Princeton, NJ Trip Part 6: Who is Buried in the Princeton Cemetery? (and a Funny Tombstone)

Grover Cleveland's grave

In part 6 of our trip blog to a weekend visit of Princeton, NJ, we stopped at the Princeton Cemetery and were surprised to find out who was buried there from Grover Cleveland to Aaron Burr! We also found a dead guy with a great sense of humor. 

WHAT IS THE PRINCETON CEMETERY? Princeton Cemetery is located in Princeton, New Jersey. It is owned by the Nassau Presbyterian Church. John F. Hageman in his 1878 history of Princeton, New Jersey refers to the cemetery as: "The Westminster Abbey of the United States."

PRESIDENT GROVER CLEVELAND BURIED HERE! - Grover Cleveland, the 22nd and 24th United States President, was also a New York Governor. A Democrat, he was first elected President in 1884, defeated in 1888, and reelected in 1892, becoming the only United States President to serve two non-consecutive terms. His tombstone is located here, along with his wife and daughter's tombstones. A bachelor, he was initially ill at ease with the social aspects of the job, and in June 1886, he married 21-year-old Frances Folsom; making him the first United States President to be married in the White House. To Learn More about him, visit: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/205/grover-cleveland

Aaron Burr's gravesite

REMEMBER AARON BURR? HE'S HERE - United States Vice President. After serving as a Major in the Continental Army under General George Washington in the Revolutionary War, he became a successful lawyer and politician. In 1789, he was appointed Attorney General of New York and was elected to the US Senate in 1791, serving for six years. In 1800, he became the 3rd United States Vice President in the administration of President Thomas Jefferson. Nearing the end of his term as vice president, he challenged Alexander Hamilton to a duel for besmirching his reputation. On the morning of July 7, 1804, it ended when Burr shot Hamilton to death.- Learn more here: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/151/aaron-burr

THE DEAD GUY WITH A SENSE OF HUMOR - William Hahn Jr. had a good sense of humor and it showed on his tombstone. William is buried in his large family plot. He is known for the epitaph on his flat Quebec-granite headstone saying, "I told you I was sick." Thought to be in failing health, he ordered the inscription a week or so before his death.


NEXT: The final Princeton, NJ Blog, and another ghost!