Rural Cemetery (CEM.5)

Rural Cemetery photos and text

Rural Cemetery

Rural Cemetery, located behind the Town House on a dirt road off Old County Road, is the largest cemetery in Sedgwick and is on part of the property originally identified in 1791 as the minister’s lot.   It is thought that at least 1700 people are buried here but there may be more as many graves are unmarked and the original Sexton records were lost in about 1895. The oldest stone bears the inscription, Rozelley Carlton October 26 1798 in the fourth year of her age.1  2   Rev. Daniel Merrill is buried here.   In 1826, an organization was formed to maintain and control the use of the Rural Cemetery. This lovely, peaceful cemetery is still in use.3

Rural Cemetery

Rural Cemetery

Rural Cemetery

Rural Cemetery

Rural Cemetery

Rural Cemetery

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1 Life and Times in a Coastal Village, Sedgwick, Maine Bicentennial, 1789-1989, page 50.

2 Grindle, Barbara M., Sedgwick, Maine’s Resting Places, 1789-1999, page 36.

3 Photos by Kathleen Hickman