Washington Square Park Blog Broke the Story of the 1799 Tombstone Discovery in 2009

During Phase II redesign construction of Washington Square Park, a tombstone from 1799 was unearthed in the park’s southwest quadrant on October 23, 2009. Washington Square Park Blog broke the story. The New York Times followed up. Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe told The Times that the tombstone would be displayed in the park. 14 years later, it finally is, now on display in the Park House window on the southern end.
What to do with the tombstone has come up intermittently over the years at Community Board 2 meetings. Former Park Administrator Sarah Neilson said it was discussed within the Parks Department whether it was appropriate to have a tombstone in the park. After years of silence, the tombstone encasement and dedication was scheduled – yet, remarkably, there had been no prior public hearings, presentations before the Community Board, no notification to the public, as would typically be the case. (See more on this at end of piece.)
James Jackson Headstone Dedication ceremony held Friday, September 22nd





Former Manhattan Parks Commissioner Bill Castro stayed in the background, seen here chatting with Elizabeth Ely, one of the controversial Washington Square Park Conservancy’s founding members. Castro helped usher in the private entity, withholding information from the public. He quietly left the Parks Department sometime in the last two years.
Park re-designer and former Park Administrator George Vellonakis (navy shirt) attended the ceremony.

More About James Jackson
Historical research identified that Jackson, an Irish immigrant born in County Kildare, resided at the time of his death in 1799 at 19 East George (now Market) Street. He was employed as a watchman and died of yellow fever at age 28. The precise circumstances of how Jackson’s headstone wound up at this park location remains a mystery.
In 1825 the burial ground was converted to a parade ground and subsequently a public park in 1827. The park dedication coincides with the date that Jackson “departed this life,” as the tombstone says, 224 years ago.
Source: GothamToGo
Inscription on the tombstone: “Here lies the body of James Jackson who departed this life the 22nd day of September 1799 aged 28 years native of the county of Kildare Ireland.”
Community Board Protocols Abandoned | Public Not Involved in Decisions Related to the Park Due to Private Conservancy
For years, the designation of something like this within Washington Square Park would have first been brought before local Community Board 2. This is not the first important issue lately that has not been brought before the board related to their landmark park. There is no reason for such a dramatic departure in protocol except for the private Washington Square Park Conservancy being involved. Now, as many feared and warned, the public is being less and less involved in decisions related to the park.
The Washington Square Park Conservancy does not run the park – but clearly they are proceeding as if they do. Notably, Washington Square Park Administrator Will Morrison, who works for the Parks Department, actually wore a Washington Square Park Conservancy baseball cap at this Parks Department event. It’s just one more sign that clearly there are no boundaries anymore. However, the Community Board keeping their eye intentionally off the ball is the problem here.
Read more on James Jackson’s life at New York Times: When Washington Square was a burial ground
Photos: Cathryn
Thank you for this blog post.
I don’t exactly have a problem with keeping the tombstone displayed as such. Haven’t actually seen it yet (I’ll check tomorrow) but it doesn’t seem like a mistake. But yes — the way the public was kept in the absolute dark is horrible. Just reeks of a private club. Its also clear that the ceremony had been kept a secret so it could serve as a photo-op! Jeez, I would have liked to attended. I’m in the park every day & not exactly shy about reading random information posted there. And I follow neighborhood news. Your blog post is the *first* I’m hearing of this! WTF!