Union Cemetery

Union Cemetery
834 N. Delsea Dr.
Map / Directions to Union Cemetery

Union Cemetery contains an obelisk monument to Revolutionary War soldier John Grace (circa 1756 - April 10, 1835) who is buried here. The monument was constructed in 1904 using funds that had been raised by local school children.

Fortunately, a 1904 report by the Cape May County Superintendent, Aaron W. Hand, exists that not only provides details of the fund-raising, but also gives an account of the unveiling ceremony. Based on Hand's account, the unveiling was quite an event, attracting between 2,500 and 3,000 people. His entire account is as follows: [1]

"We have also closed up a fund which we have been gathering for eight years for the purpose of erecting a memorial stone as a tribute from the children of the public schools of Cape May county to John Grace, a scout of the Revolutionary War on the staff of George Washington, of whom the latter wrote to General Gates, 'This is my trusted scout whom British gold cannot buy.' His history, gathered from all available sources, was a remarkable one, showing that he had performed eight years of service in the Revolutionary armies, held several noncommissioned grades and wound up his military career in the capacity of a scout. He died at the good old age of seventy-eight, on April 10th, [1835], and numerous of his descendants are now living in this county and in Eastern Pennsylvania.

"The shaft was erected over his remains at South Dennis, and excepting for $10.00 contributed by a Daughter of the American Revolution, its cost was met entirely by contributions during the period of eight years, from the school children of Cape May county. Collections for the purpose were taken annually at my request, by teachers in the various schools, usually on Washington's Birthday.

"The unveiling occurred on Decoration Day, a seventeen-month old descendant of the scout pulling the string which caused the flag with which it was draped to fall away from it. One of our teachers, Miss Pearla Scull, also a descendant, read from the platform his history. The Grand Army of the Republic, Junior Order of American Mechanics and a local lodge of Knights of Pythias assisted in the ceremonies and in the preparation for them, and a salute of thirteen guns was fired at the conclusion of the ceremonies, by means of a howitzer loaned us by Governor Murphy for the occasion.

"The orator of the day was Edmund Bennett Leaming, Esq., of the law firm of Beldon & Leaming, Camden, and a member of a Cape May county family, prominent in its public affairs for two centuries. Two brass bands contributed the inspiration of martial and patriotic music for the occasion, one from Cape May and one from Woodbine, the services of the first provided by the Grand Army Post of Cape May and the second by the Woodbine Board of Education. From 2,500 to 3,000 people were present. We succeeded in making it a distinctively Cape May county celebration, and the event called forth many historical facts with reference to the participation of the residents of the county in the Revolutionary War which were unknown excepting to students of local history or perhaps to some of the descendants of the older families. The object of the memorial is not only to perpetuate the memory of the scout but to stimulate the interest of the children of the county, and also that of adults, in the history of their county and country. The affair was thoroughly advertised and recognized as a strictly school event, and thus it unquestionably had the effect of creating some additional interest on the part of people at large in the county school system, which is always desirable."

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Union Cemetery also contains the grave of Constantine Foster. His stone (pictured below) is marked as Revolutionary Patriot. Although there is also a smaller marker stating Revolutionary War Soldier, he was most likely not a soldier. However, he is considered a Revolutionary Patriot by the Daughters of the American Revolution because he signed an oath of allegiance to the Revolutionary War cause in 1778.

The text of this Oath of Allegiance, which was also signed by 86 other citizens of Cape May County, was:[2]

"I do sincerely profess and swear, I do not hold myself bound by allegiance to the King of Great Britain - so help me God. I do sincerely profess and swear, that I do and will bear true faith and allegiance to the government established in this state, under the authority of the people - so help me God. May 27th, 1778."