Jersey City's oldest European burial ground, dating to the 17th century, with over 1,200 confirmed burials—including many in unmarked graves found by ground-penetrating radar—and Washington Irving connections claimed by local ghost tour operators.
270 Bergen Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07305
Research updated June 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
Free
Free to visit as a public historic site. Ghost tour pricing varies by operator.
Access
Limited Access
Historic cemetery with uneven ground and older stone markers; some areas may be soft or unlevel.
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1660 · Oldest European burial ground in Jersey City, established circa 1660 · Associated with Bergen Church, the oldest continuous congregation in New Jersey · Ground-penetrating radar survey (2021) confirmed 1,200+ burials · Significant collection of 17th-18th century Dutch colonial grave markers
The Bergen Church was founded in 1660 by Dutch settlers in what was then the village of Bergen, now part of Jersey City. The congregation is generally recognized as the oldest continuous Christian congregation in New Jersey. The burial ground adjacent to the church began receiving interments in the 17th century and continued through the 19th, accumulating a cross-section of Dutch colonial, British colonial, and early American-era burials.
For much of the 20th century, the cemetery had fallen into a state of neglect, with many markers obscured or displaced. The 2021 restoration project, documented in the Jersey City news outlet Jersey Digs, brought in ground-penetrating radar surveys that confirmed over 1,200 burials — a substantially higher number than previously recorded. Many of the newly confirmed burial locations had no surviving surface markers. The restoration also produced an unexpected personal connection for the pastor overseeing the project, who discovered he had family connections to some of the Dutch colonial records.
The cemetery holds grave markers bearing Dutch surnames common to 17th-century Bergen County: Van Wagenen, Vreeland, Sip, and others. Some of the oldest legible stones date to the 1690s. The adjacent Bergen Reformed Church building is a later structure, rebuilt after the original colonial-era church was damaged.
Revolutionary War-era burials are documented in the cemetery, as Bergen was occupied by British forces during part of the conflict. Several markers reference Continental Army soldiers.
Sources
Commercial ghost tours of Jersey City consistently include Old Bergen Church Cemetery as a featured location, citing the concentration of 17th and 18th century burials and the Revolutionary War-period dead as the basis for reported spiritual activity. Guides typically describe apparitions in period dress observed near the oldest Dutch markers, and a recurring figure described as a star-crossed lover from the colonial era.
The Washington Irving connection cited by some tours — linking the cemetery to the inspiration for the Headless Horseman in 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' — is a popular claim that is not well-supported by the historical record. Irving's 1820 story is set in and derives its legend from the Sleepy Hollow area of Westchester County, New York, where Irving lived. Bergen County appears in Irving's broader writing but not in documented connection to the Headless Horseman source material.
The cemetery's documented history as a site of over 1,200 burials — many anonymous, many from periods of military conflict — provides a genuine foundation for its inclusion on dark-history routes regardless of the Irving claim's accuracy. The 2021 restoration brought new attention to the site and its scale.
Old Bergen Church Cemetery is the oldest European burial ground in Jersey City, with Dutch-era tombstones dating to the 17th century. Ground-penetrating radar surveys during the 2021 restoration found over 1,200 confirmed burials, many in previously unmarked locations. Visitors can explore the restored markers and read the Dutch and English inscriptions.
Commercial ghost tours of Jersey City operated by US Ghost Adventures and others include the Old Bergen Church Cemetery as a featured stop, citing Revolutionary War history and the Washington Irving connection claim. Check operator websites for current schedules and ticket prices.
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
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