Sparta Cemetery

Sparta Cemetery, located in Ossining, New York, is a small yet historically significant burial ground that dates back to the early 18th century. It reflects the rich history and development of the region, offering insights into the lives of the people who lived in and around Ossining.

Early History and Establishment

The origins of Sparta Cemetery can be traced to the early 1700s, making it one of the oldest cemeteries in Westchester County. The land it occupies was once part of Philipsburg Manor, a colonial landholding of about 52,000 acres. Sparta was one of the earlier communities established in the area, and the cemetery served as the final resting place for many of its inhabitants.

This cemetery was originally the burial ground for the First Presbyterian Church of Mount Pleasant, later the First Presbyterian Church of Ossining. The original church building (no longer extant) was next to Sparta Cemetery while the current church is 2 miles north at 34 South Highland Avenue in downtown Ossining.

Ernest Freeland Griffin, in his 1946 history Westchester County and Its People, records that after the congregation moved to its new home around 1800, it sought assistance from the State of New York in establishing clear ownership of the burial ground. In 1808 the New York State legislature confirmed title to the property to the church.

Whether it was the increasing cost of maintenance or the 2 miles distance between church and burial ground or some combination thereof, the church handed over care of the cemetery to the Ossining Historical Society in 1939. In 1984 the church transferred ownership to the Ossining Historical Society Museum which in turn transferred ownership to the Town of Ossining in 2012.

A Preservation Effort: Bringing Out the Dead (Respectfully)

Recognizing its historical significance, local historians and community members have made efforts to preserve and maintain Sparta Cemetery. The cemetery is maintained by the Town of Ossining with assistance from Ossining Historic Cemeteries Conservancy, which works to ensure that the monuments are kept in good condition. The Conservancy also documents the history of the cemetery, making sure that even if the gravestones fade, the stories do not.

Maintaining a historic cemetery is often quite expensive. Landscaping costs are significantly higher in a cemetery than other types of property due to the need to take care around the many monuments. Additionally there is the recurring need for specialized preservation techniques to protect aging monuments and headstones, which are prone to weathering and decay.

There are a number of veterans of the American Revolution buried in Sparta Cemetery, though the count has varied over the years. In the early 1900s the Mohegan Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution gave Sparta some much needed attention, restoring headstones and researching veteran graves. According to an article in the Nyack Evening Journal on May 25, 1909, one of the DAR volunteers identified the burial location of 7 out of 12 Revolutionary soldiers supposedly interred here. A 2011 article in the Daily Voice revealed that extensive research by the Ossining Historical Society had yielded a total of 34 veterans of the Revolution.

Modern Day: A Walk Among the Stones

Today, Sparta Cemetery is a peaceful place where history buffs, genealogists, and curious visitors can stroll among the graves. It’s an active cemetery, though new burials are about as rare as a sensible tweet from Kanye West. The most recent was in 2007.

According to OHCC, the oldest legible tombstone is that of Sarah Ladew, dating to 1764.