Bristol County, Massachusetts - Chapter 65, 1883 (part 2 of 2)

" In the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-six, an act to incorporate the proprietors of the Taunton Cemetery" was passed and received the signature of the Governor (Edward Everett), " 23d of March." The names of the incorporators were " George B. Atwood, Samuel B. King, Samuel O. Dunbar, together with such other persons as shall become proprietors of lots." At the first meeting of these " proprietors," duly called " the 6th day of April, 1836," H. G. O. Colby, Esq., was chosen secretary, and the following persons trustees : Hon. Samuel Crocker, S. O. Dunbar, Joseph Wilbur, George B. Atwood, H. G. O. Colby, Samuel B. King, Anselm Bassett.

It was voted to call the cemetery " Mount Pleasant." Also voted " that the thanks of this corporation be given to the Hon. Samuel Crocker, for his gift of said lot of land to be used for the purpose of a cemetery ; that this vote be recorded by the secretary ; that a committee be appointed to communicate the same to the Hon. Mr.- Crocker, and be empowered to receive from him in behalf of the corporation a deed of the said land, procure the same to be recorded, and that when the trustees shall have laid out the lots in said cemetery, they shall offer to Mr. Crocker the first choice of lots therein." At a subsequent meeting of the trustees, the Hon. Samuel Crocker was chosen president of the corporation and Samuel O. Dunbar treasurer.

The consecration of the cemetery was " on Monday, the 4th of July, 1836, under the direction of the trustees, and with the following services: 1. Music by the choir. 2. Prayer by the Rev. Erastus Maltby. 3. Reading of Scripture by Rev. Mr. Hassard. 4. Singing an original hymn, by Miss Mary W. Hale. 5. An address, by Hon. Francis Baylies. 6. Consecrating prayer, by Rev. Andrew Bigelow. 7. An original hymn, by Charles R. Atwood, sung by the congregation to tune of 'Old Hundred.' 8. Benediction, by Rev. Mr. McReading. The services were in Cypress Dell, and in presence of about three thousand persons."

Immediately after the public meeting the corporation met, Hon. Samuel Crocker presiding, and, on motion of Mr. L. B. King, " Lot No. 1 was reserved for a monument in memory of Elizabeth Poole, the foundress of Taunton." The ladies subsequently erected a monument.

May 10, 1838, it was voted " that lots numbered 145, 146, 147, 148, and 149, situated on Pine path, on the side of Mount Crocker, be granted to the Hon. Samuel Crocker ; that the secretary be directed to prepare a deed of the same, tender it to the Hon. Mr. Crocker, with a copy of this vote, and cause it to be recorded in the registry of deeds of the corporation."

For more than a dozen years there was apparently little interest taken in buying lots or beautifying grounds in the cemetery. The original gift of Mr. Crocker contained six acres, forty-four rods, bounded by Barnum and what is now Cohannet Streets, but in 1852, Mr. Samuel B. King, son-in-law of Mr. Crocker, proposed to sell the corporation two acres adjoining, which should be bounded by a new street, to be laid out by him, called Crocker Street, for two thousand dollars, towards which he would subscribe five hundred dollars. This proposition was accepted, as it would give needed additional land, and the acceptance awakened new interest. The trustees in their next report, April 20, 1853, speak favorably of the enlargement; recommend that the "whole grounds be inclosed in one lot, with a suitable permanent fence." They thus close their report : " Within a few weeks past has occurred the lamented death of the Hon. Samuel Crocker, the president of this corporation from its first organization. To his munificence are we indebted for all the land we now own, except that purchased of S. B. King the last year. The trustees would recommend to the corporation the erection of a suitable monument in token of respect to his memory."

At this same meeting it was " voted that the trustees be authorized to take of the funds of the corporation five hundred dollars, if it be necessary, in order to erect a suitable monument to the Hon. Samuel Crocker, the donor of the land, and to put up a fence on that part of the cemetery bounded on Crocker Street, provided the remainder be paid by subscription, and that the treasurer be authorized to hire the money for the trustees." The fence was "put up" in due time, but, unfortunately, " the monument" has never been " erected."

April 10, 1867. A vote of thanks was tendered Messrs. S. 0. Dunbar and A. J. Barker for their interest in improving the cemetery grounds, and a " deed of a lot on the top of Mount Pleasant was presented Mr. Barker as a token of their appreciation of his services."

May 13, 1867. It was made known to the corporation Charles L. Babbitt, deceased, bequeathed one thousand dollars, " the income of which should be applied to. the improvement of the cemetery." Also Hon. Chandler R. Ransom tendered the corporation his tomb. In 1870, Horatio Gilbert, of Boston, donated his tomb. The same year it was voted to buy of Charles Husband the land adjoining the cemetery, between Barnum and Cohannet Streets, " called the Cobb Common," containing a little more than one acre.

April 13, 1881. " Thanks were extended to William R. Potter for his gift of $50 to the cemetery." There is also the record of a gift from E. H. Bennett of $94.50. Much interest is taken in the improvement of lots at the present time, and the treasurer's last report indicates a good condition of the finances: Receipts from all sources, $4468.26 ; expenditures, $2790.28 ; balance in treasury April 11, 1883, $1677.98. The present officers of the corporation are, President, William Mason; Secretary, Treasurer, and Superintendent, Seth L. Cushman ; Trustees, William Mason, S. N. Staples, N. H. Skinner, Z. Sherman, Joseph Dean, A. King Williams, A. J. Barker, E. H. Bennett, William Cox.

The Mayflower Hill Cemetery is a much larger burial-place of more recent date, which is attracting much attention, and is being greatly beautified. It contains not far from sixty acres, is bounded by Washington, Thrasher, and East Britannia Streets, and belongs to the city. Liberal grounds are appropriated for the poor. A new Catholic cemetery is laid out on the ; opposite side of East Britannia Street. Other cemeteries date further back than 1800, and are noticed elsewhere.