Revolutionary Roots in Woodbridge: A Photo Essay

Earlier this month as we marked Veterans Day, the town began to look ahead to the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution — a year that promises to be one of reflection, commemoration, and renewed attention to the lives of those who helped shape the nation.

Many readers may be watching The American Revolution, Ken Burns’s new multi-part documentary series, which spans more than twelve hours and traces the conflict from its roots in colonial protest through the long arc of war, independence, and nation-building. The episodes follow both well-known figures and ordinary citizens, exploring military strategy, political transformation, and the lived experience of a society in upheaval.

Here in Woodbridge, our own history is written into the landscape: Revolutionary-era veterans are buried in Eastside Cemetery, Milfordside Cemetery, and Northwest Cemetery, each with stories that connect our community to that broader national narrative. The photos below highlight some of these graves, with a full catalog available in this ‘Virtual Cemetery of local Revolutionary War patriot graves’ on the Find-A-Grave website.

For readers interested in the broader Revolutionary-era story behind these graves, our sister publication TownHistory.org last year published a detailed historical essay tracing how the war reached our doorstep — and how militia from Woodbridge and Bethany mustered to defend New Haven during Tryon’s 1779 invasion. The piece follows local families, battlefield locations, and eyewitness accounts, placing Woodbridge’s patriots in the wider arc of the Revolution. Visit the TownHistory website to read the full essay: “Revolution Comes to New Haven and Militia from Surrounding Towns Muster into Action.”

And stay tuned for more coverage here in the Woodbridge Town Chronicle on how Woodbridge will mark this semiquincentennial year as we honor the town’s early patriots and their enduring legacy.