New Jersey is one of those states that has some truly historic and wonderfully interesting cemeteries. Of course, oftentimes with these historical spots, come paranormal tales and mysterious stories. This can certainly lead to some people declaring the cemetery to be haunted. Such is the case with Piscatawaytown Cemetery. Not only is this burial ground truly majestic, but it also is one of the oldest and coincidentally one of the most haunted cemeteries in New Jersey.
There’s a lot to be said about a cemetery that dates back to 1693, and that’s just the marker of the first gravestone.
Piscatawaytown Cemetery, also known as Piscatawaytown Burial Ground in Edison, New Jersey is one of the oldest cemeteries in Middlesex County.
While still an active burial ground to this day, there was much that happened between 1693 and now. This is what lends itself to the haunted stories that have been cemented in history.
Throughout the years, many researchers and historians have taken an interest in how and when the cemetery came to be. Previous studies produced no chronological order in which the burials were performed.
Over 80 graves have been discovered here. However, only about a dozen of these have been identified. Historians are still diligently working to identify the other unmarked graves, which has proven to be a challenging endeavor.
With centuries of activity at Piscatawaytown Cemetery, it’s only right that stories have come to light, especially ones that have direct ties to the spiritual and paranormal. One such story involves that of Mary Moore, also known as a legendary witch.
During Colonial times, Mary was accused of being a witch when neighbors said she dressed like one, grew strange plants, and influenced odd behavior in animals. Moore was eventually hanged for what was deemed to be "witchy" behavior.
But the story doesn’t stop there, in the 1900s, a teenage boy stole her headstone and kept it in his closet. Not too long after, he was killed crossing Route 1 and the boy’s brother smashed the headstone to smithereens, insinuating Moore was behind the cause of death.
Another story involves a man by the name of Thomas W. Harper, who was killed during a tornado in 1835. Harper, as the legend goes, was standing out in the storm being directed by townsfolk to get inside to safety. Harper declared he would not fear God until he felt his power - and then was struck with timber from the church. Harper died four days later.
These are just two of the many stories to come out of Piscatawaytown Cemetery. Buried here are many original families of the town. Including soldiers from various wars including the Civil War and American Revolution, plus mayors, and other influential residents.
Despite the rumored haunted lore of the cemetery, there is still much beauty in the history and architecture that deserves to be admired by all.
The Piscatawaytown Cemetery is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cemeteries in New Jersey. Have you visited? If so, do you think it’s one of the most haunted cemeteries in New Jersey? I'd love to hear your thoughts! If you have any interesting stories, feel free to share them in the comments. If you’re looking for more information on this old cemetery, check out the Piscatawaytown Burial Ground Facebook Page.
If you'd like to check it out, but aren't from the area we highly recommend spending a long weekend nearby. You can fill your days with fun activities that can be booked through Viator.
Are you a fan of the paranormal in New Jersey? If so, then you're going to want to read all about the Pine Barrens. It's undoubtedly one of the most haunted forests in North America.
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