Port Hope Pioneer Presbyterian Cemetery

The Port Hope Pioneer Presbyterian Cemetery

1827-1873

Dedicated to the memory of over 60 members of First Presbyterian Church buried here. A small frame church completed in 1831 on the hill above facing Baldwin Street was replaced by a large brick church in 1854. These early settlers contributed much to the development of the community by their ideals of industry, piety and charity.

The Port Hope Pioneer Cemetery is located at 69 Bruton St in Port Hope. As you can see in the picture below, it is quite hidden at the top of a small hill on a residential street, and other than the sign at the cemetery there are no signs telling you that this place exists, which there should be if it's a heritage site. I would be willing to bet that a good amount of Port Hope citizens don't even know this place exists.

Nearly 30 years ago it would have been even easier to miss. Overgrown by weeds, vandalized and deserted, this cemetery was lovingly restored in 1987 by the current Saint Pauls Presbyterian Church. The original church still exists, though it has been converted into a duplex, and is located on Baldwin and Church St.

This cemetery consists of a brick cairn, as well as a few of the original standing monuments. There has been a set of stairs built into the hill, and the sides of the stairs have been decorated using the broken monuments that could not be fixed. It's a very neat decision, as often times the little unplaceable chunks are just added to the cairn, needlessly.

This site is well cared for, but it definitely has an old feel to it. You'll notice many signs regarding being respectful/not playing in the cemetery...I guess this must have been an issue at some point. When I was there I didn't notice any vandalism, but there was a dead bird and a few empty alcohol bottles littering the grounds. 

William B, died May 31, 1850. Aged 20 years.

Unknown.

Dedicated to the Glory of God and in remembrance of the Presbyterian Pioneers. Oct 24, 1987.
I can't make out anything on the monument placed on top.

Elizabeth, wife of Benjamin Maybee. Died 1832.

Daniel Houston, died March 3, 1855. Aged 74 years.
Ellen Houston, died Dec 30, 1861. Aged 21 years.

"Our Dear Little Boy" 1838.

Margaret M, daughter of John and Jane Mather, died Feb 20, 1859.

Little Eva, daughter of Enoch and Eliza Ann Corkey, died March 14, 1853. Aged 8 months.

Two children of John and Mary Ann Cure.

Elizabeth, wife of James Halliday. Died July 1845.

Peter Dodds, died March 22, 1855. Aged 17 years.

A native of Manchester, England. Died March 20, 1865.

Crawford Ross, a Native of Scotland, died Nov 26, 1853. Aged 26 years.

Janet Richardson, wife of Thomas McNeillie. Died March 23, 1863. Aged 60 years.

Esther J, died Jan 5, 1870. Aged 23 years.
Mary E, died Oct 10, 1871. Aged 26 years.
Daughters of James and Sarah Vint.
Sam McElroy, the uncle of the above, died Aug 15, 1840. Aged 35 years.

Samuel Henry, died March 1871.
David, his son, died Oct 1831. Aged 1 year.

John Steele Esq, a Native of Scotland. Died Sept 17, 1872. Aged 75 years.

Hannah Catharine, the wife of Alexander Barrie, died Oct 11, 1881. Aged 28 years.

John White, died 1869. Aged 75 years.
Dorcas White, died Jan 10, 1866. Aged 77 years.

Margaret McAlpine Cameron, died 1855. Aged 53 years.

Agnes, daughter of William and M. Alexander. Died June 28, 1860. Aged 7 months.

"Our dear little Robert".

Thomas Barkwell, died Jan 18, 1857. Aged 51 years.

Mary Jane, the wife of William Tisdale, died April 28, 1864. Aged 27 years.

Mary Steele, died May 29, 1851. Aged 20 years.
Gratlin, died April 1853, aged 15 days.
Grace, died April 1854, aged 1 year.

Sarah Sleeman, wife of C. Knight. Died July 6, 187?. Aged 47 years.

Ellen, daughter of John and Sarah Miller, died Feb 7, 1858. Aged 1 year.

James B McSpadden, died May 4, 1838. Aged 14 years.
"Eldest son of Dr John and Mary Ann; died as a result of a very sad accident. He had left his home on Walton Street to retrieve something from the Presbyterian Church on Baldwin Street. A friend happened to pass the rear of the church, saw a ladder to one of the windows and the form at the top was that of James hanging from the window which had fallen upon him as he attempted to enter".
Charles McSpadden, died 1871. Aged 44 years.
Mary Ann, wife of John McSpadden.

Jane Robertson, dates unknown.
Peter, dates unknown.

Joseph
Elizabeth Sexton
Samuel Brand

Anna Brand, died 1868.

John, died 1829.
James, died 1869
Elizabeth, died 1832.
James, died 1837.
Thomas, died 1847
John Wallace, died July 1, 1855. Aged 20 years.
Jane Wallace, died Aug 29, 1863. Aged 22 years.
John Wallace, died 1866.

John Orr, a native of Scotland, died June 23, 1866. Aged 52 years.
Jane, wife of John Orr, Died Oct 15, 1873. Aged 78 years.
Ezra.
Maeve.

Some of the information regarding this cemetery and James McSpadden was found through https://2oldguyswalking.wordpress.com/2016/11/02/the-bruton-street-pioneer-cemetery/