This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

#95 Hampton Bays Historic Cemeteries

Often overshadowed by East Hampton and Southampton, the Bays also offer many historical points of interest.

Although Hampton Bays might lack an historic landmark on every downtown street corner, strolling shoppers should note that there are many historic sites that dot Main Street, seemingly unnoticed. 

An important remnant of Hampton Bays' history, the Good Ground Cemetery, is located directly behind the United Methodist Church on Montauk Highway and is the largest cemetery in Hampton Bays. Good Ground was the previous name for the hamlet, before it was changed to Hampton Bays.

Stepping inside the small, fenced churchyard that was founded in 1882, the Good Ground Cemetery is comprised of variety of headstones sizes and shapes, with most of them dating back to the 1850's.

Find out what's happening in Westhampton-Hampton Bayswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Ranging from petite stone markers that are simply emblazoned with the word 'Mother' to more ornate inscriptions, like on Uriah Raynor's prominent stone marker.  Raynor's epitaph reads, '"Farewell dear father, sweet thy rest. Weary with years and worn with pain, Farewell till in some happy place, we shall behold thy face again."

In a turn through the small rows of plots, visitors can take note of tender inscriptions, unique religious carvings or just the simple marker.

Find out what's happening in Westhampton-Hampton Bayswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Another historic, but little known cemetery in Hampton Bays is located on Red Creek Road, near Gathering Rocks Road. Known as Fourniers Cemeter, is was made by one of the first families to settle along Red Creed, the Fourniers, who emigrated from France and fought with the colonists during the American Revolution.

According to the Hampton Bays Historical Society, the Fourniers were captured and taken prisoner after the Battle of Long Island. Later, they escaped from the prison via a sailboat, only to hit a reef. After being shipwrecked, the Fourniers used the wood from their destroyed vessel to build their home on Red Creek.

For more information about Hampton Bays' historic cemeteries or other historical points of interest contact the .

Category: Activity
Price: Free
Season: Year-round

Stay tuned for #94 next week, same time same place. And click here if you missed , , , , .

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?