Kings County Cemetery (Brooklyn, New York)

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Kings County Cemetery
Kings County Cemetery (Brooklyn, New York)
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Location
Clarkson Avenue, East Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York City
CountryUnited States
Coordinates 40°39′26″N73°56′00″W / 40.65720°N 73.93342°W / 40.65720; -73.93342
Find a Grave Kings County Cemetery

Kings County Cemetery, also known as Kings County Farm Cemetery or County Farm Cemetery, was a cemetery located on Clarkson Avenue, East Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York City. [1] The cemetery was also called Potter's Field (name for paupers' grave), not to be confused with the Potter's Field at Hart Island, the Bronx. [2] [3] The cemetery was disestablished and newspaper reports at the time indicated the remains were moved to North Brother Island. [4]

Many unclaimed dead were buried at Potter's Field. [5] At one time, mass graves were used at Potter's Field with large pits containing 100 burials. [6]

Potter's Field on Livingston Street

The was also a Potter's Field, considered a public burying grounds, on the northwest corner of Livingston Street and Boerum Street in present day Downtown Brooklyn. [7] [8] [9]

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References

  1. French, Mary. "Kings County Cemetery", New York Cemetery Project website (blog), December 13, 2008. Accessed January 11, 2025.
  2. "Kings County Potter's Field: The Forgotten Dead", New York Genealogical and Biographical Society website, May 4, 2017. Accessed January 11, 2025.
  3. "Undertakers Delap's Explanation. He Buried Susan Young in the Potter's Field on a Charities Department Permit.", The Brooklyn Citizen , Brooklyn, New York, volume XXV, number 162, June 12, 1899, page 11. (subscription required)
  4. "Keeper of God's Acre Soon to Lose Place", The Brooklyn Daily Eagle , New York City, volume 77, number 181, July 1, 1917, Telegraph and Long Island/Telegraph and Social News section, page 6. (subscription required)
  5. "Where Brooklyn Buries Her Pauper Dead", The Standard Union , Brooklyn, New York, volume XLII, number 168, December 17, 1905, second section, page 12. (subscription required)
  6. "Potter's Field Burial Permits", The Brooklyn Citizen , Brooklyn, New York, volume XXV, number 161, June 11, 1899, page 2. (subscription required)
  7. "Rain Water Doctor", The Long-Island Star, Brooklyn, New York, volume XXX, number 101, June 6, 1839, page 2.
  8. French, Mary. "Public Burial Ground, Brooklyn", New York Cemetery Project website (blog), December 30, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2025.
  9. "Brooklyn Items", New-York Tribune , Manhattan, New York, volume XVI, number 4,971, March 26, 1857, page 7. (subscription required)