Forgotten stories whisper from the stones here at Leverington Cemetery. Established in 1745, Leverington Cemetery isn’t just a burial ground. It’s a chronicle of Roxborough and Philadelphia. We are standing at a place with nine acres of history.
Originally, this land belonged to Wigard Levering. He was a settler who arrived in the 1690s. William Penn granted him this land in 1681. Levering’s farm became a family burial ground. After 1744, it was known as the Roxborough Burial Ground.
Later, it became part of the Roxborough Baptist Church. In 1857, Leverington Cemetery became its own company. It was incorporated as Leverington Cemetery Company.
Seventeen soldiers from Virginia rest here. British troops killed them in 1777 during the Revolutionary War. The soldiers were trapped in a burning barn and were shot while trying to escape. An obelisk now honors them.
In 1872, a monument dedicated to local Civil War soldiers was erected. General George Meade led the dedication ceremony.
By 1947, Leverington Cemetery was in disrepair. A department store wanted to buy the land. They planned to relocate the bodies and build a shopping center. Richard Lee Entwistle Jr. stepped in. He established the Leverington Cemetery Company. This saved it from destruction. His granddaughter, Randi Mautz, runs the cemetery today. The ownership has remained within the same family.
Original burial records were lost in a 1966 fire. Thankfully, the Roxborough Manayunk Wissahickon Historical Society has transcriptions.
Leverington Cemetery has a reputation. In 2013, WHYY-TV called it one of Northwest Philadelphia’s most haunted spots. People have reported orbs and apparitions here.
Among the notable people buried here is Richard Harding Davis. He was a journalist and writer from 1864 to 1916. He is credited with helping Theodore Roosevelt’s rise to prominence.
The cemetery is still active. Plots are available for new burials. Leverington Cemetery continues to serve the community. It is a place for remembering loved ones. It stands as a testament to the past. It also embraces the future.
Take a moment to appreciate the history around us. Consider the lives represented by each headstone in Leverington Cemetery. This place is more than just a cemetery. It is a living memorial.