Plymouth County, Massachusetts - Graveyards - Epitaphs., 1884

Graveyards - Epitaphs.

Old Graveyard in West Bridgewater. - The Old Graveyard in West Bridgewater, on the east side of Taunton road, leading from Mill River to Mile Brook bridge, now called South Street, was originally one acre of land ; and about forty years ago was enlarged by an addition of land on the north and east sides, to its present form and quantity, to wit: nearly a triangle, and containing one acre, one quarter and eleven rods of land, then making a carriage-way on the northerly and easterly side, and then inclosing the wliole grouud with a stone wall, making the cuuformation of the graveyard as it is seen at the present day.

Some ten years ago the ground had bccunie grown over to bushes, trees, wild grass, and weeds, the stones covered with moss, and out of position. A subscription was raised, the ground was dug over, graded and smoothed, the headstones cleaned and righted, the footstouea removed to the backside of the headstones, and otherwise disposed of, so that the ground is now in comfortable condition for mowing, and fur being kept in good order in the future.

There is but one reference to this ground ;ts a graveyard in the old records, and that is its grant by the proprietors of Bridgewater for a burial-place, and is found in the first volume of said " Proprietors' Records," at the top of page 153, in the handwriting of Samuel Allen, who was the second town and pro]irieturs' clerk, from 1683 to 1702, and is in these words, under the head of " Edward Fobes :"

** more, one akcr and half and one aker for a burying place, liing at the bed uf this aker and half liing at the lied of his tow bouse lot that hee bought of John Cary, bounded at the lied by tow red ok or black oke saplings."

Tliere is no date to this grant or record. It was without doubt after 1G83, as Mr. Allen was not clerk till December, 1683. The record on the preceding page, 152, under the head of "The lands of Edward Fobes in the Township of Bridgewater, huth uplands and meadow," is in the handwriting uf John Cary, the first town and proprietors' clerk, from the first scttlementof the town, in 1651, to the day ol' iiis death, Oct. 31, 1681. Deacon Edward Fobes, son of John Fubes, an original projirietor, then lived wljere Dwelly Fubes now lives, and owned two house- or gardcn-luts, t wiiiiyfour by eighty, twelve acres, bounded west by Samuel llldson, and east by road to Taunton, being the present road by Ids house and the burying-plaee, and tiic two house-lots, twenty-four by eighty, referred tu in iliis record as bought of John Cary, mean the two liouselots opposite tlie dwelling-liouse of said I'jdward l'"obes, now Dwelly Fobes, bounded east by Jolin -\mc.s, and west by the road aforesaid, which two huuse-luts last named were owned, occupied, and lived upon by John Cary, Jr., son of tlie old and first town clerk, who moved to Bristol, then a part of the old culuuy uf

Plymouth, and now in Rhode Island, and said Gary, Jr., of Bristol, sold and conveyed said two house-lots to said Edward Fobes by deed dated July 7, 1GS3, recorded in Plymouth Ref;istry," book 20, page 123. The acre and half mentioned in said record lay at the head of these two house-lots, and the one acre referred to for a burying-place, lay at the head of the one acre and half, and i.s the present buryin<:-ground, except the additions made some forty years ago, as above stated. This ground was probably not u.sed at all for a burying-place till after its grant for that purpose, and the grunt was not made till after July 7, 1G83, and may nut have been for some years after that.

The epitaphs fail to show that this ground was used much, if any, for the burial of persons living and dying in other parts of the town, afterwards known as South, Exst, and North Precincts. According to gravestone account. Deacon Samuel Edson died 1692, his wife 1699. Rev. James Keith's first wife 1705, he 1719, all buried in this yard, near each other. The nest five persons having gravestones and buried here are a uhild of Dr. Perkins, 1720 ; a child of George Williams, 1721 ; Hannah, wife of Comfort Willis, 1721-3, aged sixty-four; Martha Fobes, 1725, aged sis; and Joseph Keith, 1730, aged fifty-five, said Joseph Keith being the only one of the nine children of Rev. James Keith the exact date of whose birth is known. He was no doubt born Feb. 14, 1675, as stated on his gravestone, and died Sept. 27, 1730.

A memoir of Royal Keith, with annals of the Keith family of Scotland, a pamphlet of twenty-four pages, was published at Boston, 1S73, by C. E. Keith & Co., in which memoir on the seventh page is given an account of the birth of the children of the Rev. James Keith, putting down the esact date of the birth of each of his nine children, naming them in the order in which they are named in Mitchell's " History of Bridgewater," as follows :

This account of the dates of the births of these children is believed to be wholly incorrect, without authority, and was altogether conjectural. Two of the three daughters, and four of the six sons of Minister Keith, lived and died in Bridgewater. These four sons have gravestones, giving the date of their deaths and ages, and one of them, said Joseph Keith, givuig the exact date of his birth, as well as his death.

Samuel' "died Feb. 3, 1759, in the eighty-second year of his age." He was buried in Scotland, part of the South Precinct of old Bridgewater.

There is no record of the birth or death of the other five children of Rev. James Keith, who have no gravestones. Two of his daughters lived and died in Bridgewater, now West Bridgewater. James died in Mendon, Josiah died in E;iston, and Margaret probably died in Rehoboth. Their births and deaths are unknown except as before erroneously stated in that memoir, which is incorrect and unreliable, if gravestones tell the truth.

There were but one monument in this ground before 1700, sis before 1730, thirty-seven before 1750, one hundred and seventy-four before 1800, and three hundred and four all told, down to the present time.

This old yard has not been much used for a burialplace for the last thirty' years or more, and only two interments have been made for the last ten years. There is now in this yard one tomb on the north side of the ground called the Baxter tomb, and now owned by Withington Caldwell ; and there are three tombs near the middle of the yard, belonging, one to the heirs of Benjamin B. Howard, deceased; one to the heirs of Judge Daniel Howard, deceased; and one to the heirs of Charles Howard and Wm. Ames, deceased ; all built about 1824. None of these tombs have any occupants.

The first notice of any other burying-place is to be found in the " Proprietors' Records," vol. i., at the bottom of page 248, in the handwriting of Samuel Allen, proprietors' clerk, made in the year 1689, under the iiead of " The lands of John Field both upland and meadow land hear in the Towne of Bridgewater." It is as follows :

"more on acre and halfe joying to the westerly siJe of his land liing on the north aide of Meeting House, ranging all along the side of his lund, being foure {tolo wide in breadth bounded in the corner next the Meeting Uouse and Tliouiaa Sneli's land by a stone pitched into the ground and so running all the length of his land to the highway as it goes to Sandy Hill wilh allowance for highway on line beside said four pole and the bury- f ij^gg I ing place for those naiborsy' have made choise of it." i > each of these cellars, which are about eight rods apart, i being a burying-place of much extent, though it apand there is a tradition in the neighborhood that a . pears to have been, probably, the first burying-place certain negro was buried under an apple-tree thou 1 in Bridgewater, and that opposite the house ol Gamaand there near by standing, showing the burying- | liel Howard the second, and that on the ea.st side of place to have occupied forty or IJfty square rods of i Taunton road to be the third ; this first yard, probground. ably not much used after the third yard was estab- the Boatou road from the meeting-house to Sandy Hill, opposite to the dwelling-house of the late Gamaliel Howard. The centre of the travel means the gone, to the Boston road north of the old Howard tavern house, now gone. This old road, probably the first made upon the bank of the river, was straight centre of the travel of all the ratable inhabitants of I from point to point, and was allowed to be " stopped West Precinct, for the purpose of locating the new | up by John Howard and John Field, 171U,and turned meeting-house which they were desirous to build, and j down the lane" on the bank of the river as now u.scd which was built iu 1731. for a highway in front of Jonathan Howard's house ;

The Precinct in 1728 voted to build a new meeting- I but the first meeting-house most likely stood near the house in the centre of travel of all ratable iuhabi- first burying-ground.

tants of West Precinct, and chose a committee to It was a practice in old times to have tlie meetingmeasure and find out the centre. No report is to be ' house, the graveyard, and the minister's house close fouud and it dues not appear where that centre was; | together, especially the two first; and if the ground then comes the vote of Nov. 26, 1729, above cited. } south of Francis E. Howard's was a burial-place dnr- Next comes the vote of Dec. 24, 1729, to set it at the ' ing the first thirty or more years of this settlement, west end or near the old house, giving the names of ' it would be near the meeting-house and minister's forty-eight persons voting for it, and finally, after ! house, whether we assume the first meeting-house to many parish meetings, and an appeal to the Legisla- i liave been located east of the Boston road, near the tuic, it was voted, June 8, 1731, to set the meeting- | Samuel Packard house as heretofore suggested, or we house at the west end of the old house, according to ! assume that it stood on the west side of that road the order and recommendation of the Great and Gen- south of F. E. Howard's house.

We fail to find gravestones prior to 1700, wiih one esccptioD, and very few prior to 1740, and we are uuabli; to find other record-evidence tliat eitlier of these two places were used for burial ; although it is highly probable that they were both burial-places during the tirat thirty yeai-s, and occasioually used for some tinie afterwards.

The Boston, Plymouth and Taunton road, tiirough West Bridgewater, laid out by a jury of twelve men in 10(58, luis always been understood to be the road leading from Mile Brook Kidge, by the old buryingground, Dwelly Fobcs' house, over Town River, by the houses of Benjamin and Francis E. Howard, by the present meeting-house, and by the house of the late Gamaliel Howard, to Saudy Hill, north of the late Jonathan Copeland's house.

Each of these roads starts from the meeting-house. The Plymouth and Boston is one road, from the mecting-liouse to Sandy Hill ; and the Taunton road runs from the meeting-house to John Howard's, and thence over the river to Mile Brook bridge (meaning the old tavern-house of the first John Howard). This meeting-house, being the first meeting-house in old Bridgewater, stood on the Boston and Taunton road, through Bridgewater, and probably on the west side of it, between the houses of said Benjamin and Francis E. Howard.

Graveyards grow, decay, disappear, and are soon forgotten. Gravestones were expensive and difficult to be obtained. Native flat stones, set in the ground edgewise, at the head and foot of graves, were sufficient to identify the resting-places of friends for the time being, and graves during the memory of man Were recognized; but after the lapse of a few generations, and long ago becoming unknown, have been demolished, stones removed, and ground leveled and smootiied. There are but few gravestones with inscriptions thereon during tlie first one hundred years after the settlement of Bridgewater. The earliest stones were generally for young children, and there is much doubt and uncertainty what yard, or in what part ut' the yard, the first settlers were buried, or when burial-places were first established, who gave the land, or how right of burial was actiuired.

Epitaphs In The Old Graveyard

4. In memory of Mrs. Alice Witherell, who died Feb. 15, 1804, in her 61" year. Ifr. Obediah Witherell, her husband, died in the West Indies, Aug. 30, 1775, ;e 27.

Think, 0 I ye parents, think bow great Uow favored with your children iu yourview, Whilst you enjoy your health, your wealth und State, Prepare to follow me; teach them to follow you.

12. Sybil Porter Howard, Daughter of Daniel Howard, Esq., and Abigail, his wife, is here intered, in her 7"" year of her age. The fatal accident which instantly closed her sum of life happened Sept. 3, 1795. (Same as No. 9. Killed by water-wheel in oil mill of her father.)

13. Lucy, the Daughter of Daniel Howard, Esq., and Abigail, his wife, here lies iutered. She died Feb. 10, 1792, aged 11 mos., 14 days. (Same as No. 9. Killed by a fork thrown at her head by u phiyniate.)

Iter mind was tranquil aud sereoe ; No terrors in her looks were aeeu; ller Savior's smile dispelled tile gluoni, And smoothed her pus&uge to the touib.

15. To the Memory of Mrs. Susanna Fobe.s, Eldest Daughter of Col. Edward Howard, and wife of Mr. Jesse Fobes, this stone is erected. In 1774 nhe was married to Oakes Angler, Esq., Barrister-at-Law. After his death, in 1786, she remained a widow until

179:i, anJ died April 28, 1793. This Jes=e Fobua, by a second wife, tlie daugliter of Rev. Elijah Packard, was the father of Judge Charles E. Fobes, late of Northauipton.

16. Oakes Angier, Esq., Barrister-at-Law, departed this life Sept. P', A. D. )78G, in the 4P' year of his age, and here lies interred with mind vigorous and penetrating, assiduous and indel'atigable in business. Ho soon arrived attMiiinence in his profession. Seventeen years practice at the bar with fidelity, integrity, and ability t'stablished his rupntatioii, and improved his fortune, but too fatally injured his constitution in the nieridiau of life, by a lingering and incurable malady. The Great Teacher put a period to his days, thereby atfording an alfecting evidence of the futility of the fondest dreams of terrestrial felicity.

IS. In memory of Mr. Timothy Fobes, who, after enduring painful and lingering malady, departed this life Oct. 20, A. D. 1805, in the 04'" year of his age.

52. Here lie 8 children of Mr. Josiah Lothrop and Susanna his wife. They died in infancy. (Moved to Canada East, town of Eaton, 1817. Si.s: (d his fourteen children lived to grow up.)

59. Erected in the memory of Sally Ames, Daugliter of Mr. David Howard and Mrs. Molly his wife, who died July y'= 29, 1791, aged 10 w. 3 day.

Flow loved, liuw viiiucU ouce uvnil lue uot; To whom related, or by whom begot; A heap of dual alone remains of ute, 'Tid all thou art, and all the proud Hhall be.

Monume.Xtal

65. Amelia Siiell, wife of Capt. Salmon Howard, died Jan. 19, 1863, aged 82 years aud 5 mos. Adectionate remembrance prompts this last tribute of respect of a widowed wife, an orphan child, in commemoration of the virtue of a beloved husband, and a revered father.

77. In memory of Mrs. Mary, relict of Mr. Samuel Dunbar, who died Feb. 3, 1793, aged 75, after sustaining tedious cancerous disorder with patieuce.

88. In memory of Mrs. Sophia Willis, the wife of Mr. Nathan Willis, Jr., and Daughter to Gen' Benjamin Tupper. She was born Dec. 1766, and died Oct. 28, 1897, in the 23" year of her age.

89. In memory of Sophia, Daughter of Mr. Nathan Willis, Jr., and Mrs. Sophia, his wife, who died May 25, A. D., 17'J0, aged 8 mo. and 7 day.

100. Here is buried tlie body of Anna Siiell, Daughter of Mr. Jusepli and Ann Snell, who died May y' 2'', 1747, aged 4 years, wanting 10 days.

116. In memory of Susanna, Daugh. of Mr. Josiah Williams and Mrs. Hannah his wife, who departed this life, Feb. y* 21, 1788, in y" 21 year of her age.

Couu bitber, mortal, cattt au eyu Tlieo gu thy way prepared lo die, Tbeu read tby doom, for die tbuu uiudt Cue duy like us be turned to dust.

122. Joshua Ames, born June 18, 1768, died May 29, 1SU2, only son of Benjamin Ames of N. Bridgewater, married Hannah Ford, who died at N. Bridgewater, 1829.

123. James Ames, born Jan. 28, 1787, died Oct. 29, 1863. Son of Joshua, grandson of Benjamin, preatgrandson of John, great-great-grandson of John of W. Bridgewater, who was born at Braintree the 24 day, 3" month, 1C47.

Thin friend of Chriat ahall wuke uud ribe, Sliull mount triunipliHiit to tliu skicH ; When briglit the love, the grace diviue. This mortal aliull in glory aliioe.

Here lies tlie body of Mrs. Susanna Keith, died Oct. 16, 1705, aged 65. Mr. James Keith, First minister in Bridgewater, and educated in Aberdeen,

140. Samuel and Susannah Edson intered. He July 20, 1692, and she February y" 20, 169'J. He aged 80, and she aged 81 years. (When erected, or by whom, is not known. A natural granite slab, 5 inches thick, 5 ft. 7 in. by 4 ft. 3 in., resting on a foundation of natural broken stone, 1 > foot above ground.)

144. In memory of Mrs. Bathiah Willis, relict of Capt. Zephaniah Willis, and dau. of Mr. Thomas Hayward, who died Feb. 16, 1783, in the 58 year of her age.

149. In memory of Betsey, dau. of Mr. Joshua Howard, of Braintree, and Abigail, his wife, who died Oct. 4, 1788, in the 19"' year of her age.

155. Here lies intered the body of the Kev. Daniel Perkins, who departed this life Sept. 29, A.D. 17S2, in the SU"' year of his age, and 62'' year of his ministry.

158. Daniel Perkins, eldest child to the Rev. Mr. Daniel Perkins, Pastor of y' 1'' church in Bridgewater, , and Ann, his wife, died March y" 29'^ 1726, aged 3 j years, 4 mos., one week and 5 days.

102. Here lies intered the body of Mrs. Mary Perkins, the consort of Richard Perkins, Eld', who departed this life June '2V\ 1799, in the 45 year of her age.

109. Memento Mori. In memory of Mr. Thomas Willis, sou of Mr. Isaac Willis and Mrs. Rebeckah his wife, who died April 23, 1785, in the 21"' year of his age.

Slop, blooming youtli, see where I lie, And think and know Unit yuu must diu*; But God ulone that knowd how nuoa Your SuD oitty set before ite noon.

179. Here lies hurried Mi.ss Sarah Lathrop, dau. of Mr. Samuel Lathrop, and Elizabeth, his wife, who died Jan. 3, 1759, in y" 10"' year of her age.

History Op West Bridgewater

196. Here lies hurried Mrs. Jerusha Bailey, relict of Mr. Joseph Bailey, late of Scituate, deceased, who died April G'", 1758, in y' 76"' year of her age.

198. In memory of Mrs. Abigail Lathrop, the Daughter of Mr. Edward Lathrop and Abigail, his wife, who died Dec. y° 22, 1774, in y» 22 year of her age.

(He married Martha Howard, a granddaughter of Rev. James Keith, and was father of Seth Williams, born 1722, and grandfather of Seth, who married Zilphe Ingraham, of Canton, and who was father of the Hon. Ruel Williams, of Augusta, Me. Said Ruel Williams died July 25, 1862.)

229. Ill memory of Dwelle, s(m of Mr. Tiaiothy Fobes, and Mary, liis wife, who died June 19, 1783, within 11 days after the fall of a stick of timber on his head. Aged 8 years, 9 mos., and 13 days.

248. Here lies the body of Joseph Jolinson, son of Daniel Johnson, Esq., and Betty, his wife, deceased, December y' 26"', 1745, aged 15 years. (Born Nov. 17, 1730.)

253. In memory of Mehetable Hayward, daugh' of Mr. Benjamin Hayward and Sarah, his wife, who died Jan. 10, 1771, in y" 14'" year of her age.

259. Here lies y' body of Betty Johnson, daughter to Dauiel Johnson, Esq., and Betty, his wife, who dieil December y" 8'", - (Stone broken. Born Feb. 1, 1739, died 1743.)

Wliile yet in life liib heart and mind To justice, trutli, aud peace iiicliaed. Not honest wealth nor grace did save This man of justice fiuin the grave. Our iiasty days, as angels bight. Leave us iu shaded ot death.

274. In memory of Mrs. Susanna, the wife of Mr. David Johnson, Jr., y" daughter of John Willis, Esq., who died Aug. 6, 1750, in y" 24"' year of her age.

291. In memory of Mary Ann, wife of Daniel Crane, who died Nov. 8, 1840, aged 25 years. Walter, infant son of Daniel and Mary Ann Crane, died March 19, 1840, aged 1 year.

304. A floating stone. In memory of Ilepsey K. Howard, daughter of Thomas and Ilepzebah Howard, who died Oct. 4"', 1821, in the ninth year of her nge.

Powder-House Graveyard. - The Powder-House Graveyard is on the north side of the Plymouth road, leading from the old Bay road, by the old King house ; contains forty-three square rods; is 205 feet long on said road, east aud west; ninety-six feet back, north and south ; has two entrances for carriages on said road, - one at each end of the yard, and was used for a burying-place as early as 1747.

About forty-two or forty-three years ago it was enlarged by taking in a narrow strip of land from one to two rods wide on three siiles, when the wall aud fence now there was made, and all done by the town of West Bridgewater.

The oldest burials in this yard are Abigail, dau. of Josiah Siiell, died May 13, 1747, a; 8, her sister Mary, dying May 27, the same year, a; 11, Rhoda Packard, a child, dying April 4, 1750, Israel Packard, April 20, 1752, X 35, and Josiah Siiell, grandfather of the first two children above named, dying April 4, 1753, :e 78; only five persons being buried here before 1700, twenty-three dying in course of ten years after 1780, and seventeen between 1800 and 1810; and only two interments have been madesince 1848, - Edward Snell, J uue 8, 1851, aj 54, and Linthea Snell, April 5, 1859, u"ed 04. Of the ninety-nine persons having lettered "rave-stones in this yard, thirty-four b<irc the name of Snell; seventeen, Packard; eleven, Hayward ; nine, Itichards. There are but few graves without lettered stones. All stones face south. This ground has not been worked upon or leveled off so as to obliterate the resting places of those persons who have no lettered head stones. No deed or ancient manuscript of these premises, or any part thereof, are known to exist.

They were all buried on the south side of the road opposite this burial-ground. Jonathan Copeland, father of Ebenezer, Sr., was buried on the south side of this road, 1790, aged 90, being the first Copelaiul tliat died iu Bridgewater. In 1801 this Ebenezer, Sr., built a tomb on the south side of the road, and had these bodies all put into that tomb. Another tomb was built on this side of the road by Deacon Joseph Kingman and his brother Jonathan, about 1819, and shortly after a third tomb was built on this spot by Ilezekiah Copeland.

In 18G0 all the bodies in these tombs were removed to the Pine Hill Cemetery, and the tombs were taken away, and the road was then widened. Ebenezer Copeland, Sr., owned the land where these tombs were located, formerly Deacon Brett's land, and Nathan Snell owned the land on the north side of the road. Probably his father, Josiah Snell, grandson of Thomas Snell, one of the first settlers, and greatest landholder in old Bridgewater, gave the original lot for burial.

There is a tradition that one or more persons were buried on Sandy Hill, on the west side of the old Bay road, nearly opposite the house of Elihu Leonard, which stands upon the site and very cellar of the old Brett house, which was owned and occupied successively by father and son. In taking earth from this hill, to make the new road where the willows now grow, one place, having some appearance of an old grave, was found; but, if it w:ls ever much used for burial, they would have discovered more evidence of its having been used for that purpose.

It is not known where the old town clerk. Deacon Nathaniel Brett, Sr., and wife, Sarah, were buried. She died 1737; he died 1740; probably in the ground opposite the late Gamaliel Howard house, and where the Stone and Capen houses stand, called the second burying-place iu Bridgewater.

N. Brett, Jr., deacon and fourth town clerk from 173G to his death, 1779, was probably buried in this yard on the east side of his second wife, Mary Brett's grave. This site is indicated by two natural, rough stones at head and foot, without inscriptions. The second wife died Jan. 21, 1780, within one year after tlie death of her husband, and was buried about thirty-five feet nearly east from where his first wife, Rebecca, and their son, Uriah, were buried. The two wives and their son Uriah have good liead-stones ; but the stone for his second wile does not give her birth or age. The first wife died 1771, and their son, Uriah, died 1708, aged 28. Tlie old Powder-House stood in tills yard, near the southwest corner.

In her was manifested that wbdoni which is from aliove, is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy uud gooti Iruit, without purliality aud witbuut hypocrisy.

26. In memory of Ruhamah, daughter of Ca|>t. Josiah Snell and Mrs. Ruhamah, his wife; she died March y° 15, 1786, in y" 17'" year of her age.

30. Here lies buried Mrs. Rebecca Urett, y" wife of Deac. Nathaniel Brett, who was born Feb. 25, 1700, and died May 12, 1771. (Deacon N. Brett wiis fourth town clerk, 1730 to 1779.)

32. In memory of Miss Martha, dau. of Lt. Jona- | than Packard and Mrs. Martha, his wife, wlio departed j this life Jan? y^' 19, 17S4, in tlio 19tli, year of lier age. j

34. In memory of Jonathan Packard, y° son of Mr. Jonatiian Packard and Martha, his wife, lie died Jan. 2, 17t)2, aged 0 years, 10 mo., 12 days.

35. In memory of Mrs. Susanna, daugh' of Lieut. Jonathan Packard and Mrs. Martha, his wife, who departed this life Aug'' y-' 5"', 1785, and y"^ 24"* year of licr age.

36. In memory of Mrs. Abigail, daugliter of Lieut. Jonathan Packard and Mrs. Martha, his wife, who departed this life Nov. y" 20, 1786, in y" 17"* year of her age.

41. Ill memory of Abigail .Snell, daughter of Mr. Josiah Snell, Juu., and Abigail, his wife, who was born May 30'", 1739, deceased May y' 13'", 1747.

45. In memory of Macey Snell, daughter of Mr. Josiah Snell, Jr., and Abigail, his wife, who was born Sept y' 30", 1736, deceased May y'' 27'", 1747.

Think on the parents, uiolhera, tliiiik how great ; How favureil with yourciiiblren iu yi.ur view; W bile you enjoy your beallii, your wealth and atate. Prepare to follow me; teach theui to follow you.

56. Erected in memory of Caleb Kingman PlcciI, son of Mr. Timothy Reed and .Mrs. Hannah, his wife, who was born .July 20, A.D. 1789, and deptirted this life Oct. 10, 17'J6, which made his residence in this world 7 years, 2 mos. 20 days.

All husbands kind and gooil, a parent dear. To all ubiiging and to all aiaceie. Title to his otlapring, fiieud and guide, lie lived beloved, aud lamuuted dit.d.

Stop, kind render, and drop a tear; Tliliik on tlie dust tlmt fllnmbers here; And while you read the late tif Die Think uu tbe t;lass that runs fur thee.

Could (fratefnl love recall the fleeting breath. Or fond iiffection sooth relenlb-HS deiith ; Then had tliis stoii** ne'er chtinied a social tear. Or reail to IhoiiKhtless man a leaoou here.

74. In memory of Mr. Jonathan Snell, Jr., son ot Mr. Jonathan Snell and Martha, his wife ; he died March 9'^ 1782, in the 30"" year of his age.

80. Mrs. Hannah, widow of Caleb Snell, formerly widow of Josiah Williams and Capt. Ephraim Snell, died July 5, 1846, in the 83" year of her age.

81. Erected to the memory of Ephraim, son of Mr. Ephraim Snell, and Mrs. Anne, his wife, who died July y' 10"*, 1790, aged 7 weeks and 1 day.

(101, 102, 103, 104, and other graves near this place, are colored people, witliout stones, such as Thomas Sutten, Peter and Parmeuas Pierce, Levi, John, and Jacob, Jr., Tarbut or Talbut, and wife of Jacob, Jr., and two wives of Jacob, Sr., Sally Carden, Frank Sutten, and others.)

Jerusalem Graveyard. - The Jerusalem Graveyard is on the west side of the road leading from the almshouse to Jerusalem, and was established as early as 1749; contains thirty-three square rods; is oue hundred and fifty feet on said road, running north and south, and extending back sixty-four feet ea-st and west; has thirty-six lettered grave-stones and some half a dozen graves unmarked, except by native fiat stone, without inscription ; graves head east, foot west, and all stones facing east.

The Rev. John Burr, aged sixty-one, and ]>r. Abiel Howard, aged seventy-two, were buried here in 1777. The first two persons buried here were Mary Hayward, a child, died June 15, 1749, and .John Howard, a child, died 1753; and the last two persons buried here were Jonathan Hayward, died April 30, 1824, aged eighty-eight, and Charity Howard, died Dec. 4, 1829, aged eighty-two. Twelve of the thirty-six persons having gravestones died during ten years succeeding 17U0, and half of the thirty-six died between 1770 and 1800, and only three, besides the two above named, have died since 1800 - one in 1803, one in 1811, and oue in 1813.

I This ground was virtually abandoned and wlioUy ' neglected for many years. A good growth of wood and timber had grown up, and was standing thereon ; a few years ago, when the town of West Bridgewater extinguished the outstanding title, took possession of the premises, caused the wood and timber to he cut and removed, and inclosed the ground with a wooden post and rail fence on three sides thereof, and a stone wall on the back side.

There are in this yard thirteen Ilaywards, five Burrs, ami four each of the Bretts and llartwelU. We are unable to find any ancient recjrd relating to this graveyard, and only one deed of land i.s known to exist, and that recently taken from .Jane S. T. Ilervey, daughter of Zeba Howard, and wife of L. D. Ilervey, conveying the premises to the town of Went Briilgewater.

11. In memory of Abiel Howard, M.D. ; he died Jan' the 10'", 1777, in y' 73'' year of his age. (A graduate Harvard University 1729, whose daugliter Silence married Dr. Phili|i Bryant, father ol' Dr. Peter Bryant, of Cuinniington, who was tlie father of William CuUen Bryant, the poet.)

In memory of Mrs. Silence Burr, wife of Deac. John Burr, who died May 6, 1773, in y" 68 year of her age. (Deacon John Burr liere means the Rev. John Burr above.)

stop, kind friends, and take a view ; The uUruud and grave do wait for yuu ; When uu niy grave you east an eye, Thiuk OD cold death ; you soon must die.

26. In memory of Silence Burr, daughter of Mr. Seth Burr and Charity, his wife, who died March y' 20, A. D. 1780, in the 26th year of her age.

30. In memory of Mrs. Abigail Hayward, wife of Mr. Peter Hayward, who died Oct. 9, 1776, in y' 67"- year of her age. (She was one of five daughters of Jonathan Williams, of Taunton, a large landholder. Her sister, Mary, married Seth Dean, of Raynliam, and her daughter, Rebecca Dean, married Woodward Latham.)

The Alger Graveyard and Tomb. - This yard contains sixteen to twenty square rods of land on Wolf Trap Hill, west side of Flaggy Meadow Biook, south side of the road, nearly opposite the dwellinghouse of John Otis Alger, in West Bridgcwater.

There is a common balance- wall on the we.it .lide, and a bank wall on the north side, next to the road, and otherwise it is uninclosed. There are four graves with gravestones having the following inscription thereon, to wit :

2. Rachel Keith, born July 22, 1744, died about 1815, 71 years of age. (She was a daughter of Ebenezer Keith, and half-sister of the first Abiezer Alger's w i fe. )

5. Dilly Green, colored, buried about 1824. She was probably over GO years of age, and w.is one of the four wives of Robert Prince, belter known by the name of Robert Green, who was a large, strong man, jet black, born in Virginia, lived on the Alger farm for many years ; is said to have served in the old French war, and was a body-servant of Gen. Green, in the Revolutionary war; died in the poor-house in West Bridgewater, in January, 1827, lOG years of age.

And tliere is also one large tomb upon these premises, built by the late Abiezer Alger, Jr., in the early part of the year of 1828, containing the remains of fourteen persons deposited there in the order of their deaths, to wit :