The final burial of Jane McCrea in the Ft. Edward Union Free Cemetery was done long before Duncan Campbell's final burial there (secured for him long after Jane's final resting place was secured for her). Hers was done (in my opinion) partly to give validity and prominence to the newly created cemetery, partly to satisfy her family's wishes, and partly to capitalize on the ever growing local cult of Jane McCrea. The creation of the new cemetery at that time coincided with the national movement in that direction and it was one of several huge cemeteries formed by local corporations at that time. To look at that cemetery after it had been in use for 40 years is to recognize the era's truly conspicuous consumption that paralleled the creation of huge public buildings (churches, schools, municipal centers, etc.) and massive monuments marking the various wars (Civil, Revolutionary, etc.).

Jane's being a cult hero was why she was buried there. Although no specific contemporary written source (i.e.. contemporary with her death in 1777) cites the name of David Jones, local oral history and subsequent survivor interviews make for a strong case for Jones as the fiancé. Her proximity to Duncan Campbell's final burial place is totally coincidental.

For another opinion that might differ from mine, you should contact either Fort Edward Town and Village Historian R. Paul McCarty, or Eileen Hannay, the latter of whom is perhaps one of the most knowledgeable people on the topic.
 
 

Daniel Martin wrote:

I mentioned that I found it interesting that Jane McCrea was buried next to the Black Watch Campbell for the following reasons. First, I have seen both David Jones and another Duncan Campbell mentioned as the fiancee.  It was obviously not the Fort Ti Campbell because of the age difference which was quite considerable.  Campbell was 55 years old when he died, a veritable geriatric for those times. But he is buried next to Jane McCrea but also near his wife, Ann, who was with him at Fort Ti.   Indeed, he had a son, Alexander, who was a Captain in the Black Watch and was also wounded at the French Lines.The point is that I read Campbell was moved by his relatives, the Gilchrists, who were actually his wife's relatives, I think, and all these people, Jane McCrea, Ann Campbell, Duncan Campbell, are buried near each other (a family burial plot?) in the cemetery.  Therefore, I also believed the fiancee was a Campbell, because he would have wanted her buried near his family. Daniel Martin

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Sent: Thursday, December 19, 2002 10:16 PM

Subject: Re: Jane McCrea - Ft. Edward

 It seems to me, if I recall correctly, that Jane McCrea was engaged to an officer named Jones, not Campbell.  I haven't checked to be sure.  But I think Jones was a British officer with Burgoyne, and he had local Loyalist connections, I think.  Also, wasn't Jane from New Jersey (?) and wasn't she staying with a friend at Fort Edward, a widow Campbell?  The whole story deserves more research.  The McCrea killing captured the attention of the Americans, but a far worse, much more horrible atrocity occurred almost at the same time in present Washington County.  This was the murder of the entire Allen family, including an infant child.  And this is almost entirely forgotten.