North Cemetery

Established in 1753 on land along North Mill Pond, purchased from John Hart, this is the second oldest burying ground in the city and was used through 1926. The cemetery is located on Maplewood Avenue and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places for the many historically significant people who played roles in the founding of New Hampshire and the American Revolution interred among its 1800 graves. Resting here are two Founding Fathers: John Langdon and William Whipple; veterans of the French and Indian, Revolutionary and Civil Wars; Dr. Joshua Brackett, president of the NH Medical Society; and Dr. Hall Jackson; Abraham Isaac, the first Jewish resident; the first Roman Catholic parishioner; and African American residents including Prince Whipple and Pomp Spring, both enslaved and freed.

See the City Historical Marker

The City received a $20,000 NH Moose Plate grant to repair the seawall behind the historic North Cemetery. The grant is being applied to preservation work and rebuilding the collapsed stone retaining wall facing North Mill Pond in North Cemetery. Work is scheduled to start June 11, 2024 and will be completed by June 14.

On November 17. 2023 the City re-interred 1800s remains from unmarked graves that had been accidentally disturbed during work on the cemetery wall. Go to more information on the Service of Remembrance pictured below.

For specific gravesite details, visit the Portsmouth Public Library Cemetery Index