This cemetery was first used as a burial ground for workers who died during the construction of the canal including 10 members of the Royal Sappers and Miners. Unfortunately, the names of the civilian workers are unknown because the wooden grave markers were lost over time.
Newboro Lock was one a few lockstations along the canal that was modernized in the name of efficiency. Before Parks Canada assumed the management of the canal the Rideau was under the authority of the Department of Transportation and this department had little interest or experience in heritage preservation.