Revolutionary War Burial Site
A grave like any hole dug into the earth interrupts the natural layering of soil. For that reason, it can be distinguished as an anomaly—irregular in texture and color in comparison to undisturbed soil at that level.
Although cross-section excavation revealed no coffins, the pits contain two distinctive levels at which rusted nails occur matching the outline of the disintegrated wood boards in length and depth. Many of the pits were 3 or 4 coffins deep.
Poor preservation and time produced only traces of bone, arcs of human teeth-some of which were radiocarbon dated to this period which determined the burials with certainty.
Excavation of this location revealed 29 graves while dozens of grave features comparable to the five examined remain to be discovered.
In 1991 Woods Services, Inc. owner of this property approached the Borough with a development plan that included most of their property facing Flowers Avenue. Residents and organizations presented the Richardson Diary as evidenced that the proposed location was an unmarked soldier's burial ground in late 1776.
Because of the Diary and the fact that the referenced house still exists, Woods Services, Inc. permitted an archaeological excavation that proved its existence as recorded in 1869. Woods Services, Inc. deeded the Burial Site to Langhorne Borough and was dedicated on Veterans Day, November 11, 1999.
Diary of Joshua RichardsonMarch 6, 1803-May 16, 1874 2 mo. 1st, 1869-Excerpts from page3
"... I heard my father say that his father was a sitting in our east porch and an old man came out of the hospital "opisite", sat down beside him , he was from Boston, (the tears running down his cheeks) he had been sent for to see his son who then lay very ill with the fever, he was so near his end, he was not able to speak but appeared to know his father, he said this was the 9th son he had lost since the commencement of the war (one at home) and as soon as he was old enough he should go to (o)...:
(Inscription under the image in the middle left) Patterns are identified across field.
(Inscription under the image in the bottom left) Notice pit size variation. Outline of nails during horizontal analysis suggest the outline of two coffins laid side by side—others stacked straight down.
(Inscription under the image in the upper center) Archeologist places site location after stripping topsoil.
(Inscription under the image in the middle center) Field strategies were designed an pin flags were placed over each lector.
(Inscription under the image in the lower center) Single grave measured during excavation.
(Inscription under the image in the lower right) Joseph Richardson House in 1738-Collection of Historic Langhorne Association, Inc.
This project was directed by R. Michael Stewart, Ph.D., Temple University, Philadelphia PA. Recorded as one of the largest Revolutionary War Burial Sites in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
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