Myth #3: There are a lot of Astors buried in the churchyard



This week, the Archivist's Mailbag uncovers the truth behind some other common myths about Trinity Church.  Today, we tackle Myth #3: There are a lot of Astors buried in the churchyard.

While Trinity Church and churchyard feature monuments and sculptures donated by the Astor family, there aren’t any Astors buried in Trinity churchyard. There are 37 members of the Astor family interred in Trinity Church Cemetery, located at 155th Street and Broadway in northern Manhattan.

John Jacob Astor died March 29, 1848 the wealthiest man in America.  He was buried amongst other Astors at St. Thomas Episcopal Church.  The St. Thomas Astors were re-interred at Trinity Cemetery June 20, 1851. John Jacob Astor IV, who died on the Titanic, is buried there, as is his son, John Jacob Astor VI, who was born four months after his mother survived the sinking. John Jacob Astor VI died in 1992 and is the last Astor buried in the cemetery.

Interested in finding out who is buried in the churchyard?  Use this cool Search the Churchyard feature. 
Posted January 19, 2012
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Comments

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On October 29, 2012, the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy revealed significant damage to the grave of John Jacob Astor (July 17, 1763 – March 29, 1848) in Trinity Church Cemetery. A falling oak tree had toppled and crushed the "Astor Vault" obelisk. It is heartening that this marker has just been repaired. In light of the 250th anniversary of Astor's birth this summer, who have we cemetery visitors to thank for financing the timely restoration of this important monument?

Eric K. Washington on May 21, 2013

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Trinity Wall Street has played a pivotal role in the religious and civic life of the city and nation since its founding in 1697. This blog will answer readers’ questions and provide a glimpse into the fascinating and provocative history of the parish.

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