WG Historical Cemeteries

West Greenwich Cemetery Notables: April 2026

The West Greenwich Preservation and Heritage Commission cleaned the WG-001 Waite-Tillinghast Lot.

This historic cemetery contains 23 burials connected to the Waite and Tillinghast families. Among those buried here is Daniel Tillinghast, son of Sylvester Tillinghast and Mary Johnson. Daniel was first married to Alma Waite, daughter of Silas Waite and Rhonda Bennett. He later married Cynthia Johnson.

Another notable burial is Henry C. Tillinghast, son of Daniel Tillinghast, a Civil War veteran. His first wife, Elizabeth James, was the daughter of John James and Lois Matteson, and she is buried in WG-101, the Silas James Lot. Henry’s second wife was Annie E. Lewis.

The Waite-Tillinghast Lot also includes the burials of four infants, along with many other members of these families whose lives helped shape the history of West Greenwich.

West Greenwich Cemetery Notables: April 2026

Today, Boy Scout Troop 158 and the West Greenwich Preservation and Heritage Commission trekked deep into the Big River Management Area to help maintain and preserve three of West Greenwich’s historic cemeteries: WG-028 Rufus Hopkins Lot, WG-052 Sweet Burial Ground, and WG-061 Briggs Lot.

WG-028, Rufus Hopkins Lot, contains more than three generations of the Hopkins family. Among those buried there are Rufus Hopkins (1773–1844) and his wife Amy Shippee (1776–1837), Major Lawton Hopkins (1793–1871) and his wife Elizabeth Whitford (1797–1854), and Burrill Hopkins (1819–1874) with his wife Dinna Brown (1812–1891). Also buried there is Wilson Hatten, whose story, as shared by Howard Barbour, tells of a baby found in a hat left on the Hopkins family’s doorstep. The family took him in and gave him the name Wilson Hatten. He later became part-owner of Horatio Blake’s Tavern on New London Turnpike in the 1820s, along with Ebenezer Church and Amos Sweet. In total, 20 known burials are recorded at WG-028.

WG-052, Sweet Burial Ground, tells the story of a family closely tied to West Greenwich’s early industry. The Sweet family operated a water-powered sawmill, for which both the pond and Sweet Sawmill Road were named. This burial ground contains several generations of the Sweet family, with burials dating from 1775 to 1843. Among those interred are William “Wickaboxet” Sweet (1715–1796), his two wives, Martha Case (1720–1760) and Sarah King (1741–1775), and Burton Sweet (1762–1826) with his wife Rachel Matteson (1762–1843). There are 16 known graves at this site.

WG-061, Briggs Lot, is currently listed as having only three burials. However, today’s work revealed that there are likely at least nine more graves within the lot. The cemetery is made up entirely of crude fieldstones, and it is clear that much more research remains to be done to fully understand and document this historic site.

Thank you to Boy Scout Troop 158 for taking on this meaningful trek and for helping preserve these hidden pieces of West Greenwich history.

If you have a group or organization interested in helping maintain our historic cemeteries in West Greenwich, please email us at wgphc1741@gmail.com with your preferred contact method and the best time to reach you, and we will gladly help organize a cleanup.

West Greenwich Cemetery Notables: May 2026

Today, volunteers and the West Greenwich Preservation and Heritage Commission completed a cleanup of the Oliver Matteson Lot, also known as WG-020.

This historic lot contains seven burials, including Oliver Matteson, son of Silas Matteson and Patience Hall, and his wife, Marcy Manchester Matteson. Also buried here are four of their children: Dr. John Matteson, who died at the age of 27; Caroline Matteson Olin, wife of David Olin, who died at the age of 24; Sally Greene Matteson Sweet, who was the second wife of Amos Sweet; and Rosanna Matteson Place, wife of Dr. Cyrus G. Place, who died at the age of 22. The lot also includes the infant daughter of Rosanna and Cyrus, who was born in 1835 and died the same year.

A very special thank you to our new friends Shirley, Nancy, Sheri, Alicia, and Zack, who came out and volunteered with us for the first time. Your help is greatly appreciated!

By caring for these historic cemeteries, we continue to preserve the names, stories, and memories of those who came before us.

West Greenwich Cemetery Notables: May 2026

Recently, volunteers from The Nature Conservancy of Rhode Island, together with the West Greenwich Preservation & Heritage Commission, completed a cleanup of the Casey Lot, also known as WG-139, located within the Harrington Preserve in West Greenwich.

This historic cemetery is not unlike most of our oldest cemeteries in that all of its grave markers are of crude fieldstone, making the burial ground difficult for visitors exploring the preserve to identify. To help protect this important historic resource, volunteers cleared vegetation from the site and, with funding from TNC, installed a split-rail fence around the cemetery. The fence will help prevent hikers and visitors from inadvertently walking through the burial ground while also increasing awareness of its presence and significance.

The West Greenwich Preservation & Heritage Commission extends its sincere appreciation to The Nature Conservancy of Rhode Island and all of the volunteers who donated their time and effort to help preserve this important piece of West Greenwich history. Through partnerships like these, we can continue to protect and honor the people and places that helped shape our community.

If you are interested in volunteering to help preserve West Greenwich’s historic cemeteries, please contact us at wgphc1741@gmail.com.

West Greenwich Cemetery Notables: June 2026

Volunteers and the West Greenwich Preservation and Heritage Commission completed a cleanup of the Laban Matteson Lot, also known as WG-026.

Located within the Big River Reservoir Area, this historic cemetery has suffered severe vandalism and damage over the years. Large amounts of sand were excavated from the surrounding area during the construction of I-95, leaving the cemetery perched approximately 50 feet above the surrounding landscape on a sand hill.

The cemetery has been documented by several local historians over the decades and is said to have originally had 30 stones. It was first recorded on May 10, 1932, by Grace Tillinghast, who described it as being “in the woods on the hill opposite Kitt’s Corner School House.” It was later recorded by Charles and Martha Benns in 1940, Blanche Albro in the 1970s, and John Sterling in 1992. Many of the gravestones have been displaced and will need to be carefully reset once weather conditions permit.

WG-026 is the final resting place of Charles and Meribah Matteson and their sons, Laban, Dillano, Aaron, and Verbatus Matteson. Also buried here are Mary Whitford, the first wife of Verbatus, and the daughter of Capt. Nicholas Whitford and Martha Spencer; Elizabeth Matteson, wife of Andrus Matteson and sister-in-law to Charles; one infant Matteson child; and four infant Cherry children, the children of William Cherry Jr. and Mary Matteson. Mary Matteson was the daughter of Uriah W. Matteson and the granddaughter of Charles and Meribah Matteson.

Historic cemeteries like WG-026 are more than burial grounds—they are outdoor museums that preserve the stories of the families who built and shaped our community. Every stone, inscription, and burial record helps connect present and future generations with West Greenwich’s rich history. By caring for these sacred places, we honor those who came before us while ensuring that their stories are not lost to time, neglect, or development.

The West Greenwich Preservation and Heritage Commission extends its sincere appreciation to all the volunteers who came out to help preserve this important piece of West Greenwich history