WESTBROOK – Private cemeteries are not uncommon. The city of Westbrook has 18 known private cemeteries with some 240 gravesites.

However, one such cemetery, the Conant Burying Ground on Conant Street, has significant historical implications for the city, with some of Westbrook’s most noteworthy figures, as well as 13 veterans, buried there.

On Monday, the Westbrook City Council unanimously approved the transfer of the private cemetery to the city, and accepted terms of providing regular maintenance to the plot.

Ellie Conant Saunders, who resides in the adjacent home on 89 Conant St., is a direct descendant of some of the first permanent settlers in Westbrook, such as brothers Joseph and Samuel Conant, who are buried in the cemetery.

According to information compiled by the Westbrook Historical Society, there are 28 plots at the site, including veterans of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. The oldest grave in the cemetery belongs to Joseph Conant, who died in 1765.

Saunders’ late husband, and one-time mayor of Westbrook, Donald Saunders, is also buried there.

Saunders, 94, said in August that she felt it “was time” to hand it over, stating that most of her family lives out of state, making the upkeep on the cemetery more difficult.

“This is a very important, historical cemetery,” said City Councilor Mike Sanphy at Monday’s meeting. “It’s one of the oldest, if not the oldest, in the city of Westbrook. It’s an important part of our history to preserve this, and make it available to the public.”

Sanphy is also the president of the Westbrook Historical Society.

While officially private until Monday, the cemetery has been maintained by the city for some 10 years. The city was required to provide regular maintenance to the graves of veterans.

“Therefore, the acceptance of this cemetery does not represent any significant increase in future expenses for the city,” said City Administrator Jerre Bryant in his memo to the council.

Bryant also said while the city will assume “full responsibility and liability for the cemetery once accepted,” a perpetual care fund will be created through a bequest from Saunders’ estate upon her passing.

Westbrook’s cemeteries are maintained by Westbrook Public Services, with mowing services outsourced to a private company.

There are six remaining burial plots in the cemetery, all of which are spoken for.

According to information compiled by Saunders in 2005, the Conant burial ground was once larger than it is today. In the 1940s, she said, a filling station was built over part of the cemetery after the land was purchased “without city or Conant knowledge.”

Ernie’s Cycle Shop now occupies the former filling station land, and Saunders believes there are unknown remains buried there, the oldest in the cemetery.

City Councilor Michael Foley thanked Saunders for turning the plot over to the city, calling the cemetery “a great historical landmark.”

Saunders said there would be an official dedication ceremony for the cemetery at her property sometime in December. City Clerk Lynda Adams said Saunders plans to open her garage to guests to view her private collection of historical materials, and that the public will be invited.