed Loyalist Burials:

  • Elisha Anderson (King’s Royal Regiment of New York, son of Samuel Anderson)
  • James Anderson (King’s Royal Regiment of New York, son of Samuel Anderson)
  • Samuel Anderson (King’s Royal Regiment of New York)
  • Deliverance Butts (wife of Samuel Anderson)
  • Christianna Curtis (wife of two soldiers in King’s Royal Regiment of New York: Jacob Astin, who died in 1783; Matthias Snetsigner)
  • Mary Dewitt (wife of Adam Hartle and daughter of Garton Dewitt)
  • Dorothea Eamer (wife of Henry Gallinger)
  • Benjamin Eastman (Jessup’s Corps)
  • Philip Empey (King’s Royal Regiment of New York)
  • Catherine Farrand (wife of John Valentine, King’s Royal Regiment of New York)
  • Jacob Farrand (King’s Royal Regiment of New York)
  • Johanna Farrand (wife of Joseph Anderson, King’s Royal Regiment of New York)
  • Catherine Gallinger (wife of Peter Eamer)
  • Christopher Gallinger (King’s Royal Regiment of New York)
  • Henry Gallinger (King’s Royal Regiment of New York)
  • Michael Gallinger Jr. (King’s Royal Regiment of New York)
  • James Gray (King’s Royal Regiment of New York)
  • Barnabus Hart (King’s Royal Regiment of New York)
  • Adam Hartle (King’s Royal Regiment of New York) *probable
  • Mary Johnston (wife of John Pescod, King’s Royal Regiment of New York)
  • Elizabeth Low (wife of James Gray)
  • Sarah Osborne (wife of Jonas Wood)
  • David Robertson (King’s Royal Regiment of New York)
  • Henry Runions (King’s Royal Regiment of New York)
  • Michael Vankoughnet (King’s Royal Regiment of New York)
  • Catherine Vick/Wick (wife of Michael Cline) *probable
  • Jonas Wood (non-military Loyalist)
  • George Wait (King’s Royal Regiment of New York)
  • Catherine Warner (wife of Peter Fitzpatrick)

The above list is not complete; additional research will likely uncover additional Loyalists. Entries marked with “*probable” have a higher level of uncertainty.

Remarks:

This is the oldest burial ground in the City of Cornwall. It was first used a a common graveyard for local Protestants, and later as one for only Trinity Anglican Church members. It lies adjacent to the current church, occupying the western portion of the block (Lot 21, North Side of Second Street). Despite its age, there are only a few old stones still in existence. In 1890, local historian J.F. Pringle noted that it contained tombstones dating as early as the late 1780s. For example, there was one dated 1789, which bore the name “Mrs. Empey.” The Empeys were a prominent local Loyalist family, some of its men having served in the King’s Royal Regiment of New York. This stone is no longer in existence, unfortunately.

Pringle also remarked on a special plot within the cemetery, in his book Lunenburgh or the Old Eastern District:

The old burial plot surrounded by a stone wall had at one time a wooden tablet attached to it, on which was the following inscription:

Herein interred Colonel James Gray, died 11th May, 1795, aged 64.

Mrs. Elizabeth Gray, died 14th February, 1800, aged 63.

Jacob Farrand, Esq., died 11th May, 1803, aged 39 years and 6 months.

John L. Farrand, Esq., died 29th June, 1814, aged 30 years and 4 months.

This memorial is placed by their affectionate relative, Catherine Valentine, May 1820.

The stone wall which had fallen into ruins was repaired in 1883 by J.F. Pringle, Geo. Pringle and T.S. Rubidge.

In 1892, Pringle also erected a stone with the above information, in addition to other data. That stone is now located inside the church.

No burials took place here after the 1880s, when the municipality outlawed interments within the town’s “Old Square Mile.” The church had actually curtailed burials in the small cemetery several years before that: In the 1860s, it limited new burials to church members with relatives already buried there.

Other than the plaque mentioned above, there is only one extant tombstone in this cemetery connected to the Loyalists mentioned above (David Robertson). It is assumed that, if others existed, they have succumbed to the ravages of time. Alternatively, perhaps some toppled over and lay buried underneath the sod.

On June 11, 2019, St. Lawrence Branch UELAC unveiled a Loyalist Burial Site plaque at this cemetery, during a well-attended event on a lovely late-spring evening.

Organizer Stuart Manson (UELAC St. Lawrence Branch) and Rev. Patrick Stephens (Trinity Anglican Church) unveil the plaque (Photo: Carol Goddard)
Several of the plaque unveiling attendees, including members of the UELAC St. Lawrence Branch, parishioners of Trinity Anglican Church, and members of the general public. (Photo: Carol Goddard)

Click here for our general news release for this unveiling.