Old Baptist Church Yard at Six Principles Meeting House - North Kingstown, Rhode Island - Churchyard Cemeteries on Waymarking.com

Graves of around 200 people, dated from 1725 through 1934, can be found at Old Baptist Church Yard beside and behind Six Principles Meeting House in North Kingstown, Rhode Island. Also known as Rhode Island Historical Cemetery - North Kingstown #19, the cemetery to the sides and rear of the historic church covers about half an acre, save for the building, with approximately 200-foot north-south and 100-foot east-west borders, its long side running parallel to Old Baptist Road.

The original core of the still-standing Greek Revival style house of worship, also known as the Old Baptist Meeting House, dates from 1703-1710. It was rebuilt in 1842 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. Third oldest Baptist group in Rhode Island, the congregation is still active, now known as Stony Lane Baptist Church, and, from 1986, calls home a newer church on land adjacent to the immediate south.

The tragic fate of John G. Allen (1838-1869) is told with just four words on his headstone:

JOHN G
Son of
STEPHEN H. and ELIZABETH
ALLEN
Drowned off
Sloop Resolution
Sept. 8, 1869,
Found Sept. 13, 1869,
Aged 31 years, 5 mo's,
& 20 days.

– • –

O! could we but have closed his eyes,
Received his parting breath,
And heard him speak one kind good bye
Before he slept in death.


C. P. LOBDELL, PROV

The oldest of nine children, John Allen lost his life near the very end of ten mile sail across Narragansett Bay when he was washed overboard in rough seas. Missing for five days, he was then buried here. From Find A Grave, his story is elaborated:

On Wednesday, Sept. 8, 1869, the sloop Resolution left Newport, RI on its journey to Wickford, RI. The vessel was under the command of Captain David Sherman Baker and mate, Captain Pegleg Weeden Wightman. Both men were from Wickford, RI. With a rising southeast wind, they stayed on course with double-reefed sails. Before reaching Conanicut Island, the wind increased, and Captain Baker had to shorten sail. There was poor visibility of Conanicut Island. The sloop continued towards Wickford harbor to the west of the lighthouse, and it struck a rock across from Gardiner's wharf. The mast was carried away, and the sloop broke up into pieces with fifteen minutes. Passengers, John G. Allen and Alphonso Cooke were washed overboard and lost in the sea. Captain Baker and Capt. Wightman along with a third passenger, John F. Brown of Exeter, RI held on to the mast and rigging. They drifted across the harbor into Spink's Cove, west of Sanger Point. Two hours later, the men were rescued by a schooner's boat lying in the harbor. John G. Allen, the son of Stephen H. Allen and Elizabeth was found on Sep. 13, 1869. He died at the age of 31y, 5m, 20d.

Captain Baker had sailed the sloop on the Newport to Wickford trip for more than 30 years without serious accident or loss of passengers. Captain Baker is buried at NK-#26-Elm Grove Cemetery in Lot 44, and Captain Wightman is buried in Lot 528. John G. Allen is buried in the NKHS #19-Old Baptist Cemetery. Alphonso Cooke is buried at Locust Grove Cemetery in Providence, RI.

Source: McAleer, Althea H. Elm Grove Cemetery Inscriptions, North Kingstown, RI. RI Genealogical Society, 2000.

[Thanks to BMC (47826846) for this bio]

Name of church or churchyard: Old Baptist Church Yard - Rhode Island Historical Cemetery North Kingstown #19 Approximate Size: Large (100+)

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Date Logged Log User Rating   01/27/2023 nomadwillie visited it