“This tomb was erected by Rosanna, widow of John Connolly, Jr., carpenter, of Gargin, parish of Killaly, County of Galway, Ireland, in memory of the most affectionate of husbands, who died in New York on the 6th day of March, 1841, aged —— years; as also her daughter Mary, who died on the 10th of August, 18—, aged —— months, as also her son, Michael, who died on the 1st of August, 1840, aged —— months.
“This stone has been sent her by her father-in-law as a token of respect for her and love for his son John, her husband. May their souls rest in peace.
“Dated Galway, Ireland, 1846. This stone has been sent her by her father-in-law, Michael Connolly.”
The stone to the memory of James, son of Denis and Winifred Hanley, who died November 28, 1839, gave this advice:
“Weep not for me, my parents dear,
I am not dead but sleepeth here.
As I am now so you will be;
Prepare for death and follow me.”
On October 29, 1845, the Alsop farm of about 115 acres in Newtown, Long Island, was purchased for a new place of burial, and at a special meeting of the trustees of St. Patrick’s on July 31, 1848, it was ordered that “the cemetery at Newtown Creek, recently consecrated in part should be called Calvary, and placed at the disposal of the public; that after August 2 the Eleventh Street burial ground as well as the free vault at Fiftieth Street, should be permanently closed.” Calvary Cemetery began to be used August 4, 1848, when the first interment, that of Esther Ennis, was made. Subsequent purchases of land made the territory consecrated to the burial of the dead more than 300 acres. From August, 1848, to January, 1898, there were 644,761 interments there.
From January, 1898, to the present, there have been about 200,000 interments, thus making in round numbers 850,000 interments in all so far at Calvary Cemetery.