---

Secrets in Stone: Walking the Graveyard of Hackensack’s First Dutch Reformed Church

Grave markers are more than just placeholders; they are final letters to the living. At The First Dutch Reformed Church on the Green in Hackensack, New Jersey (Bergen County’s oldest congregation), the stones tell stories of Revolutionary War generals, mysterious locals, and heartbroken parents.

The church itself is a landmark. Organized in 1686, the congregation has anchored the Hackensack Green for over three centuries. The current building (constructed in 1791 and enlarged in the 1800s) even incorporates carved stones from the original 1696 structure in its front wall.

But the real history lies in the silent ground surrounding it. With over 1,400 burials, here are the stories you shouldn’t miss.

The General and the Duel?

The most famous resident of the churchyard is Brigadier General Enoch Poor.

A New Hampshire native, Poor was a rising star in the Continental Army, serving at Saratoga and Monmouth. He died near Hackensack on September 8, 1780, at the age of 44.

• The Official Story: He died of typhus.
• The Rumor: Historians have long speculated that he was actually wounded in a duel with a junior officer, and the scandal was covered up to protect morale.

Regardless of how he died, his funeral was an affair of state. It was attended by George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette.

• The Lafayette Connection: In 1824, during his famous return tour of America, Lafayette visited this grave. According to witnesses, he turned away visibly moved and exclaimed, “Ah, that was one of my Generals!”

The Mystery of “H.B.”

While General Poor has a grand slab, the cemetery’s oldest stone is a rough-hewn mystery.

Dated 1713, the small sandstone marker is inscribed simply with the initials “H.B.”

• The Symbols: Crude carvings depict a canoe, a tobacco pipe, and an arrow piercing the initials.
• The Legend: Local tradition claims this is the grave of a Native American woman, possibly enslaved or a servant to a local Dutch family. While her true identity remains lost to history, the stone stands as a rare and poignant reminder of the Native American presence in the Colonial Hackensack Valley.

Bertie’s “Jim Horse”

One of the most heartbreaking and unique markers belongs to a child.

Albert “Bertie” Romeyn Harris died in 1879, just shy of his fifth birthday. His parents, Charles and Lizzie, chose a marker that captured his childhood.

• The Material: This isn’t stone. It is “white bronze” (actually pure zinc), a material that was popular in the late Victorian era because it doesn’t rust or erode like marble.
• The Design: Atop the monument sits a delicately cast metal statue of a toy horse and a wheelbarrow filled with blocks. The inscription reads: “Bertie’s Jim Horse.” It is a frozen moment of play that has lasted nearly 150 years.

The Civil War Typo

Toward the rear fence stands a tall Egyptian Revival obelisk for the Van Beuren family. One side honors Edward B. Van Beuren, a 23-year-old soldier in the 55th N.Y. Volunteers.

The stone says Edward died on January 16, 1862. However, the inscription also says he was killed at the Battle of Seven Pines.

• The Error: History buffs will spot the problem immediately. The Battle of Seven Pines didn’t happen until May 31, 1862.
• The Reality: Edward likely died in the May battle, but a carving error (or a communication error with the family back home) immortalized the wrong date in stone. It is a permanent reminder that even in stone, mistakes happen.

If You Visit

The churchyard is a fascinating walk through American history, featuring veterans from the Revolutionary War (18 soldiers), the Civil War (22 soldiers), and the War of 1812.

• Location: 43 Court Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601 (The Old Church on the Green).
• Access: The cemetery is generally open to pedestrians during daylight hours.
• Look For: The “H.B.” stone is small and easily missed; look for the rough, red sandstone among the taller markers.

---

For More Information

Old Church on the Green (www.oldchurch.com)