Harrington Cemetery (Belmont Cemetery)
Belmont, San Mateo County, California

Lat: 37°30'12"N, Lon: 122°19'26"W

Submitted by Fred Kemmerle, Jun 12, 2003 [fwk12000@yahoo.com]. Total records = 4.

This cemetery is located on a hill overlooking Interstate 280 and Crystal Springs Reservoir to the west and the city of Belmont to the east.

This family cemetery was established by William Harrington during the winter of 1855-56 when several people died from measles. The cemetery was used between 1855 and 1859 and abandoned thereafter.

Because of muddy conditions during that winter, it is alleged Harrington used a sled to bring the coffins to the top of the hill for burial.

The stone markers used in this cemetery existed until the early 1970's when they were removed and stored, probably by the San Mateo County Historical Association, out of fears of vandalism. There are also graves of several Indians here who worked for Harrington. They were given wood headboards which have long since disappeared.

Today, there is no evidence that a cemetery existed here. The area is covered by scrub brush and oak trees. The cemetery is on a closed state fish and game refuge and trespassing is not allowed.

I photographed and recorded information from the headstones, when I visited this cemetery in 1966.

- Fred Kemmerle

Finch, Elizabeth, b. 19 Feb 1821, d. 24 Apr 1855, aged 34y, 2m, 5d
Harrington, Richard A., b. 20 May 1855, d. 10 Jan 1856, infant s/o Wm. D. & Emily A. Harrington
Kinnison, Eliza S., d. 9 Sep 1858, aged 18y, 17d
Meredith, Francis M., b. 27 Oct 1833, d. 7 Jan 1856

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