Historic Durham

The town of Durham was settled in 1698, but incorporated in 1708 as Durham. It’s original name was Coginchaug (after the river that runs through it). The settlement was named after Durham, England. Durham has one of the first public libraries. It was founded in 1733. The Old Cemetery was given by the proprietors soon after the settlement of the town. The oldest gravestone in the cemetery is that of Jonathan Clemment who died March 8, 1712.

The Old Cemetery was in active use until 1822, by which most of the plots had been taken. Ebenezer Robinson gave three acres of land in the back of the town hall for a new cemetery which was first used in 1822. The Old Cemetery was still used by families who owned plots. The last person buried in the Old Cemetery was in 1946.