Extracted from:

HISTORY OF BURLINGTON AND MERCER COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY
WITH  BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF MANY OF THEIR PIONEERS 
             AND PROMINENT MEN

    by Major E.M. Woodward & John F. Hageman

              EVERTS & PECK
                  1883

   PRESS OF J.B. LIPPINCOTT & CO., PHILADELPHIA
======================================================

The first interment was made in what was long known as the Ely 
burying-ground, in 1756. This burial-place is situated on the farm 
once owned by the pioneer John Ely, on the crown of the ridge 
dividing the waters of the Delaware and Raritan Rivers, and 
contains the remains of John Ely, his three wives, and numerous 
other relatives and descendants, besides those of many other 
residents of the township who have been interred there since the 
burying-ground was opened to the public.

John Ely deeded the farm on which this graveyard is located to his 
son Isaac in 1792, three years before his death. 
May 21, 1831, Isaac Ely bequeathed half an acre for a burial-place. 
It retained the name of "The Ely Burying-ground" until after the 
death, in 1845, of Allison Ely, Jr., who left a legacy of one 
hundred dollars, the interest upon which was devoted to the 
maintenance and improvement of the grounds. The farm was purchased 
of George J. Ely and Enoch Chamberlain, trustees, by Richard Norton, 
in 1831, and has been owned by J.R. Norton since 1855.

In 1845, the East Windsor Cemetery Company of Mercer County was 
chartered by the Legislature of New Jersey, and Richard Norton, 
Joseph J. Ely, and William Norton were chosen trustees. By the will 
of Elijah Ely two hundred dollars was left for the uses of this 
cemetery in 1879. From the sale of lots one hundred dollars was 
added to the cemetery fund in 1880. At the close of 1881 it amounted 
to four hundred dollars. 

The following inscriptions are copied from headstones in this old 
burial-place:

"Phebe Allison, first wife of John Ely, born 1712, died 1766."

"Jemima Lee, wife of Richard Ely, died 1791."

"Richard Ely, died 1791, aged 58 years and 4 months."

"Sarah, wife of Samuel Lee, died 1791, aged 75."

"Sacred the memory of John Ely, who departed this life March

11th, l795, aged 87 years, 5 months, and 10 days."

In memory of Joshua Ely, who departed this life August the 21st, 
  1803, aged 63 years, 2 months, and 10 days."

"Deborah Hammel, 3d wife of John Ely, born 1729, died 1812."

"Our Father and Mother. In memory of David Cunningham, who died 
  January 28th, l806, and was buried in the ocean, aged 37 years, 
  11 months, and 10 days. Also his widow, Phila, died September 26th, 
  1657, aged 90 years, 9 months, and 9 days." 

Here, in June, 1879, was interred the first and only colored person 
  for whose burial in the cemetery permission has been granted. She 
  had been a servant in the Ely family, and desired to be buried with 
  those with whom she had so long lived. She died aged ninety-two. 

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THE OLD MILFORD BURYING-GROUND. — The old Milford burying-ground was 
  opened in the last quarter of the last century, and was formerly 
  embraced in the Ely tract, and was conveyed to Joseph Hutchinson, 
  and by him to the trustees of the Milford graveyard. It was 
  enlarged by the addition of a piece of ground purchased from 
  William I. Ely. Previous to that time the row of cedars standing 
  in it grew along its westerly fence. An association formed with the 
  object of attending to this cemetery was incorporated Feb. 20, 
  1849. 

From some of the older headstones there the following inscriptions 
have been copied:

"In memory of the Rev. Aaron Hutchinson, who died July the 30th, 
  1791, in the 24th year of his age.

"Four years I labored In the Lord,
I bore this cross and preached this word,
My body now lies in the ground
Till the last trumpet of God shall sound."

"In memory of Mary Hutchinson, wife of Joseph Hutchinson, who 
  departed this life (the 17th day of June, 1801, aged 64 years, 
  11 mouths and 15 days."

"In memory of Thomas Whiles, who departed this life November 18th, 
  1803, aged 25 years, 5 months, and 7 days."

"In memory of Mary, wife of William Ely, who departed this life April 
  the 21st, 1803, in the 66th year of her age."

"In memory of William Ely, who departed this life July 30th, 1807, 
  aged 69 years, 1 month, and 2 days."

"In memory of Grace, wife of Joseph Ely, who departed this life 
  March 11th, 1819, aged 39 years, 6 months, and 14 days."

"In memory of Wesley, son of Joseph and Meribah Hutchinson, who 
  departed this life November 7th, 1832, aged 18 years, 6 months, 
  and 9 days.

"Here lies inclosed a blooming youth
Blest once in health as I;
His death repeats this solemn truth,
The living know that they must die."