The history of the Wildwood Cemetery is closely linked with the incorporation of the town of Winchester. The Town of Woburn was incorporated in 1642, including within its bounds what is now northern and central Winchester. When Winchester was incorporated as a separate town in 1850, Colonel William P. Winchester donated $3,000.00 to the town. Since it became apparent that the old Church cemetery was not adequate for the town due to the limited land available and lack of opportunity for expansion, the money was designated for the purchase of land for a town cemetery.

On April 7, 1851, the town voted that a committee of ten be chosen to purchase the lot of land for the town cemetery, as well as to prepare rules and regulations for it.

The cemetery was consecrated on September 15, 1852. Exercises included prayers by Rev. Mr. Robinson of the Congregational Church and Rev. N.A. Reed, Minister of the Baptist Church; an address by Rev. Dr. Rollin H. Neale, a Baptist clergyman of Boston, and original hymns by Francis A. Durivage and Mrs. H. Lewis.

Lots in the new cemetery were sold on September 15, 1852, at 3:00 P.M. at a public sale on Mt. Hope, to the highest bidders. Prices ranged from $5.00 to $50.00.

In 1853, arrangements having been made with the parish and proprietors of the old burial ground for an exchange of lots and the transfer of the deed to the new cemetery, the bodies interred behind the church were also moved to the new cemetery.

The cemetery sits on 70.5 acres. The earliest death date is 1851. With a few earlier that were moved here such as Samuel Carter, d.1805, Lydia Bucknam, d.1805, John Cutter, d.1843, and Abigail Symmes, d.1834.

The Massachusetts Historical Commission refers to this cemetery in MACRIS as WNT.801 Wildwood Cemetery.