This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Cemetery Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/XZ.2ADE/1488 Message Board Post: WEQUETEQUOCK BURYING GROUND ASSOCIATION RELEASES CD DOCUMENTATION ON 1650 STONINGTON FOUNDERS' CEMETERY The Wequetequock Burying Ground Association now has available for sale a compact disc (CD) that includes full documentation and pictures of all 225 gravestones in the1650 Wequetequock Burial Ground (Stonington Founders' Cemetery) located on Palmer Neck Road in Stonington, CT. The founders include William Chesebrough, Thomas Stanton, Thomas Minor, and Walter Palmer. These four men, their families, and descendants are buried in the WBG, as well as many other early Stonington settlers. The CD shows all four sides of the Founders' Monument and the writing on each side. Because gravestones in most ancient burial grounds are becoming worn, unreadable, and in many cases lost, the mission of this project has been to preserve the image of these old stones, their epitaphs, and more importantly, who is buried beneath them. WBGA preservationist, genealogist, and member, Frederick Burdick, photographed, researched, and produced this impressive and colorful CD. Epitaphs were copied from the readable stones or otherwise verified from local historical sources, as were biographical sketches. All proceeds from the sale of the Wequetequock Burial Ground CD go toward preservation and maintenance of this historic outdoor museum. The CD sells for $20.00 and may be ordered by sending a check or money order made out to WBGA, and sent to WBGA, c/o Fred Burdick, 595 Taugwonk Rd., Stonington, CT 06378. Preservation and maintenance completed at the WBG in 2001 and spring 2002, include mending broken stones, straightening tipped and resetting fallen stones, cleaning stones covered with lichen (80% completed), clearing stonewalls of underbrush, planting flowers, erecting a new sign just to the right of the entrance gate and refurbishing the old sign, now placed at the north end of the yard. A brochure holder, designed and built by Fred Burdick, has also been placed at the gate entrance and is filled with WBGA literature offering information on the Stonington founders, the WBG, and the 1899 founding of the WBGA. There are many upcoming projects for 2002 and beyond, including application to the National Historic Register. In addition, removal of several tree stumps, gardening, building underground concrete bases to hold stones broken off at ground level, ongoing mending of broken stones are planned for this year. Other ongoing projects include locating and exposing buried gravestones, removing grass around all gravestones and replacing with peastone (to prevent weed whacker damage). WBGA is seeking and welcomes descendant membership as well as "friend" membership. To obtain an application, contact Membership Chair, Mary Pinkowski, 239 Palmer Neck Rd., Pawcatuck, CT 06379, or email [email protected], or you may call 860-599-1022. Suggested membership donation is $10.00. Contributions toward preservation and maintenance are gratefully accepted and may be sent to David Rathbun, WBGA Treasurer, 211 Cove Road, Stonington, CT 06378.