Hamden Plains Cemetery

Hamden, Connecticut

Return to the main page.

Hamden Plains Cemetery is located on Circular Avenue in Hamden, Connecticut. It was founded in 1787. The oldest graves I came across were from 1795 (photos, below). Hamden Plains is an active cemetery, still accepting burials. The cemetery's most famous inhabitant may be Leroy Griffin, member of the doo-wop group, The Nutmegs. For a photo of his tombstone and his tragic story, scroll on.

Estimated number of interments, as of January 2024: at least 10,764.

Photos were taken 20 August 2021.

The entrance of Hamden Plains.

"In Memory of RHODA

Daughter of Mr. Benjamin & Mrs. Rhoda Woodin

who died Octo.r 5th 1795

aged 17 Months."

"In Memory of

JONAH FORD

who died Oct.r 1st AD 1804

AE. 39

Also AMELIA

Daugh. of Jonah & Mary Ford

who died Oct.r 26 1795"

Front and reverse sides of the Forbes stone.

"MARGARET W. CAMPBELL

Wife of George C. Forbes

Dec. 2, 1893.

Jan. 7, 1949.

GEORGE C. FORBES

1892 - 1954

Interred in Scotland"

"In loving Memory of

WILLIAM GEORGE

Son of Margaret W. & George C. Forbes

Oct. 5, 1924 Sept. 17, 1928

Since thou couldst no longer stay

to cheer us with thy love,

we hope to meet wit thee again

in yon bright world above."

The Whitman monument has fallen off its base.

"John J. Whitman

1824 - 1899

Louisa Morrell

his wife

1842 - 1920"

"STEBBINS FAMILY

ROWLAND arrived in America 1636

2nd Generation JOHN

3rd Generation THOMAS

4th Generation ASAHEL

5th Generation THOMAS

6th Generation DARIUS

7th Generation CYRUS DARIUS

8th Generation CYRUS DARIUS II

9th Generation FRANK HENRY

10th Generation IRVING RANDOLPH

11th Generation THOMAS HARTMAN"

"Rev. Irving R. & Mrs. Stebbins' children

Harriette Irwin

Ruth Thompson

Robert

Elizabeth Gibbs

George

Anne Moore

Thomas Hartman"

Leroy Griffin was the lead singer of the '50s doo-wop group, The Nutmegs, pictured, above. (Griffin is seated in the center.) Originating from New Haven, Connecticut, the group charted several regional hits ("Ship of Fools", "Let Me Tell You", "The Way Love Should Be", "Why Must We Go to School", "Down in Mexico", and "You're Crying"). In 1955, The Nutmegs gained national attention with "Story Untold", which reached #2 on the charts. In 1966, Leroy Griffin had returned to the Koppers coke factory where he occasionally worked. Sadly, on September 1st, he had an altercation with a colleague and his body was later found in one of the facility's large furnaces. He was 32.

"Leroy E. Griffin

"Story Untold"

1934 - 1966"

The Palluotto plot, encircled by by a large hedge.

"Our Mom

Gloria Egan Fennelly

Dec. 28, 1920 - Dec. 8, 1999"

View of Hamden Plains Cemetery.