Snelgrove Wesleyan Methodist Cemetery
Also known as: Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery
Also known as: Zion Cemetery
Location:
South side of Conservation Drive, East of Highway 10, Brampton, Peel Region, Ontario, Canada.
Concession 1E, Lot 15 W1/2, Chinguacousy Township.
GPS:
Latitude: 43.72593°N
Longitude: -79.81356°W
History:
This early cemetery is located on the east side of Highway 10, south of No. 15 Sideroad, south of Snelgrove and about two miles north of Brampton.
Part of Lot 15 was left in a will dated April 12, 1851 by John Watson Sr. to the Trustees of the Christian Brethren Baptist Church. He further stated in his will that he was to be buried in his family burying ground. The Snelgrove Women’s Institute reports that a Baptist Church was built here in the 1840’s. It appears on the 1959 Tremaine map of Peel County.
On April 24, 1852 the Trustees of the Christian Brethren; Samuel Snell, Thomas Hill and Henry Carter purchased ¼ acre for five shillings and began to use the site for worship. The Baptists subsequently moved to a new building on the north-east corner of Highway 10 and No. 17 Sideroad.
The Women’s Institute reports that the church was torn down around the turn of the century, leaving the cemetery as a reminder of its existence.
It appears burials began in the 1840’s, with the earliest burial being that of Rose Vodden who died in 1843, the first wife of Samuel Snell and the most recent monument being for Jessie Campbell who died February 20 1951. Most of the burials occurred prior to the turn of the century. Today the cemetery is cared for by the City of Brampton which has erected a commemorative plaque, albeit with the wrong name.
Trudy Mann
References:
Early Churches of Chinguacousy and Toronto Gore Townships in Peel County by Trudy Mann
Transcription purchase:
Transcriptions of this cemetery are available for digital download from the OGS website – click here to order via credit card.