Shirley Thomas Bland, writing for Janet Hutchinson's The History of Martin County, relates the history of this old cemetery.  Originally known as the Mount Washington Cemetery, it is reportedly one of the oldest in the area.  Situated on North Savannah Road in Jensen Beach, it recently came under the supervision of the Jensen Beach Cemetery Association, according to Allecia Dixon, the current President.

Unfortunately, at the time of this field study, the Cemetery and the Association were embroiled in a legal dispute over the ownership of the front portion, near North Savannah Road.  According to reports in the Stuart News, a local resident had acquired title to some of the original property under an order of sale, allegedly prompted by failure to report (or pay) applicable property taxes.  This dispute has given rise not only to a prolonged legal battle involving even the State of Florida, but, from a genealogical and historical standpoint, the total neglect of the property in question.  Although the center and rear portions of the cemetery are fairly well maintained, the front portion has not received any attention in recent months and there are several fallen trees and neglected gravestones.

Although the records of burials at Washington Memorial are, at best, scant and not readily available, the Cemetery Committee recorded approximately 175 marked gravesites.  According to Allecia Dixon there are many more gravesites without markers.  The earliest known marked burial is c1841.

Douglas W. Poulter,  Chairman,  MCGS Cemetery Committee,  Jan 1997

Washington Memorial Cemetery burial layout
Washington Memorial Cemetery: Alphabetical Selection of Two Databases

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