Wilmington and Brandywine Cemetery in Wilmington, Delaware

Visit the final resting place of two Continental Congressmen, Civil War generals, and even a Cherokee chief.

Wilmington and Brandywine Cemetery, 701 Delaware Avenue in Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, is a small rural cemetery established in 1843. It encompasses a rectangular area of 25 acres, relatively flat on its western side with a steep eastern descent toward Brandywine Creek. It is the final resting place for over 21,000 former residents, including Richard Bassett, a signer of the U.S. Constitution, governors, congressmen, and even a Cherokee chief.

Gunning Bedford, Jr. (1747-1812) was a member of the Continental Congress, Delaware’s State Attorney General, and a signer of the U.S. Constitution. Bedford was born and raised in Philadelphia, then attended the College of New Jersey (aka Princeton University). He briefly served as an aid to George Washington during the Revolutionary War.

Irish-born Dr. John McKinly (1721-1796) fought in the French and Indian War and was Brigadier General of the New Castle County Delaware Militia and the 1st President (Governor) of Delaware from 1776 to 1777. During the Revolutionary War, he was captured by the British and later paroled in August 1778. He was a physician by trade and helped found the Delaware Medical Society.

Capt. Samuel Rodmond Smith (1841-1912) was a Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient who served in the 4th Delaware Infantry during the American Civil War. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for leading his regiment across a partly frozen creek under fire during the Battle of Hatcher’s Run, February 5, 1865.

Dr. James Tilton (1745-1822) was a Continental Congressman and first Surgeon General of the United States Army during the War of 1812. He attended the College of Philadelphia (aka University of Pennsylvania) and served as a surgeon in the 1st Delaware Regiment during the Revolutionary War. He later led the Delaware Medical Society.

A life-sized angel statue on the Grave of Catherine Roberts Canby McCullough (1813-1893), second wife of Reverend John Williamson McCullough. McCullough was rector of Trinity Church in Wilmington. Catherine and John married in 1841.