A nearly forgotten burial ground. A family deeply connected to early Lewes.
Located along New Road near Lewes, the historic Wiltbank Family Cemetery is the resting place of John Wiltbank, a Revolutionary-era Sussex County patriot, and members of one of the area’s earliest families. After years of neglect, a collaborative restoration effort is helping preserve the cemetery, its gravestones, and the stories they represent.
A SMALL SITE WITH A SIGNIFICANT STORY
About the Cemetery
The cemetery contains the graves of John Wiltbank, his son Cornelius, Cornelius’ wife Ann Hudson Wiltbank, and other members of the family. Recent work to delineate the cemetery also identified previously unmarked burials, adding new information to what is known about the historic site.
Restoring the Cemetery
From Overgrown to Preserved
After years of vegetation growth, deteriorating stones and limited maintenance, an effort was launched to protect the cemetery and restore its historic character.
The Greater Lewes Foundation is collaborating with the Colonel David Hall Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, the property owner, descendants of the Wiltbank family and others to support the work.
WHO WAS JOHN WILTBANK?
JOHN WILTBANK | 1731–1830
John Wiltbank was part of a family whose presence in the Lewes area stretched back generations. During the American Revolution, he served Sussex County as a military officer and treasurer and is recognized today as a Revolutionary War patriot. He was laid to rest in the family cemetery that now bears the Wiltbank name.
Continue the Story
The First Settler of Lewes
Want to learn more about John Wiltbank and the early history of Lewes? The First Settler of Lewes explores the Wiltbank family’s deep roots in the community and offers a closer look at the people and events that helped shape the area’s early history.