Granville Old Colony Burying Grounds
300 S Main StGranville, Ohio 43202
740-587-3951 | http://granvilletownship.org/cemeteries/
Granville Old Colony Burying Grounds
Learn the stories of some of Ohio's earliest settlers at the Granville Old Colony Burying Grounds.
Overlooking South Main Street, the soft hills of the cemetery are dotted with nearly a thousand stones dating back to Granville's founding. Each stone tells a story. Flags and metal markers identify grave sites of individuals who took part in America's earliest wars. The burial sites of influential people in Granville's history are also marked with numbers that correspond to a burying grounds walking tour. With the paper guide in hand and clear stone inscriptions, visitors can expect to discover a window into Granville's past and how it connects to early American history.
The cemetery dates back to 1805, but the first person buried there, the infant son of Ethan Bancroft, was not laid to rest until 1806. Over the years, roughly 2,000 people were likely buried in the cemetery, though only about half of the grave markers have survived. Dozens of veterans from the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Civil War were also interred at the burying grounds.
The cemetery benefited from the establishment of the Granville Historical Society by Charles Webster Bryant in 1885. Aware of the historical importance of the burying grounds, Bryant created a complete record of the cemetery in 1886. Though many burial sites were unmarked or the stones lost to time, Bryant located and recorded 928 epitaphs.
Notes for Travelers
This site does not have its own designated parking, but off-street parking is available for visitors.