The Remsen Family Cemetery: A Queens County Burial Ground of Revolutionary War Patriots

Bowne House Historical Society and the Increase Carpenter Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will host a Revolution250 program focused on Queens’ Historic Remsen Family Cemetery and the Revolutionary War Patriots buried there. 

Date & Time: Saturday, May 31st at 11:00am

Location: Bowne House at 37-01 Bowne Street, Flushing, NY 11354

What to Expect: The Daughters of the American Revolution will talk about their recent cleaning and restoration of the headstones as well as the role the Remsen family played in the War for Independence and the local history of Queens. The event is free and open to the public and will be followed by tours of the c. 1661 Bowne House.  Pre-registration is required.

Who Were the Remsens? After distinguished service in the French and Indian War, the Remsens became outspoken leaders in Newtown, Queens. During the Battle of Brooklyn, Col. Jeromus Remsen Jr led the 1st Regiment of the Kings and Queens Co. Militia. His cousin Maj. Abraham Remsen served in the 2nd Regiment. Abraham’s brothers Luke and Aert were trained machinists and wheelwrights skilled at repairing firearms. They served in the Continental workshops at Peekskill. Having fled Newtown during the British occupation, the Remsen family returned to their farms after the war and remained active in the community.

In 1935 the neglected burial plot was turned into a memorial park. The site received New York City Landmark designation in 1981. 

The Daughters of the American Revolution is a national service organization for women with lineal descent from a patriot serving in the Revolutionary War.  The group with more than one million members is commemorating events associated with the anniversary of the Revolutionary War culminating in 2026 with the national commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.