Milford, Connecticut: Mass Grave Monument To Smallpox Dead
In January 1777 a British prison ship dumped 200 smallpox-ridden Patriots on the beach. 46 were dead within a month. A tall sandstone obelisk, "The Soldiers Monument," marks their mass grave.
Milford Cemetery
- Address:
- Gulf St., Milford, CT
- Directions:
- In Milford Cemetery. I-95 exit 39A. Drive south on US 1/Boston Post Rd for a half-mile, then turn left onto Locust St., and then make a quick right onto Cherry St. Drive a half-mile and then turn left onto Gulf St. The cemetery will be on the right; the tall, sandstone obelisk stands in a small grove of trees.
- Hours:
- Gated after hours. Local health policies may affect hours and access.
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Southwest corner of the cemetery, next to the train tracks.
[Joe Sullivan, 04/25/2010]Nearby Offbeat Places
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In January 1777 a British prison ship dumped 200 smallpox-ridden Continental Army prisoners on a beach at Milford. 46 were dead within a month. In 1852 the town erected a tall sandstone obelisk, "The Soldiers Monument," to mark their mass grave (the front of the marker reads "1776" for some reason). A historical re-enactment of the the dumping of the prisoners is held each year on Fort Trumbell beach, also site of a permanent historical marker.