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BECKNELL CEMETERY THIS HISTORIC CEMETERY IS ALSO KNOWN AS ROBBINSVILLE CEMETERY AFTER THE COMMUNITY THAT ONCE THRIVED IN THIS AREA. NAMED FOR JOHN ROBBINS, AN EARLY SETTLER, ROBBINSVILLE SERVED AS A GATHERING PLACE FOR AREA FARMERS. THE CEMETERY BECAME KNOWN AS BECKNELL CEMETERY WHEN MARY BECKNELL, WIFE OF WILLIAM BECKNELL, DEEDED THE LAND TO THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH AS A BURIAL GROUND ON DEC. 20, 1861. BURIALS INCLUDE WILLIAM BECKNELL (1788-1856), “FATHER OF THE SANTA FE TRAIL,” AND THREE OTHER BURIALS OF PIONEER FAMILIES, INCLUDING MCGUIRE AND TURNBOLE. IT IS BELIEVED THERE ARE A NUMBER OF UNMARKED GRAVES. THE CEMETERY IS THE LAST REMAINING VESTIGE OF A COMMUNITY’S PIONEER RESIDENTS. |
