Timothy Knapp House and Milton Cemetery, Historic house and cemetery in Rye, United States
Timothy Knapp House is a historic residence at 265 Rye Beach Avenue constructed with hand-hewn beams and cellar walls reinforced using lime made from crushed oyster shells. The property also encompasses Milton Cemetery and features a memorial garden maintained by the Little Garden Club that includes a historic kitchen and herb plantings.
Built around 1670, the house remained in private hands through just five families before the Rye Historical Society acquired it in 1992. This change of ownership helped ensure the structure and its surroundings would be preserved for future study and appreciation.
The cemetery served as the town's first public burial ground and reflects how early Rye residents marked their connection to this land. Walking through the grounds today, you can observe the carved inscriptions that tell personal stories of families who shaped the community.
Visit during posted hours when guided tours are available to learn about the house's construction techniques and garden history. Wear comfortable shoes since exploring both the cemetery grounds and the memorial garden requires walking on uneven terrain.
Nehemiah Webb received one of the earliest burials here, with his 1722 tombstone marking the oldest legible stone in the cemetery. This inscription offers a tangible link to the very first families who settled in the area and chose to remain here.
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