The Hatching Cat of Gotham

When John Hopper died in 1778, his will ordered that the farm be divided into equal portions among his heirs, who all signed an agreement that a family graveyard along today’s 9th Avenue and 50th Street would be reserved as a burial ground forever. The graveyard continued to serve members of the Hopper, Varian, Cozine, and Horn families until 1840. The burial ground was removed in 1885 (some of the graves were reportedly removed to Trinity Cemetery uptown.)