Located at the end of East Bruce Park Avenue in central Greenwich, the Davis Family Cemetery is a small historic plot. It is surround by a chain-link fence and shaded by tall trees.
The tombstones are carved out of brownstone and marble with each stone lying flat on the ground.
This family once owned a very old grist mill which was built circa 1705 and demolished in 1889. The mill was located at the west entrance to Bruce Park. The millstones are displayed near this site. Davis Avenue was the road leading to this area, once known as Davis Landing.
Thomas Davis came to Greenwich in 1761 from Oyster Bay, Long Island and purchased the mill. He died around 1780, his plot is unmarked in the cemetery. During the Revolution his sons, Elisha and Stephen, operated the mill. Elisha was caught selling grain to the British. His 50% interest in the mill was confiscated and acquired by Stephen, whose sympathies were with the American patriots. Stephen died in 1797 and is buried in an unmarked plot. Elisha eventually returned to Greenwich and died in 1818, aged 76 years. His stone was removed or stolen years ago.
Esther, the daughter of Elisha Davis, married John Ryker of New York. It is on the marble tombstones for the Rykers that the epitaphs are inscribed. The last burial to take place here was in 1862.
James Ryker,
died December 15, 1801, aged 17 days.
Elizabeth Ryker, died October 28, 1814, aged 8 months, 5 days.
Happy the babes, who privileged by fate
To shorter labor and a lighter weight
Receiv'd but yesterday the gift of breath
Or'd to-marrow to return to death.
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