Unusual Epitaphs - Massachusetts

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         ALLEN, Elisha
Memorial inscription : Princeton, Massachusetts

    In memory of
    Capt. Elisha Allen
    who was inhumanly mur-
    dered by Samuel Frost,
    July 16th 1793.
    aged 48 years.
    Passengers behold! my friends and view
    Breathless I lie; sent to the grave;
    Jesus my only hope - to save;
    No warning had of my sad fate
    Till dire the stroke, alas! to late.

    Source : Kippax 1877


CHAUNCY, Isaac
Buried : Hadley, Massachusetts

    Here lies interred the body of the rev. Isaac Chauncy, pastor of the
    first church of Christ in Hadley, who was of a truly peaceable and
    catholick spirit, a good scholar, an eloquent orator, an able divine,
    a lively, pathetick preacher, a burning and shining light in this
    candlestick, an exemplary christian, an Israelite indeed, in whom was
    no guile. He departed this life, 2 may, A.D. 1745, aetat. 74.

    Source : Alden 1814 v.3


COTTON, Rachel
Died January 17, 1808
Old Burial Hill, Plymouth, Massachusetts

    I
    am erected
    by
    Josiah Cotton Esqr
    in remembrance of Rachel his pious and Virtuous Wife, who died Janury 17th 1808 aged 50 years.
    In belief of Christianity I lived,
    In hope of a glorious Resurrection I died.

    Source : Perkins 1902


CREASE, John
Died December 8, 1800, aged 33 years.
Buried in Copp's Hill burial ground, Boston, Massachusetts

    How lov'd how valued once, avails the not
    To whome related or by whome begot;
    A heap of dust alone remains of thee,
    Tis all thou art and all the proud shall be.

    Source : Norton 1921


DARLING, Betsey
From a burying-ground in the vicinity of Boston (Copp's Hill Burial Ground)

    In memory of
    Betsey
    wife of David Darling
    died March 23d 1809, AE. 43.
    She was the Mother of 17 Children, and around
    her lies 12 of them, and two were lost at sea.
    Brother Sextons
    please to leave a clear birth (berth) for me
    near by this stone.

    Source : Kippax 1877


DAVENPORT, Daniel
An old sexton
Monumental inscription in Dorchester, Massachusetts

    This grave was dug and finished
    in the year 1833
    by
    Daniel Davenport
    when he had been sexton
    in Dorchester
    twenty-seven years,
    had attended 1135 funerals,
    and dug 734 graves

    As a sexton with my spade I learned
    To delve beneath the sod;
    Where body to the earth returned,
    But spirit to its God.
    Years twenty-seven this toil it bore,
    and midst deaths oft was spared.
    Seven hundred graves and thirty-four I dug.
    Then mine prepared.
    And when at last I too must die
    Some else the bell will toll;
    As here my mortal relics lie,
    May heaven receive my soul.

    Note : He continued to perform the duties of sexton until 1852, and died in 1860 - twenty-seven years after digging his grave.

    Source : Kippax 1877


FARRELL, Andrew
Buried : Plymouth, Massachussetts

    Andrew Farrell, of respectable connexions, in Ireland, aged 38 years,
    owner and commander of the ship, Hibernia, sailed from Boston, 26 Jan.
    and was wrecked on Plymouth beach, 28 Jan. 1805. His remains with five
    of seven seamen, who perished with him, are here interred.
    O piteous lot of man's uncertain state;
    What woes on life's eventful journey wait?
    By sea, what treacherous calms, what sudden storms,
    And death, attendant in a thousand forms!

    Source : Alden 1814 v.3


FITZGERALD, Mary
Died in 1799, aged 36 years.
Buried in Copp's Hill burial ground, Boston, Massachusetts

    Virtue & youth just in the morning bloom
    With the fair Mary finds an early Tomb.

    Source : Norton 1921


FLINT, Josiah
Inscription on a tablet in the graveyard at Dorchester, Massachusetts

    Here lies interred ye corpse of
    Mr. Josiah Flint,
    Late pastor to ye church in
    Dorchester, aged 35 years, Dec.
    Sept ye 15 1680
    A man of God he was so great so good
    His highest worth was hardly understood
    So much of God and Christ in him did dwell
    In grace and holiness he did excell.
    An honor and an ornament thereby
    Both to ye church and to ye ministry.
    Most zealous in ye work of reformation
    To save this self-destroying generation.
    With courage strove 'gainst all this people's sin
    His pen, his strength, his life, his soul therein.
    Consumed with holy zeal for God for whome
    He lived and dyed a kind of martyrdome.
    For men will not lament, their hearts and breake,
    No wonder his lamenting stone doth speake.
    His tombstone crys repent & souls to save
    Doth preach repentance from his very grave.
    'Gainst sinners doth his lasting record lye.
             Psal. 112.66 - Prov. 10.7.

    Source : Kippax 1877


FROST, Samuel; mentioned in the epitaph of :
ALLEN, Elisha
Memorial inscription : Princeton, Massachusetts

    In memory of
    Capt. Elisha Allen
    who was inhumanly mur-
    dered by Samuel Frost,
    July 16th 1793.
    aged 48 years.
    Passengers behold! my friends and view
    Breathless I lie; sent to the grave;
    Jesus my only hope - to save;
    No warning had of my sad fate
    Till dire the stroke, alas! to late.

    Source : Kippax 1877


GAY, Timothy
Died in 1799, aged 36 years.
Buried in Copp's Hill burial ground, Boston, Massachusetts

    He was diligent in business, faithful
    to his friends, and affectionate to his family.
    "Life little Stage is a small Eminence,
    Inch high the Grave above; that Home of Man,
    Where dwells the Multitude: We gaze around;
    We read their Monuments; We sigh; and while
    We sigh, we sink, and are what we deplor'd."

    Source : Norton 1921


GOFF, John
Died February 26, 1807, aged 44 years.
Buried in Copp's Hill burial ground, Boston, Massachusetts

    My glass is run, my life is spent
    My earthly temple was but lent;
    Why should I wish a length of years,
    To spend in such a vale of tears.

    Source : Norton 1921


HARVEY, Mary
Died May 2, 1782, aged 63 years.
Buried in Copp's Hill burial ground, Boston, Massachusetts

    Mark, Traveller, this humble stone
    'Tis death's kind warning to prepare
    Thou too must hasten to the tomb
    And mingle with corruption there.

    Source : Norton 1921


HUGHES, Mary
Died in 1765, aged 46 years.
Buried in Copp's Hill burial ground, Boston, Massachusetts

    Time, What an empty vapour t'is,
    And days, how swift the flay:
    Our life is ever on the Wing,
    And Death is ever nigh.
    The Moment when our Lives begin,
    We all begin to die.

    Source : Norton 1921


HUNT, Ammey
Died 1769
Buried in Copp's Hill burial ground, Boston, Massachusetts

    A sister of Sarah Lucas lieth here,
    Whom I did Love most Dear;
    And now her Soul hath took its Flight,
    And bed her Spightful Foes good Night.

    Source : Norton 1921


JACK, John
Buried : Concord, Massachusetts

    God wills us free; man wills us slaves.
    I will as God wills, God's will be done.
    Here lies the body of John Jack, a native of Africa,
    who died, March, 1773, aged about 60 years.
    Though born in a land of slavery he was born free;
    though he lived in a land of liberty, he lived a slave,
    till, by his honest, though stolen labours,
    he acquired the source of slavery, which gave him his freedom,
    though not long before death, the grand tyrant,
    gave him his final emancipation, and set him on a footing with kings.
    Though a slave to vice, he practised those virtues, without which,
    kings are but slaves.

    Source : Alden 1814 v.1


JACKSON, Elizabeth
Buried : Marblehead, Massachusetts

    Here lies the body of mrs. Elizabeth Jackson, wife to captain
    Bartholomew Jackson, who departed this life, 26 July, 1778, aged
    22 years and 5 months. She was a loving wife, a dutiful child, a
    charitable friend. She looketh well to the ways of her household,
    and eateth not the bread of idleness. She worked the works of him
    that sent her, while it was day, now the night cometh she can work
    no more.

    Source : Alden 1814 v.1


JACKSON, Thomas
Died September 19, 1794
Old Burial Hill, Plymouth, Massachusetts

    To the memory of Thomas Jackson Esqr This monument is erected Obiit September 19, 1794, Aged 67 years
    The spider's most attenuated thread
    Is cord, is cable, to man's slender tie.

    Source : Perkins 1902


JORDAN, James
Died June 25, 1837
Old Burial Hill, Plymouth, Massachusetts

    James Jordan. Drowned in Smelt Pond, June 25, 1837, aged 27 y'rs.
    Buried on the day he was to have been married.

    Source : Perkins 1902


JUDSON, Abigail
Old Burial Hill, Plymouth, Massachusetts

    Sacred to the memory of Mrs. Abigail, widow of the late Rev. Adoniram
    Judson who died Jan. 31, 1842, aged 82 years.
    Her hope was in the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
    She felt the balm and efficacy of those leaves which are for the healing of the nations.

    A guilty weak and helpless worm,
    On thy kind arms I fall
    Be thou my guide and righteousness
    My Jesus and my all.

    Source : Perkins 1902


MAGEE, James; mentionned in the epitaph of :
MANN, Herbert

    Buried at Attleborough, Massachusetts
    In memory of doctor Herbert Mann, who, with 119 sailors, with capt.
    James Magee Master, went on board the brig, General Arnold, in Boston
    harbour, 25 December 1778, hoisted sail, made for sea, and were,
    immediately, overtaken by the most tremendous snow storm with cold,
    that was ever known in the memory of man, and, unhappily, parted their
    cable in Plymouth harbour, in a place called the Cow Yard. and he with
    about 100 others was frozen to death, 66 of whom were buried in one
    grave. He was in the 21 year of his age. And now, Lord God Almighty,
    just and true are all thy ways, but who can stand before thy cold?

    Source : Alden 1814 v.3


MANN, Herbert
Buried at Attleborough, Massachusetts

    In memory of doctor Herbert Mann, who, with 119 sailors, with capt.
    James Magee Master, went on board the brig, General Arnold, in Boston
    harbour, 25 December 1778, hoisted sail, made for sea, and were,
    immediately, overtaken by the most tremendous snow storm with cold,
    that was ever known in the memory of man, and, unhappily, parted their
    cable in Plymouth harbour, in a place called the Cow Yard. and he with
    about 100 others was frozen to death, 66 of whom were buried in one
    grave. He was in the 21 year of his age. And now, Lord God Almighty,
    just and true are all thy ways, but who can stand before thy cold?

    Source : Alden 1814 v.3


MORGAN, Mary
Died January 16, 1815, aged 3 years.
Buried in Copp's Hill burial ground, Boston, Massachusetts

    She left a word of
    sorrow sin & pain,
    Wish not to call her
    back to life again.

    Source : Norton 1921


PARTRIDGE, Oliver
Buried : Hatfield, Massachusetts

    Here lies interred the remains of Oliver Partridge, esq. who died, the
    21 of July, A. D. 1792, in the 81 year of his age.
    His usefulness, in church and state,
    Was early known to men;
    Blest with an active life, till late,
    And Happy in his end.
    The family of Partridge here interred are descendants from William
    Partridge, who came from Berwick on Tweed in Great Britain and died in
    Hadley. Oliver was the son of Edward, Edward was the son of Samuel,
    Samuel was the son of William, who was one of the first adventurers in
    forming settlements on Connecticut river in the 17 century.

    Source : Alden 1814 v.3


PAUL, Silas
Buried : Gay Head (today Aquinnah), Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts

    Yeuuh wohhok sipsin Sil Paul nohtobeyontok, aged 49 years, nuppoop tah,
    24 August, 1787.
    Translation : Here lies the body of Silas Paul, an ordained preacher,
    who died, 24 August, 1787, aged 49 years.

    Source : Alden 1814 v.1


PLASKET, Tabitha
Died June 10, 1807, aged 64 years. Old Burial Hill, Plymouth, Massachusetts

    Adieu vain world I have seen enough of the
    And I am careless what thou say'st of me
    Thy smiles I wish not;
    Nor thy frowns I fear,
    I am now at rest my head lies quiet here.

    Source : Perkins 1902


POOLE, William
Old burying-ground, Dorchester, Massachusetts

    Here lieth Buried ye body of
    Mr. William Poole aged 81 years
    Who died ye 25th of February in
    Ye yere 1674.

    Ye Epitaph of William Poole which hee himself make while
    he was yet living in remembrance of his own death & let it to
    be ingraven on his tomb yt so being dead he might warn
    posterity or a resemblance of a dead man bespeaking ye reader.

    Ho passenger 'tis worth thy pains too stay
    & take a dead man's lesson by ye way
    I was what now thou art & thou shalt be
    What I am now what odds twixt me & thee
    Now go thy way but stay take one word more
    Thy staf for ought thou knowest stands ye next dore
    Death in ye dore yea dore of Heaven or Hell
    Be warned be armed believe repent fairewell.

    Source : Kippax 1877


RICHARDSON, Nathaniel
Died September 10, 1815, aged 34 years.
Buried in Copp's Hill burial ground, Boston, Massachusetts

    My tender wife don't mourn for me, Tis here my earthly sorrows end; Prepare yourself in youthful days, In silence here to meet your friend.

    Source : Norton 1921


SMITH, Chester
Buried by the road side in Hadley, Massachusetts

    To the memory
    of
    Chester Smith
    Fourth Son of Mr. Joseph Smith
    Who on this spot was instantly killed
    By the upsetting of a load of wood
    January 25 AD 1810
    Aetats 19rs

    Passenger
    Hast thou a son promising hopes
    Set not thine heart upon him. With
    submission resign him to that Being, who
    destroyeth the hopes of Man.
    Art thou a youth endued with vigor
    and blooming in expectation of future
    earthly joys. Remember that man
    Knoweth not his time as the fishes are
    taken in an evil net and as the birds are
    caught in a snare, so are the sons of men
    snared in an evil time when it falleth
    suddenly upon them.

    Source : Kippax 1877


SPOONER, Thomas and Sarah
He died 19 December 1762, she died 25 January 1767
Old Burial Hill, Plymouth, Massachusetts

    Here lies Interrd
    The Body of Ms
    SARAH SPOON-
    ER who dece-
    ased January
    Ye 25th AD 1767
    In ye 72d year fo
    her age. She was
    widow to (carving of a hand, pointing to the next stone which marks the grave of her husband)

    Here Lies
    Buried ye Body of
    Thomas Spooner
    who departed this
    Life Decemr 19th
    Anno Domi. 1762
    in ye 68 Year
    of his
    Age.

    Source : Perkins 1902


STAIN, David Leighton
Burial: Vine Lake Cemetery, Medfield, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, USA

    David Leighton Stain
    Born
    Jan 20, 1830
    Died
    July 7, 1916
    An Innocent Shoemaker

    Source : findagrave.com, Memorial# 57608780


STRONG, Caleb (Mr.)
Buried at Northampton, Mass.

    In memory of mr. Caleb Strong, who died, 13 February, A. D. 1776, in the 66 year of his age.

    Man's home is in the grave;
    Here dwells the multitude; we gaze around,
    We read their monuments, we sigh, and while
    We sigh, we sink.

    Source : Alden 1814 v.3


SWETT, John Barnard
Inscription : Newburyport, Massachusetts

    John Barnard Swett, M. D. A. A. and M. S. S. died 16 August, 1796, aged 45 years.
    He was an accomplished scholar, a learned physician, and a most amiable
    man. In the midst of a very useful and exemplary life, he was torn from
    a bleeding family, and an extensive circle of admiring and lamenting
    friends, falling a sacrifice to his fidelity, in the exercise of a
    laborious and hazardous profession.

    Source : Alden 1814 v.2


THACHER, Peter (Rev.)
Buried at Attleborough, Massachusetts

    In memory of the rev. Peter Thacher, A.M. the late faithful and
    beloved pastor of the second congregational church in Attleborough,
    who was born, 25 January, 1716, ordained, 30 November, 1748, and died,
    13 September, 1785, in the 70 year of his age, and 43 of his ministry.

    Whom papists not,
    With superstitious fire,
    Would dare to adore,
    We justly may admire.

    Source : Alden 1814 v.3



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