How to use the Snug Harbor Cemetery Map

Under Governor Thomas Melville, 1864 to 1884, a numbering system was developed for the Sailors' Snug Harbor Cemetery. The numbering system made burials in the old cemetery obsolete. This called for a new burial ground, which was constructed just outside the old cemetery (see D. of two cemeteries).

Thomas Melville Governor of Snug Harbor, Nobel Maritime Collection

Horatio Parker's Death Certificate above states that Horatio Parker is buried in Snug Harbor Cemetery, in Plot 4, Row 4, number 5 grave.

The Snug Harbor Cemetery Map above shows where Plot 4 is relative to the entrance gate of the cemetery. There is a scale factor on the original Maps at Suny Maritime Archives. The distance to a particular plot could be measured on the maps, and by applying the scale factor, the position of the cemetary plot could be determined in the Snug Harbor Cemetery.

Plot 4, Row 4, number 5 grave, means Plot 4 as above, and from the right go left 4. This puts us in column 1233. Then go up 5 for grave 5. This gives us a grave number of 1233 + 4 = 1237 on the cemetery map.

Horatio Parker, IDENTIFIER: SSHRegisterA_Inmate145_Parker_Horatio., ABSTRACT: Death certificate Sailors' Snug Harbor resident Horatio Parker, date created: October 30, 1882 , Sailors’ Snug Harbor, New York (State), Staten Island, the collection is on permanent loan at the Stephen B. Luce Library of SUNY Maritime College
Nicefaro, Edward. Sailor Snug Harbor Cemetery Map- Prospect Ave-Lois PL, Livingston, Staten Island, N.Y., Map Location: Private Collection: Robert Mitchell, North Haven CT, USA, Created December 2021, from George Christof and DP Warner's Map Suny Maritime Archives- Luce Library.
Nobel Maritime Collection. Governor Thomas Melville, Medium: Oil Painting, located: Staten Island New York, Picture taken by Robert Mitchell, Digital, January 2022.