Part of the present day cemetery was believed to be an old Native American burial ground. Colonial settlement took hold here in Rockaway, Morris County New Jersey, around the year 1720, and considerable business formed around 1730 with the building of the Job Allen Sr. Iron Works. Tradition states that this particular spot was selected as a burial ground by the earliest families. An original attempt to organize a church failed in 1749, in what was known at the time as Pequannock Township. The second attempt was successful. On March 2, 1758 the Presbyterian Church was founded and organized. The first Meeting House constructed of wood, was built in 1758-60, primarily by Job Allen Sr., some of the foundation work began as early as September of 1752. Job Allen Jr. would complete the construction of the Meeting House some 36 years later in 1794. The present church sanctuary was built in 1832.

The original church property consisted of 10 acres and 30 perch, which used to cover property west of Wall Street, and also included property across the street from the present church, which today is a baseball field and park. Some of the earliest settlers whose grave sites are unknown and forgotten can in fact be buried in said locations, as well as under the church parking lots or even under some of the cemetery roads.

On September 27th 1773, David Beaman: deacon, chorister, elder and Revolutionary War veteran, was voted to take care of the burying yard: "to tell people where to bury their dead, and to advertise it through the parish." This makes him the first church and cemetery sexton at the Rockaway Presbyterian Church. Ironically, David Beaman is buried in a grave that was never marked. He died in December of 1802. David Beaman was followed by another Revolutionary War veteran, David Gordon. He took over the duties as sexton right after the war. People used to call him "the old sexton", his broken headstone bears the same inscription. He held the position as sexton for over 40 years. He died in 1852 at the age of 92 years and 10 months. In 1832 William Wear had "the privilege of tilling and pasturing the grave yard." After his service came John B. Kelsey, then Silvanus Howell in 1839, Fredrick Star, then David Hamilton in 1858, Joseph H. Beach in 1864, then John Gordon Mott in 1875, who held the position as sexton for 47 years, being assisted by William Rogers and Peter Beatty in the last few years. Peter Carlyon followed John Gordon Mott in 1923 retiring in 1955.

The oldest grave stone is dated April 8th 1762. David Estill lost his beloved wife Mary at the age of 24 years. There are estimated to be 48 Revolutionary War veterans buried here, some accounts say around 100 people buried here participated in the conflict. The Morris County- New Jersey Militia's highest ranking officer, Brigadier General William Winds is buried in the small knoll behind the church. He was also elected as one of three delegates from Morris County to the New Jersey Convention which ratified the Constitution of the United States for the state of New Jersey in 1788. He died in 1789.

There are 20 War of 1812 veterans interred in the cemetery, 135 Civil War veterans, 13 Spanish American War veterans, 87 WWI veterans, to date there are 142 WWII veterans, to date there are 25 Korean War veterans, and 8 Vietnam War veterans resting in peace. There are approximately 7,000 people interred in the cemetery.

In 1861 the cemetery was surveyed and plotted, and walkways and roads were constructed. In 1933 part of George Stickle's will was bequeathed to the cemetery. Part of the money was used to erect the iron spiked fence that surrounds half of the property.
Gene Baumwoll CSW

To contact sexton, either call the church office and leave a message (973-627-1059 or his e-mail address is: [email protected].