[3] From the time of its founding by Roger Williams in 1636, Rhode Island had strict separation of religious and government institutions.

Therefore, Providence had no state churches with adjacent public burial grounds, as most New England towns had.

This cemetery was to be open to the deceased of all faiths, from millionaires to paupers, and even emancipated slaves.

However, the first official burial didn't take place until one Samuel Whipple was buried here in 1710/11.

More land was added, along with curving roads and trees, to make the grounds more attractive to the living.