![Tantramar Heritage Trust [logo]](../tht_logosm.jpg) |
 |
 |
Methodist Burying Ground, 308 Main Street, Middle Sackville, N.B. |
1788 This half acre site was used by the earliest Methodists in the Sackville area. It served as both a burying ground and as the location of the first Sackville Methodist Chapel built in 1790. Although a cemetery was opened in lower Sackville in 1836 this site continued to have some burials up to 1961. A research and restoration project was carried out at the cemetery in 1977. This commemorative arch replaces an earlier one and was dedicated on 23 September 2001. See Yorkshire 2000: Plaques and Memorials. In 2004 the site was added to the Sackville and New Brunswick Registers of Historic Places, and in 2006 to the Canadian Register of Historic Places. |
BURYING GROUND 1788 (on metalwork arch of gateway) ERECTED TO COMMEMORATE |
Marker placed by Yorkshire 2000 Legacy Committee, Main Street Redevelopment Sackville Inc., and Sackville United Church of Canada. |
| See Milner, W.C., History of Sackville New Brunswick (Sackville, N.B.: The Tribune Press, 1934), pp. 67-69, which includes a list of those buried in the cemetery (available online at History of Sackville New Brunswick).
Middle Sackville Methodist Cemetery on Find A Grave website (lists all interments). On the care of the cemetery, see Penner, Peter, The Chignecto 'Connexion'; The History of Sackville Methodist/United Church, 1772-1990(Sackville, N.B.: Sackville United Church, 1990), p. 136. This site is listed in the Canadian Register of Historic Places ; see Methodist Burying Ground Sears, Joyce, "Here Lieth The Past . . and Sackville is taking a look," The Moncton Times, 15 October 1977, p.15. Stopps, Phyllis, "Methodist Burying Ground now listed on national historic register," Sackville tribune-Post, 3 May 2006. | |
Lieth the Body of WILLIAM FAWCETT Who was a plain industrious hospitable & deeply pious man whose uniform christian conduct gained him the respect of all who became acquainted with him. While reading one of Mr. Wesley's sermons his immortal spirit was instantly precipitated into the Eternal world to take possession of its final rest by some monster of iniquity that will be discovered at the last day who intentionally shot him dead through the kitchen window on the evening of June 19th 1832 in the 63 Year of his age Reader be thou also ready |
 |
|
One of the most famous grave stones in the cemetery is that of murder victim William Fawcett (1769-1832). The circumstances surrounding the murder form the subject of the historical novel, James, Robert, Reader Be Thou Also Ready (Fredericton, N.B.: Broken Jaw Press, 2000). LeBlanc, Joan, "Novel Shares Chilling Story Of 1832 Fawcett Muder," Sackville Tribune-Post, 9 August 2000, p.6 | |