HILLPOT GRAVEYARD TINICUM TOWNSHIP
The following information was derived from various newspaper clippings of the
Doylestown Intelligencer starting with March 28, 1927. Some portions were taken
in their entirety for the pupose of research and our family reference.
PIONEERING WORK AND EXCAVATIONS RESTORE OLD TINICUM
GRAVEYARD GROWN WITH TREES
A rather poor photo was installed here it showed a before and after picture
of the graveyard. The latter picture shows more tombstones than I recall seeing
at the sight.
( BY REV. ALLEN S. FISHER)
A great deal has been heard about pioneer work, in Kentucky and Tennessee in the early 18th century and about excavations of recent years in the Bible lands, but hardly anyone would think of such things happening in Tinicum Township, Buck's county, yet both of them have happened there within the past few months.
The section known as Lower Tinicum has a history which dates from the pre-Revolutionary days as is shown, at least partially, by the survival of Indian names such as Tohickon and Tinicum; but the recent work on one of the oldest cemeteries of the community proves that this section was settled prior to the days of the American Independence.
The accompanying views taken on January 25, 1927, of the old cemetery at Lower Tinicum are typical of a "before and after" treatment of a liberal portion of public spiritedness and muscular exercise which yielded five good sized two horse loads of cord wood.
For at least 25 years this old cemetery, located about one-half mile off the main road, between Pipersville and Smithtown, was left uncared for and had grown up to be a forsaken wilderness instead of a revered "Gods Acre," Upon the request of Rev. A.S. Fisher, the pastor of Christ Lutheran congregation, Tinicum about one-half mile from the cemetery, Messrs. Oliver Hillpot, John Heritage, Ira Wolfinger, Sylvester Emig, LeRoy Haney and Otto Waldin assisted in the work of clearing away the trees, briars, etc., and of straightening the tombstones.
Many of the trees had grown to a thickness of from 6-12 inches so the work was not at all unlike clearing of a frontier claim.
Many of the graves were unmarked or merely with fieldstone markers which bore no inscriptions. Many of the graves were located not by the mound but because of the sunken condition for usually where was a sunken space a marker could be unearthed somewhere near by.
Many of the tombstones that bore inscriptions, because of the lack of proper foundation, had fallen over and were completely covered with leaves, roots and ground so that the work in this respect was not unlike the excavations in Babylon, Egypt, or Jerusalem.
The dilapidated condition is, un-doubtedly, to be explained by the fact that the cemetery was filled, and the church was removed about one-quarter mile to where other burial grounds were begun. All of the closest decedents have all died or else removed from this community long ago. The best information obtainable concerning the former care of this burial yard was the fact that one of the oldest residents of the community, remembers that about 25 years ago the yard had a similar trimming and that outside of a broken down stone wall was found a marble stone once evidently having served as a cornerstone and bearing the inscription "Trusties 1828 Henry Hillpot, John Fox, Arnold Leer, Emanuel Worman."
Very little information seems available concerning the first church which was built somewhere near the burial ground, except that it was a log church... There is no record as to when it was built or how long it was used, but according to the inscriptions on some of the tombstones it must have been in use from about 1759. There are supposed to have been some baptismal records, and list of catechumens and communicants of the Lutheran Congregation as early as 1747, although the congregation was not formerly organized until 1769. It is commonly reported that Henry Muhlenberg, the patriarch of American Lutheranism, in his travels among the German settlers of eastern Penna. Preached to some German settlers near the juncture of the Delaware River and the Tinicum Creek and that these people organized a Lutheran Congregation in 1769, although Rev. John Michael Enderlein preached for them from 1766-69.
This Log Church was jointly owned, it seems, by the Lutheran and Presbyterian congregations. No records are available concerning the Presbyterian congregation, but it is understood that they joined with the Lutherans about 1808 in building a second edifice about one-quarter mile removed from the old site on the Dark Hallow Road, from Wormansville (now Tinicum) to the Delaware River. This church in turn was replaced in 1861 by a third building best known throughout the community as the Brick Church, which the Lutheran and the reformed used conjointly. Although each congregation has had its church since 1908. It was around the site of the brick church that the later cemeteries, which are still being used, grew up.
To make desirable repairs and to provide for the perpetual care of the old
cemetery would mean raising of a sum of no less than$2000-$3000. This seems
impossible at the present time as the Lutheran congregation in the past 5-10
years has greatly increased its payments toward the benevolent work of the
church and has raised no less than $5000, which is not near enough, to provide
perpetual care for the present burial grounds (two church-yards and an
incorporated cemetery which had been inactive, until recently reorganized). If
any descendants of those buried in this old burial ground, or any other public
spirited people are sufficiently interested to place a trust fund in any of the
Doylestown trust companies, Christ's Evan. Lutheran Congregation of Lower
Tinicum, which is an incorporated organization, shall be glad to be informed and
will resume the responsibility of caring for said cemetery or as much as the
annual income of such funds may provide.
The inscriptions of the legible tombstones are as follows;
Magdalene Y. Hillpot (Dau. of Geo. Eliz) Sept. 16, 1830 - May 4, 1842
George A. Hillpot Jan. 7, 1791 - Oct. 13, 1864
Elizabeth Hillpot Nov. 2, 1793 - Mar 22, 1857
Elizabeth Y. Hillpot (Dau of Geo. A. - Eliz) Sept. 8, 1835 - May 16, 1855. Field marker only
Elizabeth H. Hillpot (wife of Geo.) Died Nov. 24, 1840
George Hillpot Died Aug. 16, 1831
Frederic Hillpot Sr. Sept. 7, 1771- Sept. 4, 1858
Susanna Hillpot (Wife of Frederic) Jan. 7, 1783 - April 28, 1857
Catherine Hillpot (Dau of Fred - Susanna) March 5, 1837 aged 29-8-3
Killian Kraller Died June 23, 1815
Mary Kraslar Aug. 22, 1740 - Aug. 16, 1807
George Adam Hillpot died Sept 1777 aged 41 years
Thomas Barnts (son of Peter-Ann Eliz) Sept 26, 1832 - Aug. 22, 1855
Ann Elizabeth Barnts (wife of Peter Barnts) Aug. 4, 1769 - Nov. 1, 1843
Peter T. Barnts Jan. 1, 1767 - Nov. 30, 1843
Ann Julyne (Dau. of Samuel Brandt - Sarah Kallar) died Dec. 20, 1827
Susanna (Dau. Peter - Eliz Barnts) died Jan. 26, 1811
Frederick Barnts (Son of Peter - Eliz Barnts) died Dec. 6, 1797 aged 2-0-17
Ann Elizabeth Barntz (Wife of Adam Barntz) Apr. 3, 1808 - July 30, 1892
Adam Barntz Oct. 19, 1803 - Dec. 3, 1878
Sophia Heaney (Wife of Samuel Heaney) Feb. 14, 1820 - June 17, 1903
Ann Margaretta Frankenfield Died Nov. 12, 1821
Ann Margarata Snyder Died Sept. 11, 1824
George Snyder Died Jan. 11, 1833
Barnet Snyder Died may 30, 1845
Catherine Snyder July 28, 1787 - Apr. 11, 1853
Leah Cooper 1806 - 1892
William Weiker S. T. 1764 field stone, marked at base only
Samuel C. Snyder Apr. 16, 1815 - Apr. 5, 1862
Emeline Snyder Died Sept. 8, 1857
Catherine Snyder Died Feb. 18, 1860
William Jiser Died Dec. 30, 1759 (oldest stone)
Mary Kealer (Consort of William Kealer) Died Dec. 26, 1834
William Kealer Died March 7, 1835
George Kealer Sr. Died Dec. 25, 1830
Balzer Kealer (German inscription) Died Sept. 10, 1794
Mary Magdalene Swope Died Aug. 18, 1861
John Swope Died Aug. 24, 1856
Mary Swope (Wife of John Swope) Nov. 30, 1796 - Aug 16, 1843
Barbary Trauger Died Sept. 12, 1817
Maria Kollerin (German Inscription) Died Dec. 25, 1800
John Swope Died Aug 29, 1800
Mary Magdelene Swope Died June, 1856
Marker Inscribed L.K.
John M. Kealer Died Jan. 9, 1831
Catherine Wildonger Dec. 3, 1807 - July 17, 1841
Field Stone Marker Inscribed L. W. 1828
Susannah George Died July 16, 1842
Frederick George Sr. Died Jan. 31, 1842
Susannah George (Wife of Frederick Sr.) Died 1810
John Swope Died Sept. 19, 1859
Lewis Kealer Died Aug. 21, 1843
Jordon Snyder (Son of Anthony - Rachel) Died Sept. 29, 1857
Mary Wyker (Wife of George Wyker) Died April 8, 1844
George Wyker Died April 1, 1850
Eve George (Wife of Jacob George) Died Sept. 8, 1829
Jacob George Died Aug. 19, 1815
Henry Willhelm Hillpot (Son of Adam- Catherine) July 16, 1832 June 2, 1834
Franny Hillpot (Dau. of Henry- Elizabeth) Mar. 11, 1805-July 9, 1807
Rebecca George (Dau. Of Frederic- wife) died Aug. 22, 1807
Susanna George (Dau. Of Frederic-wife Died Jan. 13, 1798
Margaretta Weaver (Wife of Isaac Weaver, Dau. of Jacob George ) Died May 11, 1801
Field Stone Marker Inscribed A. L. 1814
Frederick S. Hillpot July 27, 1799 - Sept. 11, 1801
Rajena Barbara (Wife of Barnet Hillpot) Died June 18, 1855
Barnet Hillpot Died Jan. 23, 1848
Molly Snyder Died Aug. 28, 1814
Peter Snyder Died May 29, 1927
Jane Snyder Oct. 13, 1789 - Dec. 3, 1878
Daniel Snyder March 11, 1788 - Aug. 27, 1830
Anna Maria (Wife of John Snyder April 17, 1777 Sept. 25, 1841
John Snyder Dec. 5, 1776 - Oct. 5, 1865
Leah Barbara Snyder Apr. 17, 1807 - Nov. 14, 1860
Tobias Snyder June 26, 1811 - June 21, 1887
Rachel Keeler (Wife of Anthony Snyder) Oct. 4, 1826 - June 23, 1872
Henry Hillpot Feb. 15, 1772 - Feb. 7, 1845
Elizabeth Hillpot (Wife of Henry) Died Aug. 11, 1847
Newbary Ott (Son of Jacob - Eve) Died Aug. 12, 1847
Julia Ann (Wife of Joseph Stout) Nov. 27, 1810 - June 3, 1877
Eve Hilpot Jan. 10, 1818 - Feb. 14, 1889
Rachel Hillpot May 31, 1803 - June 8, 1882
Juliann Hilepot (Wife of Isaiah Hilepot) Died Oct. 11, 1810
Space at last two tiers at roadside seems to be vacant. Possibly markers all been destroyed by cattle which have been grazing in the burial ground.
Excerpts from a newspaper clipping of December 19, 1928. Upon a marble slab found lying outside the dilapidated stone wall was inscribed: "Trustees 1828: Henry Hillpot, John Fox, Arnold Leer, Emmanuel Worman. By searching through the records in the recorders office at Doylestown, it was found that this yard had been deeded to Frederick Hillpot and William Kealer by George and Magdalena Mast for the sum of three pounds. April 12, 1932; a newspaper clipping in an effort to raise funds by Rev. Fisher showed there were about 60 plots for which it was impossible to locate the owners of.
In a book titled Lutheranism in Buck's County I found this. The first church was a log structure. No one now living is able to definitely locate the site; but the evidence is that it was in or quite close to the Hillpot graveyard. William Reep born in 1802 informed his daughter, Mary Ann Reep of Quakertown, Pa., now nearing the century mark but still of wonderful mental power, that he recalled having attended a funeral in the log structure and thus seen its interior before it was demolished. No information is available as to its architecture, exact size, or the time of its erection. It served until 1808 when the second church was built.
There are three graves which were added to the site after this list was published. These are on a low granite marker located toward the front left side of the graveyard. I will research the family and add information at a later date
Stephen C. Strunz August 14, 1869 - May 28, 1953
Marie V. v Beust Strunz April 22, 1871 - November 9, 1937
Edna A. Strunz June 10, 1894 - November 14, 1981