Discover Downtown Gloversville
- Jennifer Donovan
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
Echoes of 1776: Tracking Down Nick Stoner and Gloversville’s Revolutionary Veterans
As we march headfirst into July, the air in Upstate New York is thick with anticipation. But this isn't just any ordinary run-up to Independence Day. With the national America250 celebrations fast approaching, communities across the country are looking back at the sparks that lit the fire of 1776.
Here in Gloversville, we don't have to look far to find those sparks. Our streets and hills are quiet keepers of Revolutionary history, deeply tied to the footsteps of Fulton County’s favorite frontiersman and folk hero: Nicholas "Nick" Stoner.
If you're looking for a powerful way to spend this pre-Fourth of July week, pack a canteen and take a short driving tour of Gloversville's two most historic burying grounds. It is a striking journey that retraces not only Stoner’s physical journey but pays homage to the men who stood shoulder-to-shoulder with him to forge a nation.
Stop 1: Kingsboro Historic Cemetery: The Original Resting Place and a Gathering of Patriots
Start your week of remembrance at the pristine Kingsboro Historic Cemetery, located right in the heart of the Kingsboro Historic District at 53 E. State St. Shaded by ancient trees, this sacred plot was the original burial ground for the early settlers of Kingsborough (the hamlet that would eventually grow into the glove-making capital of the world).
When Nick Stoner died in 1853 at the age of 90, he was initially laid to rest right here. In fact, in 1928, the General Richard Montgomery Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) erected an official government marker in the cemetery to honor the old fifer and trapper.
But Stoner wasn't alone. Kingsboro is the eternal home to an incredible roster of Continental soldiers who survived the war and built our local community. Walking the historic rows, you can find the final resting places of these brave veterans:
Dr. Elijah Cheadle (1762–1849): Cheadle enlisted out of Connecticut when he was very young.
Amos Beach (1750–1831): A Connecticut native who served bravely in the 4th Connecticut Regiment under Captain Starr.
Jeddediah Ayers (b. 1765): A veteran who served as a fifer for the Virginia forces and later appeared on the local Montgomery County pension rolls.
Grove Foote (1760–1826): A dedicated Revolutionary soldier whose government veteran marker still stands as a testament to his service.
Stop 2: Prospect Hill Cemetery: Stoner’s Final Rest and a Century of Military Valor
Next, head down the avenue to Prospect Hill Cemetery on S. Kingsboro Ave. that was charted as a rural park-like cemetery in 1854.
Nick Stoner’s remains were eventually moved from Kingsboro to a prominent, honored plot here at Prospect Hill. Standing before his headstone this week, it’s impossible not to feel the weight of the America250 milestone. Stoner was just a teenager when he faced British cannonballs at the Battles of Saratoga. He lived to see the primitive wilderness transformed into a thriving American republic.
As you explore Prospect Hill, you'll find that Stoner anchors a vast tapestry of American military sacrifice. The cemetery serves as the final resting place for a staggering number of veterans from multiple centuries of conflict:
The Revolutionary War Guard: Alongside Stoner, other early patriots were moved here, bringing the spirit of 1776 into Prospect Hill's beautiful, rolling landscape.
The Civil War Soldiers' Lot: Prospect Hill holds a profound collection of Union dead. Veterans from local regiments, as well as Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) iron markers, dot the hillside.
Twentieth-Century Heroes: From the battlefields of World War I and WWII to Korea and Vietnam, hundreds of Gloversville's sons and daughters rest under the protective shade of these grounds.
There is no better way to ground yourself in the true meaning of Independence Day than walking among the names carved in local granite and marble. This week, take a quiet hour to visit both Kingsboro and Prospect Hill. Stand by Nick Stoner’s grave, look out over the city of Gloversville, and remember that the freedoms we celebrate at America's 250th milestone were paid for by neighbors who walked these exact same hills.
Source Reference: Burial records compiled by the local Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and preserved via the Fulton County NYGenWeb historical archives. Visit https://fulton.nygenweb.net/military/darglov.html and https://fulton.nygenweb.net/military/PHillSoldierscem.html
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