Seaville Methodist Church Cemetery

Submitted By Carol Reese
	"The Old Townsend Burying Ground at Ocean View, N.J.", by Somers Corson. Cape May County Magazine of History and Genealogy, Vol. VI, No. 9, June 1972, Published by Cape May County Historical and Genealogical Society, Cape May Court House, New Jersey. The first Townsend burying ground was just below Magnolia Lake in Ocean View, N.J. About 1895 the stones were removed from close to the highway (Route 9 -Shore Road) and placed in the Woodland Cemetery which had been started a few years before. There were 19 headstones and footstones. These stood undisturbed until about two years ago when vandals started to destroy stones and turn over monuments. The headstone of Richard H. Townsend was entirely removed and the stones of Lettice, first wife of Jehu Townsend, and David Townsend were broken off. A Diagram of the location of each stone was made before they were removed for preservation. Mrs. Abbie Townsend Kaufmann, a great-granddaughter of Anthea Corson Townsend, one of those whose stones is among the group, gave a piece of ground adjoining the Seaville Methodist Cemetery to preserve these stones. This parcel of ground is part of the property once owned by Anthea and her husband, Zebulon Townsend. The stones have been erected in the fashion of the early days when the graves were placed facing east and as one reads the inscription the grave is behind the stone. It is said that the graves were placed facing east in the belief that Christ would return in the east and the dead in Christ would rise to face his return. Among these stones is one for Elijah Townsend, a soldier of the Revolution. The oldest death date recorded is that of Charles Townsend, he died as an infant in 1788, his twin brother James lived until 1831. The most recent date of death is that of 1839. It is hoped that by placing these memorials in this location that they may not be disturbed by vandals and future generations may view the graves of their forefathers and appreciate their Cape May County ancestry.
These stones once marked the graves of Townsend family members who lived in this area during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Originally located 1.8 miles to the south on land settled by John Townsend in 1685, they were moved during the building of Shore Road. The preserved stones were placed here by Somers Corson in 1972 on land given for the purpose by Abbie Townsend Kaufmann, whose grave is here in Seaville Cemetery along with those of many other Townsend descendants.

	Townsend stones in distance next to small building. Tombstones at far right are in the Seaville Methodist Church Cemetery.
		In Memory of ANTHEA TOWNSEND wife of Zebulon Townsend who departed this life October 17th 1819 aged 35 years & 8 months
Seaview Methodist Church in the background. The Seaville Methodist Church Cemetery is to the left of the post & chain fence