Johnstown Colonial Cemetery

Set on level high ground in north-central Johnstown, this 1.1-acre burying ground began in 1766 as the churchyard of St. John's Episcopal Church, established by Sir William Johnson. Stone from the first church, demolished in 1771, was used for the cut limestone and fieldstone wall that encloses the site. About 150 limestone and marble markers remain, dating from the late eighteenth to the late nineteenth century. The oldest show urns, willows, drapery swags and entwined vines, while later stones are plain. Buried here are early settlers, many with Scottish surnames, at least 18 Revolutionary War veterans, and local leaders such as Major John Little and glove-industry founder Edwards Talmadge. The last recorded burial took place in 1914, the year the Daughters of the American Revolution dedicated the memorial gate arch. After a period of neglect, the town and community took up repair and upkeep in the 1990s. It was listed for its settlement history and its funerary art, along with its age, rarity and integrity.