The early burial-places were usually small plats of ground on the different farms. The earliest of these of which any knowledge is obtained was on the Coejeman farm, now in Raritan village. It was located on the bank of the river, where Kenyon Brothers' machine-shops now stand. Stones were found some years ago in preparing to build. One is preserved,
and bears the inscription,

" Here lyes ye body of Sarah, daughter of John and AIida Broughton, aged 2 yearn and 8 mouth.. Died Sept. 1, 1740."

Another was also found at the same time, bearing the date of 1738, and of the same family. The John Broughton mentioned was the first town clerk of Bridgewater. His wife, Alida, is said to have been a daughter of Andreas Coejeman, and they probably lived in the Coejeman mansion.

Burial-places were also attached to the church grounds. The old church built in 1721 on the bank of the river was surrounded by a graveyard, and many were buried there. But three stones pre now standing, the oldest of which is that of Derrick Van Veghten, and the inscription upon it is as follows:

" In memory of Mr. Derrick Van Veghten, who died on the 29th day of November, 1781, aged 82 years, 4 months, and 14 days.
"many were his friend and few his enemies;
Great was his soul and good his faculties.
Fair health on him her blessings did bestow,
And in his cheeks her ruddy charms did show
Till age the hand of Death did deputize,
Which neither spares the Great, the Good, nor wise.
His tranquil mind composedly reclined,
And to his God his Breath and soul resigned."

The others are of Margaret Van Veghten, wife of Joseph Crane, died May 27, 1812, and Catharine Taylor, who died Feb. 17, 1829.

On the place now owned by John C. Garretson is the old Tunison burial-place. Several hundred people have been buried, but few headstones are left; the oldest bears an inscription as follows:

Here It. the body of Rebekah, the wife of John Compton, who departed this life March ye 13,170,,.g.0 26 years, 6 month., 17 days."

Near this is where the son of John Beekman and "Aunt Yauney," as she was called, lies buried. He died April 25, 1777. John Beekman is also buried here, but no stone marks the spot. "Aunt Yauney" lived many years after, married Richard Compton, and at her death was buried in the same grave with her first husband. Other inscriptions are as follows

' In memory of Abraham Tunison, who died May 23, 1797, aged 69 years, 11 mo., 29 days."
" In memory of Anne, the wife of Abraham Tunison, who died Nov. 1, 1806, aged 72 yrs, 6 mo., 8 ds."
' In memory of Philip Portion, who died April 1, 1813, aged 36 yrs, 11 mo., 17 ds."

By his side lies a son and a grandson of Joseph and Mary Ann Van Derveer. Numerous graves are marked by stones, some with initial, but more without. This burial-place is on the second bank of the river, but on the west bank of Peter's Brook, southeast from the residence of John C. Garretson.

What is known as the Compton burial-place is at the foot of the mountain, north of Somerville; many interments were made there years ago. It is now used almost entirely by the colored people.

On the old parsonage lot burials were made. Five headstones are all that now remain, the inscriptions of which are here given:

" In memory of Ann, wife of John Hardenburgh, who departed this life No,. 26,1793, aged 35 yrs., 6 mo."
" In memory of John Hardenburgh, Eel, who departed this life July 23, 1798, aged 39 years, 3 months, 12 day,."
" In memory of Ann Doty, wife of Joseph Doty, who departed this life on the 21st of April, 1804, aged 33 years, 7 months, 6 days."
" In memory of Elizabeth Doty, wife of Joseph Doty, who departed this life Nov. 26, 1806, aged 22 years, 12 days."
" In memory of Joseph Doty, who departed this life March 20, pals aged 46 years, 6 months, 20 days."

There are other plots in different parts of the township, neglected and uncared for, where, in days gone by, many were buried. Cultivation has encroached upon their borders year by year, as the ruthless hand of time has leveled the little mounds over the sleepers, and the humble slab that marked the spot has fallen prone to the ground.

About 1813 an acre of ground on Bridge Street was purchased for $100 of John Whitenack by the Consistory of the First Dutch Church of Raritan. Burials were first made on the south side. The earliest is said to have been a child of William Hartwick. About 1847, by an agreement between the Consistory and John C. Garretson, about an acre was added to the ground on three sides; later, as necessity demanded it, more was added, until it contained between three and four acres. This burial-place is known as the "Raritan Cemetery."

Aug. 26, 1867, an association was formed, under the name of the Somerville Cemetery Association, by the election of the following persons as trustees: James B. Brown, Samuel S. Hartwell, John T. Conklin, John V. Voorhees, Jacques Van Derbeek, Peter De Witt, Pethuel Mason, Edwin E. Brown, James P. Davis, David P. Kenyon, John Frech, David K. Craig. Pethuel Mason was chosen president, J. V. Voorhees secretary, S. S. Hartwell treasurer. Sixtyeight acres opposite the Raritan Cemetery were purchased for $14,500 of William Ross, Jr. Later, 45.58 acres were sold for $7292.50, leaving 22.42. This was tastefully laid out with walks, drives, and about 1000 lots.

Aug. 20, 1879, a stock company was organized under the name of "The Cemetery Association of Somerville," and purchased the cemetery grounds mentioned above for $11,000. Hugh M. Gaston was chosen president, and L. R. Vredenburg secretary and treasurer.

The old burying-ground on the hill at Bound Brook is the resting-place of many of the early dead. The oldest stone on which an inscription is legible bears the following:

" In memory of Sarah, wife of James McCoy, who departed this life Sept. ye 5th, 1744, aged 57 years. James McCoy, 1747, aged 59 years."

Many others are illegible. There are buried here Mrs. Mary Reed, wife of the Rev. Israel Reed, Jan. 13, 1770, aged thirty-eight, and by her side her husband, who died in November, 1793; Adam Jobs, March 7, 1798, aged, fifty; Tobias Van Norden, 1800, aged eighty-five; Michael Field, Jan. 13, 1792, aged sixty-seven; Peter Harpending, Peter Williamson, Col. John Staats, William Riddle, John Anderson, Dr. Jonathan Ford Morris, Capt. Creighton McCrea, Dr. Ambrose Cook, Dr. William McKissack, Jacob and John Littell, Mary R., wife of the Rev. John Boggs, the McElworths, Joseph, Benjamin, and Peres Bonney, the Ross brothers, Irvine, De Groots, Steele, McEvers, Kelso, Trimbly, Van Brunt, Harris, Brown, and many other representatives of the old families that have passed away. The descendants of many of them are still living in the village and surrounding country.

BOUND BROOK CEMETERY.

Peter L. Van Deventer, an old citizen of the vicinity of Bound Brook, left to the trustees of the Presbyterian Church of Bound Brook in his will $3000 for purchasing a cemetery lot and beautifying it. In accordance with this bequest, the trustees, Sept. 7, 1863, purchased 12.16 acres of John D. Voorhees for a burial-ground. It is situated a short distance north of the village of Bound Brook, on the east side of the road leading to the mountain. The whole plot has been tastefully laid out, and will contain more than 600 lots. The first to be buried in the new ground was Nicholas Conover, whose body was deposited there May 15, 1864.