History of Slate Hill Cemetery

Slate Hill Cemetery, also known as the Old Stone Cemetery, Slate Pit Hill Graveyard, and Yardley Cemetery, was deeded to the trustees of the Falls Monthly meeting in 1690 by Thomas Janney. His son, Abel Janney, donated the second plot of land in 1720, and Colonel Joshua Anderson and Elizabeth Anderson donated a third section in 1788 for use as a public cemetery.

Slate Hill has the oldest known headstone in Bucks County, dating to 1698. Since the cemetery began as a Quaker burial ground, the earliest burials did not have headstones. Unfortunately, the earliest records for the Quaker side are a 1926 map currently at the Mercer Museum. As of 2025, the Historical Commission is working on a comprehensive map to identify as many of our missing residents as possible. Ground-penetrating radar was used to develop a map and determine where stones are missing. Researchers are using the 1926 map and other inventories to match the burial locations with individuals.

The side donated by Colonel Anderson became a segregated side. In 1990, the township of Lower Makefield (LMT) took responsibility for both sides after the Falls Meeting gave them the deeds. The earliest map of the segregated side is from the early 90s, after LMT took possession.

After LMT took possession, the Historical Commission worked hard on the site, compiling a comprehensive inventory of the headstones and having some of them professionally repaired. Work was also done on the stone fence surrounding the property. They also got the site added to the National Register of Historic Places in April 1992.

The current Historical Commission has begun interpretative activities, including reinstating Ghost Tours, adding QR codes, and promoting the site on social media. They have gotten all the stones cleaned; volunteers cleaned up landscaping, and a Keystone Preservation grant was received from the PA State Historic Preservation Office to restore some of the broken or fallen headstones in 2025. In 2024, the township was awarded a Community Initiative Award by PA-SHPO for exemplary work in preserving a historic resource and engaging the community in its significance.

 Learn more about our residents and their stories.

Here is our original 1690 Deed signed by Thomas Janney

1926 Historic Map