The Old Welsh Cemetery

Historical Background of the Welsh Cemetery

Information on those interred can be found here.

Historical Background

OCTOBER 18. 1738 ? Thomas Edwards to the Lords Proprietor (Pennsylvania Archives Originals, Historical Society of Pennsylvania) ".bout seven years ago Morgan's father died and left a widow and several children ...Ms father and several others of the deceased of the neighborhood and been buried on ye vacancy ... joining his mother's place and Jenkin Jenkin's land. "

MAY 8. 1764 ? Thomas Edwards, one of the judges when Lancaster County was farmed in 17'29 from Chester County, died, and was buried in the Welsh Cemetery.

AUGUST 20, 1764 ? SURVEY C~?122?249 ? Bureau of Land Records, Harrisburg, PA. "3 14 acres and 5 perches in Earl Township ? was supposed to be within the lines of Morgan's patented land, but on measuring some of his lines, was found to be vacant. Morrgan now requests patent as it includes part of a Burying Ground belonging to his father. "

APRIL 1768 ? B.F. Owens, Historical Papers...of the Lancaster County Historical Society. Vol. 1, 1896?97, page 361 ? 373. "Joseph Williamson was employed to enclose the ground with a stone wall two feet thick and three and )half feet high on the inside, the enclosure being 75._5 X 112..5 feet. The bill of Joseph Williamson for the labor was £17, 18 shillings and 4 pence, (about 2.5 cents per perch), Eighteen pounds of nails were used to secure the covering. This and the other material used were paid as separate items by Rees Morgan. Bettie Morgan made several trips for nails, as the work progressed, to the store at the Blue Ball. "

FEBRUAR Y 9. 1769 ? Rees Morgan's will was proved at Lancaster, (B 1 ?639). "I give to my wife, Margaret, and my said son, David, that piece of land where the graveyard is situate in Earl Township, containing 125 perches to be held and possessed by them and their heirs forever. In trust nevertheless that the said graveyard shall be for the use of all such as shall desire to burn their dead there at all times and I do enjoin them, my said wife and son, to let what remains unfenced of the said piece of land to such person as will rent or lease the same and the money it will rent for to go to pay the quit rents for the said piece of land and what remains towards keeping the fence about the grave in repair. "

DECEMBER 17. 1788 ?ORPHANS COURT, LANCASTER. "John Pauling died before this date and the only heirs of Rees Morgan were Henry Pawling, above 14 years, and four sisters under 14 years. The guardian of all was their grandfather, Henry Pawling, of Montgomery County, Yeoman."

1896 ? B.F. Owen visited the Welsh Cemetery=, recording the inscriptions and wrote an article.

APRIL 17. 1897 ? A. G. Seyfert wrote an article in a Lancaster newspaper, saying, "One of the most neglected spots in the county. "

OCTOBER 12. 1941 ? W. Woerner visited the Welsh Cemetery, correcting the inscriptions, and included in his report this statement by Robert E. Simpson. "William F. Showalter is the caretaker...in name only. Washington Camp, No.274, Patriotic Order Sons of America for many years devoted apart of its time and attention to this ancient burial place. The lodge is no longer in existence. The older members of the order who were interested in the graveyard having passed away in recent years, those that remain petitioned the local court to release the lodge from the upkeep of the burial ground. The petition was granted."