Vernon Historical Society

Promoting activities relating to the history of Vernon Township, New Jersey.

Vernon Cemeteries

The DeKay Cemetery

In early 2007, the Vernon Township Historical Society, along with Sussex County Historian Bob Longcore and a group from the Sussex County Sheriff’s Department SWAP team, cleaned and restored several Vernon cemeteries. Many grave markers, headstones, and footstones buried for years were  located, dug up, and restored. Once the society began this program with the sheriff’s department, the SWAP team continues to maintain the cemeteries under the auspices of the historical society.

  • The entrance to the DeKay Cemetery.
  • Photo of the restored DeKay Cemetery.
  • Photo of the restored DeKay Cemetery.
  • The grave marker of Elizabeth DeKay, a descendant of the DeKay family who are the township’s first settlers.
  • More grave markers at the DeKay Cemetery
  • Three generations of DeKays from Indiana, Florida, and Cornwall, NY, visited the Historical Society on June 10, 2007 to rededicate the DeKay Cemetery and visit our museum afterwards.

    • The Williamsville Cemetery

  • On a cold and damp morning in January 2007, the Vernon Historical Society, joined by the Sheriff’s SWAP team and Sussex County historian Bob Longcore, worked to restore the Williamsville Cemetery. Undersheriff Virgil Rome heads the Williamsville Cemetery project.
  • Grave marker of James Cooper of Washington’s Troops.
  • Grave marker of John Williams, an American Revolutionary War soldier.
  • Much thanks to Sussex County Sheriff Robert Untig and his SWAP team for their dedication and hard work in cleaning and restoring Vernon’s historic cemeteries.