Seventh Day Baptist Cemetery
Encyclopedia
Seventh Day Baptist Cemetery is an old cemetery in Burlington, Connecticut
which dates back to the late 18th century. It was used as a burial ground for members of the Seventh Day Baptist Church
. The cemetery has mistakenly been referred to as "Burlington Center Cemetery" but is perhaps best known as Green Lady Cemetery, due to a ghost that supposedly haunts the grounds.
. Many of them were descendents of the Roger Williams
colony. In the late 18th century, twenty or so families migrated from Rhode Island to West Britain, Connecticut (present-day Burlington) and established the Seventh Day Baptist Church on September 18, 1780. At the meeting of the Seventh Day Baptist Society on October 12, 1796, a deed was presented by Jared Covey (the benefactor of the church) to the other members detailing a "parcel of land laying at the south east corner of the ninth lot in the fourth division in Bristol containing about half an acre for the purpose of a public burying ground". The site had already been used as a burial ground, beginning in 1780 with the burial of John Davis, but it was in 1796 when it was officially declared as Seventh Day Baptist Cemetery.
During the years between 1810 and 1820, accidental deaths plagued the Seventh Day Baptists. One member fell off a ladder and died while repairing his house, while another died when a recently dug well collapsed on him. Another was hanged while repairing a lamp in her home and yet another was killed when a tree fell upon him in the woods. While these bizarre deaths may have been legitimate accidents, it is not difficult to make the leap in logic that the early Burlington residents may have had a secret agenda toward forcing the Sabbatarians from the area, eventually confiscating their lands and properties. By 1820, the last of the Seventh Day Baptists departed Burlington and migrated to Brookfield, New York
in Madison County
, never to return. The last person to be buried in the cemetery was Charlotte Spencer, on October 14, 1881.
Legend has it that in April 1800, Elisabeth's husband, Benjamin, went into town to get some supplies. Suddenly a bad snow storm broke out; Benjamin decided to stay in town and wait for the weather to die down. When he didn't return right away, Elisabeth went out to try to find him. After getting lost in the storm, she drowned in one of the nearby swamps.
In one version of the story, Benjamin returned home to find his wife missing. After an exhaustive search, he found her frozen body in a swamp; she was wearing a pretty green dress. In other versions of the story, Benjamin was either unwilling to save Elisabeth or murdered her and threw her body into the swamp as a cover-up. Since this is a local legend, no one is absolutely certain what really happened. Regardless of what really happened, many people walking near the cemetery at night have claimed to see a female apparation surrounded in a green mist. According to most accounts, she merely appears without provocation or pattern, smiles and then dissipates. Some people have also claimed to see mysterious lights, looking like a flashlight or lantern carried by an unseen person. Some think it could be the ghost of Benjamin Palmiter, perpetually searching for Elisabeth in the swamp.
Burlington, Connecticut
Burlington is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States.Situated at the foot of the Berkshires and bordering the Farmington River, Burlington is a scenic hill town, rural in nature, located west of Hartford. Incorporated in 1806, the population was 8,190 at the 2000 census. Burlington...
which dates back to the late 18th century. It was used as a burial ground for members of the Seventh Day Baptist Church
Seventh Day Baptist
Seventh Day Baptists are Christian Baptists who observe Sabbath on the seventh-day of the week in accord with their understanding of the Biblical Sabbath for the Judeo-Christian tradition...
. The cemetery has mistakenly been referred to as "Burlington Center Cemetery" but is perhaps best known as Green Lady Cemetery, due to a ghost that supposedly haunts the grounds.
History
The Seventh Day Baptists (or Sabbatarians) were a religious group that was originally from Rhode IslandRhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
. Many of them were descendents of the Roger Williams
Roger Williams (theologian)
Roger Williams was an English Protestant theologian who was an early proponent of religious freedom and the separation of church and state. In 1636, he began the colony of Providence Plantation, which provided a refuge for religious minorities. Williams started the first Baptist church in America,...
colony. In the late 18th century, twenty or so families migrated from Rhode Island to West Britain, Connecticut (present-day Burlington) and established the Seventh Day Baptist Church on September 18, 1780. At the meeting of the Seventh Day Baptist Society on October 12, 1796, a deed was presented by Jared Covey (the benefactor of the church) to the other members detailing a "parcel of land laying at the south east corner of the ninth lot in the fourth division in Bristol containing about half an acre for the purpose of a public burying ground". The site had already been used as a burial ground, beginning in 1780 with the burial of John Davis, but it was in 1796 when it was officially declared as Seventh Day Baptist Cemetery.
During the years between 1810 and 1820, accidental deaths plagued the Seventh Day Baptists. One member fell off a ladder and died while repairing his house, while another died when a recently dug well collapsed on him. Another was hanged while repairing a lamp in her home and yet another was killed when a tree fell upon him in the woods. While these bizarre deaths may have been legitimate accidents, it is not difficult to make the leap in logic that the early Burlington residents may have had a secret agenda toward forcing the Sabbatarians from the area, eventually confiscating their lands and properties. By 1820, the last of the Seventh Day Baptists departed Burlington and migrated to Brookfield, New York
Brookfield, New York
Brookfield is a town in Madison County, New York, United States. The population was 2,403 at the 2000 census.The Town of Brookfield is located in the southeast part of the county...
in Madison County
Madison County, New York
Madison County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 73,442. It is named after James Madison, fourth President of the United States of America...
, never to return. The last person to be buried in the cemetery was Charlotte Spencer, on October 14, 1881.
The Green Lady
The cemetery is best known by the name of Green Lady Cemetery, due to stories and sightings of a green spectral figure known as the Green Lady. No one is exactly sure who the Green Lady was in life, but many believe she is the ghost of a Seventh Day Baptist named Elisabeth Palmiter.Legend has it that in April 1800, Elisabeth's husband, Benjamin, went into town to get some supplies. Suddenly a bad snow storm broke out; Benjamin decided to stay in town and wait for the weather to die down. When he didn't return right away, Elisabeth went out to try to find him. After getting lost in the storm, she drowned in one of the nearby swamps.
In one version of the story, Benjamin returned home to find his wife missing. After an exhaustive search, he found her frozen body in a swamp; she was wearing a pretty green dress. In other versions of the story, Benjamin was either unwilling to save Elisabeth or murdered her and threw her body into the swamp as a cover-up. Since this is a local legend, no one is absolutely certain what really happened. Regardless of what really happened, many people walking near the cemetery at night have claimed to see a female apparation surrounded in a green mist. According to most accounts, she merely appears without provocation or pattern, smiles and then dissipates. Some people have also claimed to see mysterious lights, looking like a flashlight or lantern carried by an unseen person. Some think it could be the ghost of Benjamin Palmiter, perpetually searching for Elisabeth in the swamp.