Removed Plots: Mead Plot at Byram Shore (Now at Union Cemetery)

It comes as a surprise to many that the hills and valleys of the Town of Greenwich once featured an even larger number of small family plots than there are today. 

In addition to the three Mead family plots under the care of the Association there were three others.

One of these is identified in Spencer P. Mead’s Abstract of Greenwich Tombstones published in 1913 as the ‘Mead Plot on Byram Shore.’ 

Dated March, 1908 its location is given as “Near the Trolley Line a short distance east of Grigg Avenue.” Grigg Avenue is now St. Roch's Avenue.

Charles Hale authored the ‘Index of Greenwich Graves.’ It was compiled as a WPA Project in the early 1930’s. 

The Hale Map Index on page 471 shows a cemetery in the vicinity, called the "Mead Plot on Byram Shore”, described in Mead's survey on Page 140 as “Near the Trolley Line a short distance east of Grigg Avenue”, which avenue is now known as St. Roch’s Avenue. The actual distance straight line is 0.07 miles. The area is described as “a driveway,” with graves apparently removed.

A survey by Aidan McCann, PLS, Soundview Engineering dated January 26, 2004 indicated that this long-removed plot was located off Charles Street between Josephine Evaristo Avenue and Hamilton Avenue.

Spencer P. Mead’s survey lists 12 persons buried there, the earliest being Jabez Hobby in 1823, who was joined by Abigail Hobby in 1847. Between 1839 and 1859 eight Meads were buried there, along with Sarah L. Martin 1849 and Mary E. Oliver, 1851.

The late Greenwich Town Historian William E. Finch stated that the graves were relocated to Union Cemetery. 

The following is a listing of ancestors who were interred at this site:

Abigail Hobby, died June 16, 1847, aged 84 years, 4 months and 26 days.

Jabez M. Hobby, died December 23, 1823, aged 66 years, 11 months and 11 days.

Sarah L. Martin, wife of Jacob Martin, died May 30, 1849 aged 38 years, 3 months and 26 days.

Henry H. Mead, son of Jabez H. and Harriet Mead, died March 9, 1849, aged 2 years and 8 days.

Jabez H. Mead, son of Nehemiah and Mary Mead, died June 26, 1850, aged 46 years, 5 months and 15 days.

Mary, Widow of Nehemiah Mead, died March 15, 1859, aged 74 years and 4 days.

Mary Lucretia Mead, daughter of Jabez H. and Harriet Mead, born January 26, 1839, died May 29, 1839.

Nehemiah Mead, died December 4, 1833, aged 54 years, 3 months and 13 days.

Oscar Hobby Mead, son of Jabez H. and harriet Mead, born February 26, 1842, died December 18, 1845.

Sarah Ann Mead, daughter of Jabez H. and Harriet Mead, born November 11, 1844, died August 4, 1845.

William A. Mead, son of Nehemiah and Mary Mead, died February 20, 1849, aged 35 years, 7 months and 10 days.

Mary E. Oliver, daughter of William H. Oliver, died January 29, 1851 aged 16 years, 11 months and 10 days.

And here they are. These markers and the plot are located in the northeastern section of Union Cemetery: