This cemetery was originally called Military and Civilian Cemetery, then Old Presbyterian Cemetery. In 2017, it was renamed Royal Sappers & Miners Cemetery and is the burial ground for workers that died during the construction of the Rideau Canal at Isthmus (Newboro), including several Sappers and Miners that were stationed at this spot.
Initial work on the canal was undertaken by civilian contractors. A serious outbreak of malaria at the site in August and September of 1828 resulted in a number of deaths, with at least 14 known burials in August alone. With the loss of a significant portion of their workforce, the contractors were unable to continue with their job. Many labourers were so frightened that they left the site without waiting for their pay. In addition, the rock was so hard that their black powder blasting could not create a channel.
The decision was made to complete the project with military personnel raising the water level at the Isthmus by constructing a dam at the Narrows. In 1829, the 7th Company of the Royal Sappers and Miners were assigned to Isthmus to work with a new labour force. Barracks were erected for the military personnel, along with supporting infrastructure and accommodations for the remaining civilian workers.
The Isthmus project was completed in 1831. During the three-year construction period, 13 sappers are known to have died, along with an unknown number of non-military personnel. Over time, their specific grave sites have been obliterated, hence the commemorative monument erected for the sappers in 2017.
Following completion of work at the Isthmus, control of the cemetery remained with the British Ordnance Department. Civilian burials continued, some of which were former Royal Sappers, their family members, or those who may have worked elsewhere on the Rideau Waterway.
In 1857, the military relinquished control of the Canal and turned it over to the Province of Canada (formerly Upper and Lower Canada). Local governance of the cemetery was provided by the police from the Village of Newboro and then, after incorporation, the town of Newboro.
As time passed, the cemetery conditions deteriorated as the ownership changed hands between private, church and municipal control. In 1963, the Village of Newboro took ownership of the cemetery and it was classified as abandoned by the Ontario Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Affairs in 1974.
With municipal amalgamation in 1998, the Townships of North and South Crosby, and the Village of Newboro became Wards in the Township of Rideau Lakes. Control and ownership of the cemetery passed to the newly formed Township of Rideau Lakes. Under this jurisdiction, work started on a program to identify and restore the more than thirty abandoned cemeteries in the township, one development of which was the formation of the Royal Sappers and Miners Cemetery Restoration Committee in 2014.
The cemetery was used into the 20th century (last burials were in the 1940s). The name and heritage marker commemorates the Royal Sappers and Miners, however, there were also canal era civilians (men, women and children) who died on-site during the building of the canal and are buried in this cemetery.
The Royal Sappers and Miners Plaque is also located here.
