Old Southampton Burial Ground
Southampton, New York
40.882201, -72.385128
The resting place of many founders of Southampton, this burying ground was in use from 1640-1897. It contains around 1700 burials, with only 47 remaining headstones.
Known as the South End Burying Ground during its time in use, this cemetery is the older of the two colonial cemeteries in the Village of Southampton. Interments on this site began in 1640, and it is located in what is now a residential neighborhood. The burial ground was surveyed with ground penetrating radar in 2016 to search for anomalies in the soil below ground that may reveal unmarked graves. Significantly, the survey indicated the presence of approximately 1700 burials. 47 headstones, and 24 footstones remain on the site, which has been used in various ways throughout its history. The cemetery has previously been in danger of crumbling due to neglect, but the renewed interest in the site will certainly aide in preservation of the remaining stones.
The burial ground holds notable interments, such as members of the Halsey family, who still represent a strong presence in the Southampton community more than 350 years later. Also buried here are several ship captains, such as Thomas Stephens and Obadiah Rogers. Additionally, it is the resting place for members of the Howell family, who were among the founders of Southampton, and settlers born in England.
