Nomination for Copp's Hill Burial Ground

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Form 10-300 (Rev.

6-72) PH0117528 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM STATE: Massachusetts COUNTY: Suffolk FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY DATE (Type all entries complete applicable sections) -APR 1.8.1974 NAME C OMMON: Copp's Hill Burial Ground (use for publication) AND/ OR HISTORIC: North Burying Place LOCATION STREET AND NUMBER: Charter, Snowhill, and Hull Streets CITY OR TOWN: boston STAT CODE 025 1181 RECENET 1974 NATIONAL CONGRESSIONAL RIGTRICEGISTER 9th COUNTY: - Suffolk 112) Massachusetts CLASSIFICATION CATEGORY (Check One) X District Site CODE 025 OWNERSHIP STATUS Building Structure Object Public Private Both Public Acquisition: In Process Being Considered X Occupied Unoccupied - Preservation work in progres: ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC Yes: x Restricted Unrestricted No PRESENT USE (Check One or More as Appropriate) Agricultural Government Commercial Industrial Educational Military Entertainment Museum Park Private Residence Religious Scientific Transportation ] Other (Specify) - Comments Cemetery OWNER OF PROPERTY OWNER'S NAME: City of Boston-Department of Parks and Recreation-..

STREET AND NÜMBER: City Hall CITY OR TOWN: Bostoni STATE: Massachusetts LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE, REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC: Registry of Deeds STREET AND NUMBER: Suffolk County Court House CITY OR TOWN: STATE CODE 025 Massachusetts Suffolk CODE Boston REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS Massachusetts TITLE OF SURVEY: (1)Inventory of Historic Assets of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts DATE OF SURVEY: Federal [X State County Local DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS: Massachusetts Historical Commission (617) 727-8470 STREET AND NUMBER: 40 Beacon Street CITY OR TOWN: STATE: Boston Massachusetts 025 APR 1 8 19/4 CODE 025 STATE COUNTY: ENTRY NUMBER DATE FOR NPS USE ONLY DESCRIPTION (Check One) Deteriorated Excellent X Good Fair Ruins CONDITION (Check One) Altered X Unaltered Moved - Unexposed (Check One) X Original Site DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (if known) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

Copp's Burying Ground is a polygonal plot, roughly a trapezoid with a square extension on the east side, which covers a sloping hillside and overlooks Boston Harbor to the north through Copp's Hill Terrace. Although the burying ground is a combination of four separate cemeteries, established in 1659, 1809,1819, and 1832, its present appearance results from first, the lowering of the summit by seventeen feet in 1804-07 by the Boston Mill Pond Corporation, and second, from landscaping activities during the 1830's which included some grave rearrangements. Of Boston's ancient burying grounds, Copp's Hill has suffered least from 19th century attempts at symmetry. The early landscaping efforts included tree planting (now large deciduous trees); prior to 1833 the hill was bare.

In 1838, the Snowhill Street side was dug away, the tombs and graves relocated within the newly constructed granite retaining wall. The next year, the walkways were laid out traversing the site with 2 circular pathways on the upper and lower slopes. Copp's Hill contains 227 tombs and nearly 2000 grave markers of traditional materials, granite, slate, and marble. Condition of the stones varies: vandalism, erosion and weather have caused considerable and irrevocable damage to many. However, many more provide an out- standing illustrated history of funerary art and local craftsmanship. The late 19th century toolhouse of High Victorian Gothic design was demolished by fire and has been replaced with,smal1 but unsuitable cement block structure. 9 RECEIVED APR 3 1974 NATIONAL REGISTER -

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

SIGNIFICANCE PERIOD (Check One or More as Appropriate) Pre-Columbian| - 15th Century * 16th Century 17th Century SPECIFIC DATE(S) (If Applicable and Known) 1659 AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE (Check One or More as Appropriate) Abor iginal E ducati on Prehistoric Engineering Historic Industry Agriculture Invention Architecture X Landscape Art Architecture Commerce Literature Communications Military ] Conservation Music 18th Century 19th Century 20th Century Political X Religion/Phi. losophy Science Sculpture [X Social/Human- itarian Theater Transportation Urban Planning Other (Specity) STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Statement of significance

Copp's Hill Burying Ground, originally called North Burying Ground, was the colony's second cemetery, set out in 1660, some thirty years following King's Chapel Burying Ground. The original plot belonged to William Copp, a shoemaker, and covered the summit of a hill, known as Windmill Hill or Snowhill, that rose next to the now-filled Mill Pond. The gradual additions around the Burying Groud - New North in 1809, Charter Street in 1819, and Hull Street in 1832 - reveal the needs of the swiftly expanding city after the Revolution. During the Revolution, the burying ground gained military signi- ficance; the British established the North Battery and earthworks on the southwest side of the ground from which Generals Burgoyne and Clinton directed the shelling of Bunker Hill and ultimate torching of Charlestown.

Allegedly, British troops used the gravestones for target practice; resultant damage is visable. The Burying Ground's primary significance is derived from the numerous remarkable people interred here. Most famous is the Mather Family whose tomb contains Increase (1723), Cotton (1727), and Samuel (1785) Mather, the Puritan ministers. Others include: Edmund Hartt, builder of the "USS Constitution;" patriot Deacon Moses Grant; Robert Newman, who placed signals in Christ Church in 1775; William Copp's family; Shem Downe, a local craftsman to whom local legend attributes creation of Faneuil Hall's grasshopper weathervane; several founders of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, established in 1638 and the oldest existing citizen militia in the country; and Prince Hall, the founder of the black Masonic Order.

A section of the burying groud near Snowhill was laid out for slaves and freedmen, al though no specific marker calls attention to this. Burials became infrequent by 1840, but interments have been made as recently as 1960. Concomitant with the importance of the famous people buried at Copp's Hill is the significance of the funerary art of the Burial Ground. The intact and the fragmented markers and tombs illustrate most beautifully the progression of early New England theological and philosophical concepts and the level of craftsmenship of early artisans. The earliest stones date from the 1660's, namely Joanna Copp and Mary R/Kind, although several others read 1625 and 1626 due to a vandalous prank of one George Darracott who recarved the actual 1690 dates in the early 19th c. The earliest tomb is 1717.

Comparison of the 17th and early 18th century markers with post-Revolutionary and early 19th century stones reveals, on one hand, numerous examples of oblong slate slabs with rounded tops

The rest of the file

Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES 1. AnnualReportof the Cemetery Department of the City of Boston, 1900-1901, Boston, Municipal Printing Office, 1901, City Document #7 includes #4 below 2. Bridgman, Thomas, Epitaphs from Copp's Hill Burial Ground, Boston with Notes, Boston & Cambridge, J. Munroe & Co., 1851. 3. Drake, Samuel, Old Landmarks and Historic Personages of Boston (1st ed, 1872). Republished version, Rutland, Vermont, C.E. Tuttle Co., 1971. 4. MacDonald,Edward, Old Copp's Hill and Burial Ground with Historical Sketches, 2nd ed, 1882, private printing 5.Norton, John, Historical Sketchof Copps Hill Burying Ground with Inscriptions and Ye Ancient Epitaphs, 1919 0.

GEOGRAPHICAL DATA LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES DEFINING A RECTANGLE LOCATING THE PROPERTY CORNER LATITUDE Degrees Minutes Seconds LONGITUDE Degrees Minutes Seconds 0 R Degrees LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES DEFINING THE CENTER POINT OF A PROPERTY QF LESS THAN TEN ÁCRES LATITUDE Minutes Seconds LONGITUDE Degrees Minutes Seconds NW NE " " 42 22 02.131 71 SE SW 8 19 APPROXIMA TE ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY: 2.04 ILIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BQUNDARIES STATE: CODE TECENCD 03 22.645 CODE STATE: CODE COUNTY: STATE: CODE COUNTY: APR 3 1974 NATIONAL REGISTER CODE CODE STATE: CODE COUNTY: CODE 12 FORM PREPARED BY NAME AND E: Elizabeth Amadon, Survey Director ORGANIZATION Massachusetts Historical Commission (617) 727-8470 STREET AND NUMBER: 40 Beacon Street CITY OR TOWN: STATE Boston STATE LIAISON OFFICER CERTIFICATION by Boston Landmarks Commission DATE 102 February, 1974 CODE 025 Massachusetts NATIONAL REGISTER VERIFICATION As the designated State Liaison Officer for the Na- tional Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89-665), I hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated according to the c-iteria and procedures set forth by the National Park Service.

The recommended level of significance of this nomination is: National State Local Name al.FxLonn Honorable John F.X.Davoren Secretary of the Commonwealth Title Chairman of the Massachusetts +* Historical Commission Date 3/22174 I hereby certify that this property is included in the Nationa 1 Register. Atworlecse Director, Office of Archeology and Historic Preservation Date 4/18/24 ATTEST: Date nn Quutl 4118.24 M - Z GP0 931-894 330680 4692380 Form 10-300a (July 1969) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM (Continuation Sheet) STATE Massachusetts COUNTY Suffolk FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER APR 18 BATE (Number all entries) (9.) continued, Bibliography Copp's Hill Burying Ground, Boston 6. Whitmore, W.H., The Graveyards of Boston, Vol. 1, Copp's Hill Epitaphs. Albany, N.Y., 1878. 7.

City of Boston, Real Property Department-Engineering Division, Map #K 27, 28, & 29, 1908. (6.) continued, Existing Surveys Title: Historic American Building Survey, Mass.- 498 Date: 1941 Federal Survey Depository: Dividision of Prints, Library of Congress Washington, D. C. 20540 Code: (8.) continued, Significance bearing elaborate inscriptions and winged death's heads, and on the other neoclassical motifs of wrens and willow branches, and lyres. The earlier Puritan symbols reflect Puritan's concern for death and resurrec- tion, while the later motifs witness influence from newer theological doctrines of Methodism and Unitarianism. During the 19th century contemporary writers mentioned the use of Copp's Hill as a pleasant quiet recreational spot for residents of Boston's North End.

However, as early as 1833 the desire for symmetry and organization emerged; a writer extolled the landscaping and improve- ments noting that they will coordinate with the old yard, "but will be infinitely more pleasant and regular." Increasingly during this century, the stately mature trees and plantings, although minimal, provide vital albeit small open spaces in a dense urban setting. The landscaping of Copp's Hill in the 1830's, 170 years after its establishment, unknowingly foresaw the needs of a city in later centuries. RECÊIVED APR 3 1974 NATIONAL REGISTER GPO 921.724 PROPARre Cappi'e Wiel Bural Graund seATs mass. WORKING NUMBER 4. 3. 74,524 TECH REVIEW PHOTOS 3 MAPS 2 suffolk CONTROL REVIEW cm 4.4 HISTORIAN Not as impressive as King's Chapet- But Mathers are very important, as are markers Accept.

ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN F/4/74 Accepor Hesande 4/5/74 ARCHEOLOGIST REVIEW UNIT CHIEF BRANCH CHIEF Age should egcept this fom riteca AceenT cok 4-12-14 aoat sur 4-17-74 KEEPER National Register Write-up June6,19X Federal Register entry June 4, 1974 Send-back. Re-submit_ Entered APR 1 8 1374 INT: 1538-73 Form No.

10-301a (7/72) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM (Type all entries - attach to or enclose with photograph) STATE hessachusetts Suffolk FOR NPS USE ONL ENTRY NUMBER APR #/93 çOMMON: Copp's Hill Burial Ground AND/OR HISTORIC: North Burying Place LOCA TION STREET AND NUMBER: Carter, Snowhill, and Hull Streets CITY OR TOWN: Boston STATE: Massachusetts CODE COUNTY: 025 Suffolk RECEIVED APR 3 1974 NATIONA REGISTE PHOTO REFERENCE PHOTO CREDIT: Boston Redevelopment Authority_ DATE OF PHOTO: 1968 NEGATIVE FILED AT: Boston Redevelopment Authority, City Hall, Boston, MA IDENTIFICATION DESCRIBE VIEW, DIRECTION, ETC. Northwesterly view of burying ground towards corner of Charter and Snowhill Streets * U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1973-729-1 PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER Mrs.JANE HENEY Form No.

10-301a (7/72) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM (Type all entries -attach to or enclose with photograph) STATE Massachusetts COUNTY Suffolk FOR NPS USE ON ENTRY NUMBER APR 1 ÇOMMON: Copp's Hill Burial Ground AND/OR HISTORIC: LOCA TION North Burying Place STREET AND NUMBER: Carter, Snowhill and Hull Streets CITY OR TOWN: Boston STATE: APR 3 1974 NATIONA! REGISTE Massachusetts CODE COUNTY: 025 PHOTO REFERENCE Suffolk PHOTO CREDIT: DATE OF PHOTO: Boston Redevelopment Authority. 1968 NEGATIVE FILED AT: Boston Redevelopment Authority, City Hall, Boston, Ma. IDENTIFICATION DESCRIBE VIEW, DIRECTION, ETC. #2 4f3 View of cemetery looking southerly towards Hull Street. * U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1973-729-1 PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER Form No.

10-301a (7/72) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM (Type all entries - attach to or enclose with photograph) NAME ÇOMMON: Copp's Hill Burial Ground AND/OR HISTORIC: North Burying Place STREET AND NUMBER: Charter, Snowhill and Hull Streets CITY OR TOWN: Boston STATE: Massachusetts PHOTO REFERENCE CODE -025 COUNTY: Suffolk PHOTO CREDIT: Boston Redevelopment Authority DATE OF PHOTO: 1968 NEGATIVE FILED AT: IDENTIFICATION Boston Redevelopment Authority, City Hall, Boston, MA DESCRIBE VIEW, DIRECTION, ETC. STATE Massachusetts COUNTY Suffolk FOR NPS USE ONL ENTRY NUMBER APR 18 CEIVED APR 3 1974 NATIONAL RECICT #30f3 Northeasterly view of burying ground from Hull Street border * U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1973-729-15 PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER Form No. 10-301 Rev.

7-72 - UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES PROPERTY MAP FORM (Type all entries - attach to or enclose with map) C Z - NAME COMMON: Copp's Hill Burial Ground AND/OR HISTORIC: North Burying Place LOC STREET AND NUM BER: bharter, CITY OR TOWN: Snowhill, and Hull Streets Boston STATE: CODE 025 COUNTY: Massachusetts MAP REFERENGE SOURCE: Suffolk U.S.G.S. SCALE: 7.5'Series, Boston South Quadrangle 1"=24,000' DATE: 1970 REQUIREMENTS TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS 1. Property broundaries where required. 2. North arrow. 3. Latitude and longitude reference. * U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFIC Form No. 10-301 Rev.

7-72 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES PROPERTY MAP FORM (Type all entries -attach to or enclose with map) NAME COMMON: Copp's Hill Burial Ground AND/OR HISTORIC: North Burying Place LOCATION STREET AND NUM BER: Charter, Snowhill, and Hull Streets CITY OR TOWN: Boston STATE: Massachusetts MAP REFERENCE SOURCE: Boston Redevelopment Authority SCALE: ]"=100' DATE: 1965 REQUIREMENTS TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS 1. Property broundaries where required. 2. North arrow. 3. Latitude and longitude reference. STATE Massachusetts COUNTY Suffolk FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER APR 1 DATE 8 1974 CODE 025 COUNTY: Suffolk CODE 025 4|18|19 RECFIVEN NATIONAL REGISTER / * U.S.

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1973-729-148/1441 34 543 DRY 53/ 533 529 POLICE 32,000 STATION 527 556 1013 1848 239 406 840 791 7735 536 593 743 6° STREET 2308 7206 1091 CHARTER 25 50 575 33 63 COPPS 96 79 COPP'S HILL BURYING GROUND Boston, Massachusetts Scale: 1"=100' CND LAYGROUND * 4700 *67 563 * , COMMERCIAL 50g 498 496: 490 486 486 484 482 480 478 474 472 468 466 466A 46 WALT 1020 1422 1029 1665 483 502 1795 446/ 1488 1399 STRE 4756 26,108 1063 WALL 2240 1560 970 PLAYGROUND 780 1603 974 3 COPPS HILL TERRACES 781 WALL WALL 1990 809 2037 2157 1687 5957855 {649 135 FOSTER 655 + 572 1839 2658 1297 1990 880 1807 23/3 HENCHMAN 13/9 V05p MICHELANGELO UR. HIGH SCHOOL ST.

1315 36 394,35 20,524 88,720 MICHELANGELO 950 1050 211.26 850 1275 09: 820 782 1258 1426 1492 1327 1e9sa ca 807 1266 793 773 76> HILL CEMETERY 73230 900 966 730 g 936 2630 1 ~618 99, 1037 TOO 15609 990 850 714 1146 990 850 736 9, UNITY SN 1068 2600 780 0) CHRIET CHURCH HULL STREET 8129 500/4 950 4882452 "OLO"NORTH CHURCH" 1520 1560 1955 1054 1275 158, 1716 1300 1T59 +321 1056 1016 8is 1150 JOLD 2495 NORTH 1100 MUSEUM 704 750 870 1635 2365 1528 1370 1005- ,740 1218 L-720 1080 1100 3309 950 1425 V207 SHEAFE 21203 01203 1707 1144 /203 1700 1900 2748 1785 900 25 992 1200 1000, Hg e 30STA845 400, e+ 1712 774 774 774 801 950 18590 m8606 m3605 22ü620 3867 16361 PECEWER 137 STREET 6000 1057 969 2460 654 9 1150 10 1L655 518 HARGARET 1003 828 918 HiLkg IA K 13230 5440 MONS 2000 195 196 372 7895 7/391 134/0 1561 1016 1197 2522 -895 1075 1024 946 PAUL REVERE MALL 35,948 Regional Director, North Atlantic Region 4/22/74 MMott PR ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER STATE MASSACAUSETTS Date Entered APR 18 1974 Name The Grange Dorchester North Iurying Greund Location Firat Parish Unitarian Church Copp'a Hl1l Durial Ground Holbrook, Dr.

Anoa, House Winthrop Luilding Lincoln Miidlesex County Boston (Dorcbester) Suffolk Cowity Medfield Horlolk County Soston Suffolk County Milton Dorfolk County Boston Suffolk County Also Notified Hon. Edward M. Kennedy llon. Edward W. Brooke lon. Robert P, Drinan Hon. John J. Moakley Hlon. Margaret M. Heckler Hon. James A. Burke State Historic Preservation Officer Hon. John P. X. Davoren Secretary cf tha Conmonweaith Chatraan, Massochusetts Ilistorical Commissica 40 beacon Street Boston, Massachusetts 02103