Program

NYS Historic

Subject

Cemetery, Site

Location

W4JQ+47 Buffalo, NY, USA

Lat/Long

42.93029, -78.861849

Grant Recipient

Forest Lawn Heritage Foundation, Inc.

Franklin Square lot located in Buffalo’s Forest Lawn Cemetery contains the remains of early citizens of Buffalo and soldiers that fought in the War of 1812. The remains were reinterred in Forest Lawn in 1851, having been relocated from a former cemetery located on Delaware Avenue, the site of which was later known as Franklin Square.

In the early days of Buffalo, the former cemetery located on Delaware Avenue was once part of an area of grassy high ground on the outskirts of the community. The cemetery was in use until being abandoned in the 1830s. Buffalo continued to expand and develop around the once remote burial ground, growth that was spurred as a result of Buffalo becoming the western terminus of the Erie Canal in 1825. The December 8, 1849 issue of the Buffalo Daily Republic included a call for action to the city’s Common Council regarding the condition of the abandoned burial ground, now sitting in the center of the city:

The present condition of the old burying ground on Delaware street, is a matter that should engage the immediate attention of the city authorities. The railing around some of the tombs has been badly mutilated, and in some instances broken down, and several marble slabs are lying prostrate, defaced and broken. … This is a deplorable state of things, which should in someway be immediately remedied, at least temporarily, until the opening of the new Cemetery, when the remains of the dead should be taken up, and deposited there. This burying place, once remote from the scenes of busy life, is now situated almost in the heart of the city, and occupies a spot of ground, which should be appropriated by the city for a public square.

In June 1851, the Common Council began plans to relocate the burials to Forest Lawn Cemetery, a new cemetery established in 1849. The city purchased a burial lot in Forest Lawn and began laying out the boundaries of the new public square on the site of the former cemetery. Sixty days notice was given for anyone wishing to remove remains prior to the city’s relocation of the burials to the new cemetery.

From October 6 to November 20, 1851, 1,158 burials were relocated to Forest Lawn Cemetery. Graves were opened, remains were carefully transferred to new boxes, and then relocated to Forest Lawn. Any surviving stones were laid in the new cemetery lot. Unfortunately, due to the deteriorating condition of the few stones that remained, the identity of only 59 burials was known. This included Major Lodowick Morgan, killed in a skirmish at Fort Erie in August 1814, Captain Alexander John Williams killed during the defense of Fort Erie in August 1814, Captain Joseph Kinney, killed during the Battle of Lundy’s Lane in July 1814, and Captain Simon D. Wattles killed at Fort Erie in September 1814. The burials also included Captain Myndert M. Dox who survived the War of 1812, going on to serve as Collector of the Port of Buffalo, passing away in September 1830.

The former burial ground on Delaware Avenue was developed into a public square known as Franklin Square in use until the 1870s when the construction of a new city hall was completed on the site in 1876. As of 2025, the building is used for Erie County court and offices.

Following the removal to Forest Lawn Cemetery the city erected a marble monument in the center of the Franklin Square lot in 1852, noting the final resting place of War of 1812 soldiers and some of the earliest inhabitants of Buffalo.