Gorton Family Cemetery LbNA #4505 (ARCHIVED)
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Add Location| Owner: | Adoptable |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Jun 28, 2003 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Waterford |
| County: | New London |
| State: | Connecticut |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Planted by: | Steve and Heidi  |
|---|---|
| Found by: | quiltjoy |
| Last found: | Aug 27, 2014 |
| Status: | FaFFFFaFFFFFFFFFFFar |
| Last edited: | Jun 28, 2003 |
Drive-Up Box with VERY easy access from Interstate 95, Exit 81.
Geneaology: The Gorton Family Cemetery lies alongside I-95 north in the town of Waterford, CT. Brief family synopsis:
William Gorton and Lydia Collins, married 1736. William and Lydia had seven children while living in Rhode Island:
1.Benjamin Gorton, b. July 25, 1737
2.Mary Gorton, b. Sept. 30, 1739
3. John Gorton, b. June 2, 1742
4. Lydia Gorton, b. August 6, 1744
5. Sarah Gorton, b. Dec 31, 1746
6. William Gorton, b. Sept. 21, 1748
7. Collins Gorton, b. Aug. 23, 1752
Each child (I think!) is burried in this plot, with the oldest headstone dating to 1825. A link at the end of the clues takes you to a brief family and cemetery history by a descendant. Unfortunately, she did not know much family history, so I have conducted quite a bit on my own!
Historical Significance: William Gorton was the son of Samuel Gorton (IV). Samuel (IV) being the great grandson of Samuel Gorton (I)who arrived in America (in Boston) in 1636 aboard the Speedwell. Gorton was religiously a nonconformist and fled England, and later Holland, seeking religious freedoms. Upon arriving in what we now know as Massachusetts, he became confrontational with the Puritanist governments and was eventually jailed. He escaped incarceration and fled to the lands of the Narragansetts, in much the same fashion that Roger Williams was banished.
Gorton founded Shawomet in 1642 as part of the Shawomet Purchase, this land being found just south of the Providence area. Shawomet was later renamed Warwick in honor of the Earl of Warwick, who assisted Gorton in colonizing the land and gaining safe passage to Rhode Island. In 1649, Gorton became head of Warwick and is more historically known as the first citizen of Warwick, RI.
The Gorton family had significance in the greater New London area for organizing much of the New England Baptist church sect. The Gorton's were a very prosperous family and owned much of the land in this area at one time.
Clues: From Cross Road in Waterford, turn east (toward New London) on Waterford Parkway South. About 0.2 miles down the road, see a pull-off on the right hand side. Park here and look left towards I-95 and you will see a small cemetery just north of a stone wall. Here lies the Gorton's. The prize you seek lies in the top of the wall on the east end. Look carefully and try not to take the wall apart too much! Stamp in and re-hide carefully.
Caution!!! This cemetery is literally along the side of the interstate. I would heavily recommend keeping a tight leash on kids and dogs! Actually, I would suggest leaving them in the car for safe keeping. Please take note that the stones within this historical site are rapidly deteriorating due to the road salt etc. used to treat the highway in our New England climate. One stone appears to have been shattered...and indeed was...the stone was repaired by the Town of Waterford and an interesting article can be found at: http://www.shakingmytree.homestead.com/Gortonpage.html
Thanks for visiting and taking the time to read and learn!
Excellent information of Samuel Gorton can be found at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~rigenweb/article20.html
Last verified: 3/1/2004 by Madras
Geneaology: The Gorton Family Cemetery lies alongside I-95 north in the town of Waterford, CT. Brief family synopsis:
William Gorton and Lydia Collins, married 1736. William and Lydia had seven children while living in Rhode Island:
1.Benjamin Gorton, b. July 25, 1737
2.Mary Gorton, b. Sept. 30, 1739
3. John Gorton, b. June 2, 1742
4. Lydia Gorton, b. August 6, 1744
5. Sarah Gorton, b. Dec 31, 1746
6. William Gorton, b. Sept. 21, 1748
7. Collins Gorton, b. Aug. 23, 1752
Each child (I think!) is burried in this plot, with the oldest headstone dating to 1825. A link at the end of the clues takes you to a brief family and cemetery history by a descendant. Unfortunately, she did not know much family history, so I have conducted quite a bit on my own!
Historical Significance: William Gorton was the son of Samuel Gorton (IV). Samuel (IV) being the great grandson of Samuel Gorton (I)who arrived in America (in Boston) in 1636 aboard the Speedwell. Gorton was religiously a nonconformist and fled England, and later Holland, seeking religious freedoms. Upon arriving in what we now know as Massachusetts, he became confrontational with the Puritanist governments and was eventually jailed. He escaped incarceration and fled to the lands of the Narragansetts, in much the same fashion that Roger Williams was banished.
Gorton founded Shawomet in 1642 as part of the Shawomet Purchase, this land being found just south of the Providence area. Shawomet was later renamed Warwick in honor of the Earl of Warwick, who assisted Gorton in colonizing the land and gaining safe passage to Rhode Island. In 1649, Gorton became head of Warwick and is more historically known as the first citizen of Warwick, RI.
The Gorton family had significance in the greater New London area for organizing much of the New England Baptist church sect. The Gorton's were a very prosperous family and owned much of the land in this area at one time.
Clues: From Cross Road in Waterford, turn east (toward New London) on Waterford Parkway South. About 0.2 miles down the road, see a pull-off on the right hand side. Park here and look left towards I-95 and you will see a small cemetery just north of a stone wall. Here lies the Gorton's. The prize you seek lies in the top of the wall on the east end. Look carefully and try not to take the wall apart too much! Stamp in and re-hide carefully.
Caution!!! This cemetery is literally along the side of the interstate. I would heavily recommend keeping a tight leash on kids and dogs! Actually, I would suggest leaving them in the car for safe keeping. Please take note that the stones within this historical site are rapidly deteriorating due to the road salt etc. used to treat the highway in our New England climate. One stone appears to have been shattered...and indeed was...the stone was repaired by the Town of Waterford and an interesting article can be found at: http://www.shakingmytree.homestead.com/Gortonpage.html
Thanks for visiting and taking the time to read and learn!
Excellent information of Samuel Gorton can be found at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~rigenweb/article20.html
Last verified: 3/1/2004 by Madras