Forgotten Revolutionary War Cemetery Deep in the Woods (Revolutionary War Veterans Found!)

UPDATE 7/4/23: I have revisited this cemetery and the video is available now! It can be found here: • Forgotten Revolutionar...
Castner Compton Cemetery is a long forgotten, now overgrown cemetery in the middle of dense woods in Bridgewater, New Jersey. At one time, it sat on top of a grassy knoll among endless farm fields. As these surrounding farm fields were developed, Castner Compton became harder and harder to find. As succession took place, causing the cemetery to become very overgrown, it further hid it from the world even further - securing its place in our forgotten past. Castner-Compton Cemetery dates back to the early 1800's, and contains the gravesites of veterans of the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Spanish-American War, and the Civil War. We were only able to find veterans of the American Revolution. It is possible that those who served in the other wars did not have it notated on their tombstones. Many gravestones were also beyond repair and unreadable, so it's possible that we did find veterans from other wars, but they were simply unreadable.

[@ForgottenUSA]

Be sure to follow @forgottenusa on Instagram to follow my adventures daily!

[@LittleRapGuy]

the breaching method/s was/is measured/maintained left our with tellings of modern histories.

[@user-wn3ko3pi7y]

I love to check out the older graves, it’s all history we should not forget

[@NaomisAdventures]

That's so cool finding old veterans graves. Sad that the cemetery isn't taken care of

[@ForgottenUSA]

It was definitely surreal to find them, especially considering that this place is in the middle of a major suburban area and is therefore virtually unknown. There's no excuse for it not to be taken care of, and I'll be seeing what I can do about that!

[@swampghost72]

Its a crying shame graveyards fall into this state .Especially historic ones such as this one..

[@ShoreSitter]

The majority of graves were from the Civil War so in a blink of an eye their gravesites will look like our Revolutionary War sites you've found. Thank you for documenting what you could.

[@ForgottenUSA]

Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed!

[@Snipe30801]

Thanks to both of y'all for shedding light to this unfortunately forgotten yard.

[@ERTChimpanzee]

I bet it was an honor that you visited that place. I have seen pictures of the last remaining veterans in 19th century. The oldest veteran was 109 years old when he passed away in 1869. He fought in The Independence War and saw how the north won the south.

[@deborahbolton3417]

Beautiful thank you for remembering them.❤✝️✝️✝️✝️✝️🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸💖🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@JOXGIRL1]

Grateful for your video. Not my relatives but I appreciate your documentary. Hoping one day to find my ancestors in a video like this.

[@karensutton2224]

There are so many cemeteries that were in the backyards of old Farmstead.

[@tjkart]

Ok, about 2:15 in, you guys saw the grace of Private William Mackay (1827-1896). He was a Civil War veteran who fought at Gettysburg!

[@ForgottenUSA]

That’s amazing, thanks for the info! I just re-visited this place a couple of weeks ago and the updated video should be out soon!

[@juliegrey5280]

Cool cemetery! Sad that it's been neglected! You should check out the Faces of the Forgotten channel. He would love this cemetery!

[@ForgottenUSA]

Thanks for watching! I'll check him out for sure!

[@terrykelsey2472]

Thank you so much for this. God bless you

[@GailVaught]

Seems you might need some tools to take when you go cemetery exploring. Flashlight is very helpful in reading old stones that are shadowed by the shade or slightly worn from the elements.

[@joanpellillo2981]

Wow that was so cool ! surprised no ones caring for it!

[@dysnomia-anarchia]

IN my town 3 miles away from me we have a forgotten slave cemetary in the woods nobody probably knows about but me and a dot on a map. It was put on the side of the road across from the railroad tracs not far from the river on probably some not very quality ground, but also rather close to be super convenient to bury them at. Not market at all by anything today, just over grown by trees, brush, and briars with no indication there was a cemetary there. But the dot is on all the old maps. Slave cemetary. Sweept it off, and put down a piece of paper and rub over it witht he paperless side of a black crayola crayon and you might make out the impression of some letters. Hold the crayon side against the stone and paper, not tip down (as if you were writting). In other words, do a rubbing.

[@stevem.6279]

if you bring large white paper and a large black wax crayon with you, lay over stone and color paper with side of crayon. the image on stone will transfer and your eyes can read it. good luck.

[@Deus-Too]

On one of the graves you looked at you saw the word, FEE. Back in those days I’m talking about late 18th century, F was used instead of S. “My debt is paid my grave you Fee (See)” Where is this cemetery?

[@MillerMeteor74]

9:47 - James Castner's stone is a late 20th century stone, ordered from the military, or a veterans service organization. Same for the other veteran's stone. Also, on the late 1700s/early 1800s graves, the letter "s" looks like an "f". So the word "see" looks like "fee". Also, the stones that look shiny and new are granite, which doesn't weather at all. Good to see young people respecting history.

[@babyrazor6887]

They knocked down the house across the street from my son. The guy that lived there was a stone mason. In the backyard of the house we found like 8 or so civil war marble headstones he was using for a walking path.

[@OldHeathen1963]

Got one of them near where I grew up in New Jersey. Colonel, Revolutionary era, and hidden Slave Graves.

[@bjmartin5225]

I’m sorry when you put that flag back up I saluted . Thank you young men .

[@ForgottenUSA]

Thank you for watching 🇺🇸

[@tushkafilms1061]

9:38 served in Captain Jacob Ten Eyck's company, First Battalion New Jersey Infantry

[@Steve63brook92]

Great video guys 😊

[@WASRT001]

I suspect the newer looking ones are replacement markers.

[@trwhitford65]

"Steiner" on of my Family names. My Great Grandfather was born in the New Jersey area 1837.

[@tushkafilms1061]

2:22 William fought in the Civil War, in the 15th New Jersey Infantry and fought at Gettysburg

[@michaeln1683]

Pretty cool place. Stones are getting unreadable. Park on Vogt Drive at school. As you are going down Vogt look to your left you will see a clear path. Its a 5 minute walk

[@ForgottenUSA]

That's where we ended up parking after we were able to locate it! I drive past it almost every day, and I plan on going back there and shooting another video this winter!

[@Brianthehistorynerd]

I noticed the Rev War graves were soldiers from a NJ Regiment. Was this cemetery in New Jersey. You don’t have to get the exact location just a yes or no. Thank you for picking up those flags. I do the same thing every time I visit a cemetery or graveyard.

[@ForgottenUSA]

Yes this is in New Jersey. If you’d like send me an email and I’ll get you more info about it

[@StratusAir1]

I found that cemetery 25 years ago while working on a project for Votech. Most are from the 1700’s also if you search around that area you will find the original residents of Bridgewater NJ

[@ForgottenUSA]

where exactly can I find the original residents of bridgewater?

[@StratusAir1]

It’s been a long time but if you know where the Vo tech building is off Vogt drive

[@StratusAir1]

There is also a old baseball field back there as well

[@ForgottenUSA]

@@StratusAir1 would you mind sending me an email? [e-mail]

[@StratusAir1]

Sent

[@debroahisaacs2452]

It seems if a historical site in the county knew how valuable these graves and site was...would somehow restore and put up some historical plaques up.

[@tushkafilms1061]

0:36 James was born in 1808 in Ireland, his occupation was Farmer

[@cheeko_914]

Do you guys know of anything like this in CT? Seems like there isn't a lot of information on revolutionary war-related stuff in CT online. Buildings, cemeteries, etc.

[@ForgottenUSA]

I haven’t heard of anything

[@christinatorres8445]

There is a group of volunteers across the state working on restoring ancient burial grounds. It’s a slow restoration but it’s happening. But many old cemeteries in CT are fairly well kept.

[@cheeko_914]

@christinatorres8445 what's the group called? Sounds like something I'd like to volunteer in

[@donkeylong7707]

Get a flashlight and aim it to the side of the words on the stone.. you can read it better then

[@trwhitford65]

Perhaps some of those "bricks" are "foot stones" popular way back when.

[@MKYeahBuddy]

Interesting

[@johnclark1612]

My direct ancestors fought in that war, they're probably facing east

[@vgorski7545]

Could it be that the pristine headstones, as you put it, were NOT placed in the 1800’s but are new Replacement headstones that present day ancestors made ??

[@ForgottenUSA]

I doubt it. The fact that this cemetery is so far deep into the woods, mixed with the date of the other surrounding headstones and the obvious longtime neglect of this cemetery, tells me that anyone who would have had an interest in replacing any of these headstones is long gone. It would be way too hard to get any new headstones back there, and even if they were replaced at some point, it was a very long time ago, as evidenced by the area surrounding each stone and how they have integrated themselves into the ground.

[@holdyourhorses9842]

Take a pic of it. Use your photo editor to turn it b&w, then reverse it to w&b. You should be able to read it.

[@partysugar519]

I didn't catch where this is located?

[@partysugar519]

Nevermind I got it, Bridgewater New Jersey

[@charliehovey4534]

you should talk to the local govrenment in the area some one needs to come out and take care of this place. arnt there laws to make sure this doesnt happen.

[@noraved]

Where is this grave site located? What state and city?

[@robertahlgren6751]

Where is that? A landscaping crew should go in there with tree trimmers, weed whackers and mowers to restore the area.

[@developer101]

Thank you for fixing the flags for those patriots...

[@littleangrynorwegiangranbe2777]

I am decent of revolutionary war....Woods...John and Jr....but not sure where they were laid to rest....if they were from New England

[@billd7453]

Where is this place!

[@trwhitford65]

The letter "f" was the same as the letter "s" in German communities.

[@christinatorres8445]

Come back with a weed whacker

[@michelewood925]

So sad no one cares for them.

[@dixienormous1000]

If you bring these graves to the attention of the local chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution they will mark the graves and conduct ceremonies to honor those Patriots.

[@giokarate3559]

Talking to the graves and tombstones as if they were actual people is extremely disturbing and creepy! Saying “Thank you for your service” to dead and long forgotten soldiers is also very creepy! I sincerely hope nothing nor no one followed you home.

[@ForgottenUSA]

😂 chill

[@tjkart]

I thought it was very honorable . Thanks guys for being respectful to those Patriots and the USA!

[@seankelly9610]

Why would they follow rhem home for giving them the respect these soldiers deserve?