Location #2
The south entrance gate to the graveyard
On passing into the graveyard through the gate, to your immediate left is the sandstone grave marker of Elizabeth Freeman Ford Lindsly. The inscription is on the side which faces away from where you are standing. In 1681, when six months old Elizabeth Freeman arrived in America at Philadelphia, it had but one house. A year later the family moved to Woodbridge, New Jersey, where Elizabeth was to meet and marry John Ford. Among the descendants of Elizabeth and John are Jacob Ford, Sr., Jacob Ford, Jr., and Jacob Arnold, whose graves you will pass in a few moments. Among their other descendants are Stephen Vail, owner and operator of Speedwell Iron Works; Alfred Vail, co-inventor of the telegraph; Theodore Vail, the first President of AT&T, whose mansion on South Street has been expanded in condominiums; George W. Bush, 43rd President of The United States; and his mother Barbara Pierce Bush. Following John Ford’s death, Elizabeth married John Lindsly 1st, whose marker is right next to hers. John Lindsly was the third child and first male child born in Newark. He was one of the original members and first Elders of the church. His date of birth, 1666, qualifies him as the oldest person buried in this cemetery.
Immediately behind the grave markers of John and Elizabeth Ford are the “Table Top” grave markers of Jacob Ford, Sr. and his wife Hannah Baldwin Ford. Jacob Ford, Sr. was a prominent land holder and manufacturer of iron, who served as a member of the New Jersey House of Assembly and as a Judge of the Morris County Court. Jacob and Hannah were the parents of Jacob Ford, Jr., whose grave is just to the right of theirs.
From 1772 to 1774, Jacob Ford, Jr. built the mansion that bears the family name. He also built the Powder Mill on the banks of the Whippany River, which provided much needed gun powder for General Washington’s troops. Jacob died in January 1777, barely a month after leading the Morris County Militia in a successful skirmish against the British under the command of Brigadier General Alexander Leslie at Springfield. Jacob was buried with full military honors by order of General Washington. His likeness appears on the former department store building on the Green across from our church. Nearby is the the white “Table Top” marker of Jacob’s wife Theodosia Ford. She was the daughter of Timothy Johnes, first Pastor of the Presbyterian Church. During Washington’s Second Encampment in Morristown in the Winter of 1779-1780, Theodosia lived with her children in two rooms off the kitchen of the mansion her husband had built, while Washington used the rest of the mansion as his headquarters.
At the foot of the grave of Theodosia Ford is the grave stone of John Lindsley 3rd, grandson of John Lindsley 1st. In addition to a distinguished military career in both the French & Indian War and the American Revolution, like his grandfather he served as an Elder of the church. His death was due to Consumption which he battled for several years after falling into the icy Delaware River during the famous Christmas Day Crossing in 1776.
Placed flat on the ground to the left of the large tree, which stands near the cemetery wall, is the white grave marker of Dr. Timothy Johnes, Jr. Timothy was the son of Reverend Timothy Johnes and brother of Theodosia. Timothy gained fame as “The Surgeon On Horseback” during “The Mud Rounds,” i.e., General Washington’s retreat across New Jersey in the Fall of 1776 prior to the Battle of Trenton and the Battle of Princeton. He later acquired a share of Jacob Arnold’s splitting mill at Speedwell, which he eventually sold to Stephen Vail.
Now proceed to Location #3.
