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F 74 . W9 B3 Copy 1
LEC
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.
F74 W9B3
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
.
-
EPITAPHS
FROM THE
CEMETERY
ON
WORCESTER COMMON,
WITH
OCCASIONAL NOTES, REFERENCES,
AND
AN INDEX.
BY W. S. BARTON.
WORCESTER: PRINTED BY HENRY J. HOWLAND, 171 Main Street.
---
DERATE.
S.ALOFSEN.
EPITAPHS
FROM THE
CEMETERY
ON
WORCESTER COMMON,
WITH
OCCASIONAL NOTES, REFERENCES,
AND
AN INDEX.
BY W. S. BARTON. 11
WORCESTER: PRINTED BY HENRY J. HOWLAND, 171 Main Street.
F
CONGRESS
R
18
1877
CITY
ASHINGTON
F74 WGB3
INTRODUCTION.
In collecting these memorials, the grave-stones in the Old Common Cemetery were all examined in the Summer of 1846, and their inscrip- tions-so far as it seemed practicable-were obtained either in their exact language or in all essential particulars. The inscriptions, how- ever, were not in all cases found legible. In these instances, the epi- taphs, names, and dates were deciphered as accurately as was possible, or were approximately determined from other sources; and in all cases of uncertainty, the doubtful words and figures will be found indicated in the following pages either by italics, by the asterisk, or some other intel- ligible sign. The town records supplied many of the illegible dates.
How many inscriptions have been wholly lost by the destruction of many of the grave-stones themselves, cannot now be ascertained. At all events, to judge from the number of fragments of these stones found near the School Houses on our Worcester Common, it would seem that the hands of Time had not obliterated more of these memorials of the dead, than the hands of Youth had destroyed. However, the present collec- tion will serve as a faithful record, it is hoped, of the monuments that were found in 1846, still unbroken and undisturbed. A few have been removed recently by friends, and the inscriptions of several, which were found some time since by J. Harrington, Esq. of this city, have been obligingly furnished us for an Appendix.
A word as to the arrangement of these inscriptions. It is designed that they succeed each other chronologically, as far as may be, and ac- cording to "New Style." This will explain, therefore, any seeming dis- crepancies between the succession of years and the dates on the stones prior to A. D. 1752, before which time, as is well known, the year began March 25th " Old Style," instead of January 1st, as thereafter. In most cases, the years succeeding 1752 will be mentioned only at the head of each annual list, in order to avoid repetition.
A few notes have been inserted, indicated by brackets in most cases, giving some additional names, dates, and particulars, with occasional references to Lincoln's "History of Worcester," to the files of the Massa- chusetts Spy, and to our own Town Records. For valuable suggestions
4
in regard to these notes and other matters, the writer is indebted to gen- tlemen in this city, of well-known literary and antiquarian tastes. Many more notes might have been added from these resources.
In regard to the antiquity of this Old Burial Place, and of others in Worcester, a few words may not be uninteresting. The most ancient Cemetery in this place, it is said, was north of the intersection of Thomas and Summer streets, and within the enclosure of the brick school house. It is supposed that the first person buried there was Miss Rachael Kel- lough, who died Dec. 15, 1717. After the number of deaths, subsequent to that date, had increased to twenty-eight, the Burying Ground on the Common was opened, and was the only one in use from about A. D. 1730 to 1795. As to its antiquity, see also further remarks in No. Four of the inscriptions. By the Town Records, it appears that at a town meeting, hield May 15, 1729, a vote was taken " that the Selectmen agree with some suitable person to dig graves for the future, as occasion may be," and that at a meeting Mar. 4, 1733-4, it was voted "that ye Select- men do-as soon as may-state out a burying place and measure ye out Lines thereof that The town may know properly how to act Respecting ye fencing in ye same." These appear to be the first acts of the town on the subject of this Cemetery. The grounds on Mechanic Street were provided in 1795; the tract east of Washington Square in 1828, and oth- ers more recently.
It is hoped that the present collection, which was commenced from mere personal taste and curiosity, may prove somewhat interesting to the lovers of the quaint or to the antiquarian, and that it may in time prove valuable to those who shall come after us, when the very Cemetery itself shall have been destroyed, and the monuments and mounds and epitaphs shall have become obliterated and lost. W. S. B.
Worcester, July, 1848.
-
EPITAPHS.
[The abbreviations used are, for instance, a. for aged, b. born, d. died, dr. daughter, da. days, Linc. Hist. for Lincoln's History of Worcester, m. month, s. son, T. R. Town Records, w. wife, y. year, and the like.]
1727.
1. Hannah Hubbard, w. of John Hubbard ; d. Ap. 18, 1727; a. 27.
[This was the earliest recorded death found in the old Cemetery ; and see No. 4, of the inscriptions. The grave- stone may be seen near the path through the centre of the grounds, almost prostrate.]
1730.
2. John Young, b. in the Isle of Bert, near Londonderry, Ire- land; d. June 30, 1730 ; a. 107 !
[Town Record says : d. June 27, 1730; a. about 93. The same stone notices the death of his son David Young (post, No. 174), and has this inscription :
" The aged son, and the more aged father,
Beneath this stone their mouldering bones Here rest together."
William Young, a connection of John Y. was the author of many of the inscriptions found in the following pages.]
3. James Taylor, [s. of James and Elizabeth T .; d. June 31; by T. R.] 1730; a. 22.
1731.
4. Ephraim Roper, d. Feb. 16, 1730 (Old Style) ; a. 43.
[It is stated in Lincoln's History of Worcester, that this Burial Place was opened "in 1730, when Ephraim Roper, accidentally killed in hunting, was interred there." Those, therefore, who have already been named, may have been re- moved to these grounds afterwards. In the same history, we learn that Roper was a vigilant soldier and guard in this place, during the early Indian and French wars.]
1732. 5. Hannah Chadick, w. of John Chadick, d. May * 1732; a. 53.
[Chadick is probably a corruption of the name Chadwick.]
6
1735.
6. Eliot Gray, son of Wm. and Jean Gray ; d. Oct. 2. [27 : by T. R.] 1735; a. 4.
7. Bertha Gray ; [probably a dr. of Wm. and Jean G. ; ] d. '
[The Grays were Scotch emigrants. Much hostility was shown to these emigrants by the inhabitants of this place, who were so bitter in their opposition, as even to demolish the meeting house which the Scots were erecting near the present residence of F. W. Paine, Esq. See Linc. Hist. 47.]
1738.
8. Abraham Taylor ; d. * * 1738; a. 29.
1740.
9. Mary Wheeler, w. of Thomas W .; d. May 16 [18 : by T. R.] 1740; a. 40.
1741.
10. William Jenison. His epitaph reads as follows :
" Here lies buried ye body of William Jenison, Esqr. He was born at Watertoun, April ye 17th 1676, who decd Sepim ye 19th, 1741, in ye 66th year of his age. He was one of ye Judges of ye Inferiour Court for ye county of Worcester."
[Judge Jenison also filled many other important offices in the town of Worcester. The first Court House in this place was built about the year 1732, on land given by him for that purpose, and was placed very near the site of the present Old Court House. See Linc. Hist. 342.]
1743.
11. James Taylor ; d. Feb. 24, 1742; a. 70.
[He lived near " Wigwam Hill," north-westerly from the floating bridge over Long Pond. See H. Stebbins' map of Worcester, 1833.]
12. Jean Young, w. of Wm. Y .; d. Mar. 30, 1743; a. 27. 1746.
13. Isaac Taylor, s. of Othniel T. (No. 190); b. Nov. 17, 1745, d. Mar. 26, 1746.
[He is buried by the " right side " of his mother.]
14. Dinalı Taylor, w. of Othniel T. ; d. Mar. 29, 1746; a. 38.
15. Abigail Stearnes, dr. of Thomas and Mary S .; d. Ap. 11, 1746; a. 8.
1747.
16. Eunice Adams; d. July 27, 17[47 ?] ; a. 32.
17. Mrs. Hannah Adams; d. * * *
[No date, age nor epitaph appears upon her grave-stone.]
7
1748.
18. James Cowden ; d. Oct. 1, 1748; a. 63.
1749.
19. Mary Goodwin, w. of Capt. J. Goodwin, (No. 168) ; d. July * 1749; a. 33.
20. Martha Boyd Young, w. of David Y. (No. 174.) d. Oct. 6,1749; a. 65.
21. Mary Forbush, w. of James F. (No. 92) ; d. Dec. 6, 174[9?] ; a. 25.
22. Ann Forbush, dr. of James and Mary F .; d. May 9, 174[9?] ; a. 9.
1750.
23. Elisabeth Thomas ; d. July 27, 1750; a. 12.
1751.
24. Rebekah Brown, w. of James B. (No. 184); d. Feb. 26, (O. S.) 1750 ; a 42.
[For information as to several of the Brown family, see Linc. Hist. 269.]
25. Capt. Benj. Flagg; d. June 12, 1751; a. 61. His epi- taph is :
" So man lieth down and riseth not till the heavens be no more; They shall not awake nor be called out of their sleep."
26. Elisabeth Lydia Brown, w. of Lieut. Luke B .; d. Aug. [11 : T. R.] 1751 : a. about 27.
" Reader, behold as you pass by, As you are living so was I, As I am now so you must be, Prepare for death and follow me."
27. Prudence Harrington, w. of Francis H. (No. 120) d. 1751 ? a. *
1753.
28. Jonas Rice, Esq .; d. Sep. 20, [22, by T. R.] 1753; a. 81.
[Upon his grave-stone it is stated that " he was the first set- tler in Wr. and one of the Judges of the Inferior Court for Worcester." Judge Rice also served in the capacities of Selectman, Town Clerk, Schoolmaster, Representative at General Court, and in other public offices in Worcester, as the Town Records most abundantly show. He was the first School-teacher in this place, having been appointed for that office by a vote of the town April 4, 1726. His son Adonijah, an ancestor of Wm. Eaton, Esq. of this place, was the first male child born in Worcester ; A. D. 1714, Nov. 7.]
8
29. Adonijah Rice, s. of Ezra and Silence R .; d. Oct. 14, 1753; a. 21.
[This is not the Adonijah Rice mentioned in No. 28.] 1754.
30. William Waters ; b Oct. 4; d. Oct. 10, 1754 ? 1755.
31. John Jenison, s. of Capt. Israel J. (No. 203.) d. Jan. 15, 1755; a. 7.
32. Mary Boyden, dr. of Daniel and Mehitable B; d. Mar. 4 ; [2; by T. R.] a. 4.
33. Katrine Moore, w. of Joseph M .; d. Mar. 12; a. 41 ?
34. Elisabeth Taylor, w. of James T. (No. 11.) d. July 14; a. 82.
35. Mary Carlyle, w. of James C. (See Appendix.) d. Aug. 24; a. 34.
36. Jonathan Lynds ; d. Dec. 4; a 41.
[" Seven of his children " are buried by his side, but no names or dates are given.]
37. Mary Wiley ; d. 1755; a. 4.
1756.
[The unusual mortality during this year is noticeable.]
38. John Ball ; d. Jan. 11, 1756; a. 59.
39. Easter Lynds, dr. of Jonathan (No. 36.) and Elisabeth L .; d. Feb. 3; a. 6 y. 9 m.
40. Jonathan Gates ; d. Feb. 7; [1755, T. R.] ; a. 73. [His epitaph is brief: " Reader-Remember Death."]
41. John Knight, s. of John and Experience K .; d. Feb. 13; [Feb. 15, 1757; by T. R.] ; a. 11.
42. James Taylor 3d; d. Feb. 20; a 26. " Who was in ye fight at Lake George, Sep. 8, 1755 ;" (Inscription.)
43. Frances Smith ; d. Ap. 17 ; a. 36.
44. Daniel Heywood Jr .; d. June 30; [13; by T. R.] a. 29.
45. Rebecca Elder, dr. of W. and Hester E; d. July 7; a. 20. 46. Esther Elder, dr. of Wm. and Hester E; d. July 16; a. 6. 47. Thomas Goulding, s. of Palmer G. Jr .; d. Aug 20, a. 3.
48. Nancy Barbar, dr. of Robert and Sarah B .; d. Sep. 2; a. 22. [See No. 52 post.]
49. Robert Young, s. of Wmn. and Mary Y .; d. Sep. 6; a. 4.
9
50. Janet Young, dr. of Wm. and Mary Y .; d. Sep. 11; a. 7 m.
51. Susanna Chamberlain, dr. of Jacob and Lydia C .; d. Sep. 25; a. 5 y. 3 m.
52. Mary Barbar, dr. of Robert and Sarah B .; d. Sep. 26; a. 20.
[On the opposite face of this stone which commemorates the death of Mary B. and her sister Nancy B. (ante, No. 48.) is the inscription :
" Take notice, man, what here dost see, As thou art now so once were we,
And as we'r now, so shalt thou be, Remember man that thou must die."]
53. Capt. James Moore ; d. Sep. 29 .; a. 68.
54. Thomas Gray, s. of Robert and Sarah G .; d. Oct. 7; a 7.
55. John Fisk ; d. Nov. * a. 75.
56. Elisabeth Fisk, w. of John F .; [date and age uncertain.]
57. Elisabeth Jenison, w. of Wm. J. (No. 10, ante.) ; d. Dec. 2; a. 86.
1757.
58. John Goulding, s. of Palmer G. Jr. and Abigail G .; d. Ap. 16, 1757; a. 6 m. 25 d.
59. Nathaniel Paine, s. of Timothy and Sarah P. ; d. Dec. 23, [25; by T. R.] a. 8 m.
1758.
60. Joseph Goddard, s. of John and Hannah G .; d. Ap. 19, 1758; a. 8.
61. Mary Walker, w. of Adam W .; d. Dec. 13; a. 22. 1759.
62. Mary Green, dr. of John and Mary G .; b. Nov. 27, 1758; d. Feb. 15, 1759.
63. Adam Knox; d. Feb. 28, 1759 ; a. 66.
64. Elisabeth Forbush, dr. of James (No. 92.) and Margaret F .; d. May 21; a. 6.
65. Abigal Goulding, dr. of Palmer G. Jr .; d. May 29 : a. 2 m. 9 d.
66. Hannah Taylor, dr. of Wm. and Lois T .; d. June 13, 1759; a. 1 m.
67. Samuel Miller, b. in Newtown, Sept. 24, 1678; d. Sept. 9,1759; a. 81.
68. Capt. Samuel Clark Paine, d. of Small Pox, Nov. 9; a. 32. He " Was commander of a Company at ye reduction of Ticonderoga and Crown Point." (Epitaph.)
2
10
1760.
69. Perces Rice, w. of Adonijalı R .; d. Jan. 6, 1760 ; a. *
70. Sarah E. Smith, [w. of Robert S. ? No. 299.] d. Feb. 21 ; a. 33.
71. Rances Smith; [no other inscription; See No. 43, ante and quere, is it the same ?]
72. Hannah Heywood, w. of Major Daniel H. (No 144.) d. Feb. 24; a. 64.
73. Experience Cowden, w. of Thomas C .; d. Ap. 3; a. 30. [By her right side is buried one male child, and by her left, two female children. Her husband was commissioned as Capt. in 1761 during the provincial wars; Linc. Hist. ]
74. Samuel Mower ; d. May 8 ; a. 70.
75. Zephaniah Rice ; d. May 10, [1730; by T. R.] a. 30.
76. Samuel Goulding, s. of Palmer G. Jr. ; d. July 17; a. 1 d.
77. Susannah Wheeler, w. of Dr. Chas. W. b. Jan. 23, 1702; d. Sept. 23, 1760; a. 58.
78. Samuel Andrew; d. Sept. 24; a. 46.
79. Samuel Andrew, Jr. s. of Samuel A. ; d. *
* * a. 2 ?
80. Elisabeth Andrew, dr. of Samuel A .; d. * * * a. 1.
81. Elisabeth Flagg, w. of Benj. F. Esq .; d. Nov. 31; a. 77.
82. Sarah Moore, w. of Asa M .; d. Dec. 13; a. *
1761.
83. Margrat Hambleton, w. of James H .; d. Feb. 14, 1761; a. 35.
[Also three sons and one daughter are buried " by her side."] 84. Solomon Gates ; b. Mar. * ; d. May *, 1761.
85. Dr. Charles Wheeler ; d. June 3; a. 31.
[There seems to be no notice of him in Lincoln's History, as among the number of Worcester Physicians. ]
86. Andrew McFarland ; d. June 4; a. 71. His epitaph is somewhat peculiar :
" Reader,
Keep Death and Judgment always in your eye, non's fitt to live, but who is fitt to die."
87. Mary Green, [1st] w. of Dr. John G., (No. 280.); b. Aug. 31, 1740 ; d. Sept. 5, 1761.
" Her natural but especially Gracious Endowments rendered her desirable in life and comfortable in death." (Epitaph.)
11
88. John Green, s. of Dr. John G. (No. 280) and Mary G .; b. Ap. 1, 1758 ; d. Sep. 20, 1761.
89. Jonathan Moore ; d. Nov. 25; a. 84.
[Same epitaph as in No. 40, ante.]
90. Mrs Mary Gray ; d. * 1761; a. *
1762.
91. Cornelius Waldo Goulding, s. of Palmer G. Jr. and Abi- gail G. ; d. Feb. 10, 1762 ; a. 6 m. 5 d.
92. James Forbush, Jr. ; d. Mar. 11, 1762 ; a. 38.
[This inscription and Nos. 21, 22, and 64, are found on one grave stone. The Forbush family were of Scotch origin. Linc. Hist. ]
93. Rebecca McFarland, w. of Andrew McF. (No. 86.) ; d. Mar. 20; a. 62.
94. Nancy Heywood, dr. of Daniel H .; d. Ap. 28; a. 4.
95. Hannah Chadick, dr. of John and Lydia C .; d. [Aug. 21; T. R.] 1762; a. 12.
1763.
96. Joseph Wiley ; d. May 9, 176[3?] ; a. 63.
[The inscriptions on several of the Wiley grave stones are quite indistinct ]
97. William Mahan ; d. June 30; a. 69.
98. John Gates; d. 1763; a. *
1764. *
99. Jean Gray, w. of Matthew G. (infra No. 206.) ; d. Dec. 20,1764; a. 48.
100. Ruth Stone ; d. 1764; a. *
1765.
101. Isabella Blair, w. of Robert B. (post. No. 156) ; d. Feb. 10, 1765; a. 82.
102. Eunice Rice, dr. of Jonathan and Eunice R .; d. May 6; a. 3 y. 5 m.
103. Comfort Mower, dr. of Ebenezer and Deborah Larnard, and Ist w. of Capt. Sam'l M. (post. No. 210) ; d. May 11; a. 34.
104. Sarah Moore, dr. of Capt. James, (No. 53) ; and Com- fort M. (No. 105) ; d June 3; a. 28.
105. Comfort Moore, w. of Capt. James M. (No. 53) ; d. June 22 ; a. 63.
106. Ebenezer Molton ; d. July 20; a. 28.
1
12
1766.
107. Robert Gray; d. Jan. 6, 1766; a. 69.
108. Abigail Lovel [1st] w. of Ebenezer L. (infra No. 321) ; d. Ap. 11, 1766 ; a. 24 y. 8 m. and 5 d.
109. Samuel Hunt, Jr. s. of Capt. Sam'l H .; d. Ap. 29; a. 23. 110. Mrs. Perces Gates ; d. July 12 ; a. 86.
111 Mrs. A * Chadick, w. of John C. [Jr. ? ] d. Dec.
* a. 46.
112. Samuel Hunt, 3d. s. of Capt. Samuel H .; d. Dec. 28 ; a. 7 m.
1767.
113. Zebudah Potter, w. of Joseph P .; d. Jan. 24, 1767, a. 33 y. 5 m. 28 d.
114. Margaret Mahan, w. of Wm. M. (No. 97) ; b. Feb. 20, 1699; d. Feb. 5, 1767 ; a. 68.
115. John Waters, s. of John and Kesia W .; d. Feb. 11; a. 23 m.
116. Jonathan Osland ; d. Feb. 12; a. 61.
117. Mary Harris, w. of Wm. H .; d. Mar. 10; a. 67. " In the cold mansions of the silent tomb
How still the solitude ! how deep the gloom ! Here sleeps the dust unconscious-close-confined,
But far-far distant dwells the immortal mind." (Ep.)
118. Clark Newton, s. of Thaddeus and Janet N. ; b. Ap. 16, 1765 ; d. June 8, 1767.
119. Josiah Perry ; d. Sept. 16; a. 83. 1768.
120. Francis Harrington ; d. Ap. 6, 1768 : a. 31.
121. Mary Heywood, w. of Major Daniel H. ; d. Ap. 9; a. 65.
122. Azubah Harrington, w. of Elijah H. (No. 307) ; d. Apr. 27; a. 34.
123. John Chadick [Jr]; d. July 17 ; a. 67.
124. John Chadick ; d. Sept. *; a. 86.
125. John Curtis, s. of Capt. John C. (No. 275) ; d. Dec. 10; a. 37.
126. Gershom Rice; d. Dec. 19; a. 102 !
[He was one of the " fathers of the town," and occupied many situations of public trust and confidence. The first place of worship in Worcester was at his house. See Linc. Hist.]
127. Lydia Chamberlain, w. of Dea. C. (No. 236) ; b. in New- town, May 4, 1724 ; d. Dec. 29, 1768.
13
1769.
128. Dorothy Hubbard, w. of Dan'l H. (No. 211) ; d. Ap. 14; a. 71.
129. Robert Young, s. of Wm. and Mary Y .; d. Ap. 20; a. 6. 130. Robert Barber ; d. Sep. 27; a. 69.
[He was one of the Scotch emigrants to Worcester. Linc. Hist.]
131. Abel Heywood ; d. Nov. 29; a. 40.
1770.
132. Nathan Perry, Jr., s. of Lieut. Nathan and Harriet P .; d. Jan. 8, 1770 ; a. 19.
133. Capt. Palmer Goulding [Sen.] ; d. at Holden, Feb. 11; a. 75. " He commanded a company at ye Reduction of Louis- bourg, June 17, 1745." (Ep.)
134. Abigail Goulding, w. of Palmer G. Sen .; d. at Holden * 135. Eunice Rice, dr. of Jonathan and Eunice R .; d. May 12 ; a. 4 y. 4 m.
136. Abigail Goulding, w. of Palmer G., [Jr .; No. 250] ; d. May 26; a. 35.
" Reader-Death is a debt to nature due
Which I have paid and so must you." (Her Ep.)
137. Esther Rice, w. of Gershom R. [Jr .; No. 197]; d. Aug. 16; a. 73.
1771.
138. Rebekah Jones, w. of Lieut. Noah J. (No. 195) ; d. Jan. 12, 177[1?]; a. 46. "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord." (Ep.)
1772.
139. Hannah Taylor, w. of Othniel T. (No 190); d. Jan. 3, 1772; a. 52.
140. Capt. Thomas Sterne ; d. Jan. 16; a. 76. His epitaph is : " The grave is mine house. I have made my bed in the darkness. I have said-Corruption, thou art my father-to the worm, thou art my mother and my sister. Job xvii. 13, 14."
[Capt. Sterne was for some time an innholder in this place, occupying a site near the present U. S. Hotel. His wife (post No. 212) succeeded him in that station.]
141. Joseph Clark ; d. June 8; a. 77.
142. Esther Elder, w. of Wm. E. (No. 223); d. Aug. 31 ; a. 59.
143. John Flagg, d. Dec. 29; a. 24. " This pleasant child, in whom we did delight,
Lies here in Dust, Now Buried From our Sight." (Epitaph.)
14
1773.
144. Major Daniel Heywood; d. Ap. 12, 1773; a. 79. " He was an early settler in this town, and one of the first Deacons of the ch. in this place, in wh. office he cont'd to the day of his death. This monument is erected at the desire and expence of his grandson and heir, Daniel Heywood .- Psalm 90 : 10." (His epitaph.)
145. Mary Stone, w. of Jonathan S .; d. Aug. 7; a. 47, " af- ter a long Sickness, which She bore with Great Submission." (Epitaph.)
146. Betty Rice, dr. of Jonathan (No. 243) and Eunice R. ; d. Sep. 11 ; a. 2 y. 4 m.
147. " Samuel Kinsley, who died on his jurney from Deerfield to his family at Bridgewater, Sept. 25, 1773, aet. 57 yrs .-
Beloved at home, beloved abroad,
Death sudden on the Road
*
Usefull in life & * * (Inscription partly illegible.)
148. Charles Adams; d. Nov. 3, 1773 ; a. 86.
" As Living men my Tomb do view
Remember [that] here's room for you." (Ep.)
149. John Wiley, s. of Joseph and Martha W. ; d. Dec. 26 ; a. 15.
150. " Miss Priscilla Grout, died Dec. 26, 1773, aet. 27. This is erected by Jason Duncan, in memory of his True Love." (Ep.)
151. Lydia Holbrook, w. of Abel H .; d. [Jan. 27; T. R.] 1773; a. 37.
1774. ·
152. Samuel Stowell, s. of Cornelius S. (No. 292); d. Ap. 14, 1774 ; a. 24.
153. William Swan ; died Ap. 18; a. 59.
[He was one of the Old South Church Singers in March, 1770, at the time the introduction of singing by the choir produced so great an excitement in that church as to cause the venerable Deacon Chamberlain (post No. 236) to absent himself from Divine Service, after his ineffectual and amus- ing resistance to this innovation. See an interesting ac- count in Lincoln's History, p. 178.]
154. John Mahan; d. July 31; a. 51. [Epitaph, same as in No 40.]
155. Sarah Mower, w. of Capt. Sam'l M. (No. 210); d. Oct. 10; a. 49.
15
156. Robert Blair ; d. Oct. 14; a. 91. His epitaph is this :
" How great, how firm, how sacred all appears, How worthy an immortal round of years ;
Yet all must drop as Autumn's ripest grain,
And Earth and Firmament be sought in vain."
[Abraham Blair, an ancestor of some of our present citi- zens, distinguished himself in the famous siege of London- derry, A. D. 1689. See Linc. Hist.]
157. Rebekah Curtis, w. of Capt. John C. (No. 275.); d. Mar. 4,1775; a 45.
24.
158. Charles Blair, s. of Joseph and Mary B .; d. May 28; a. " Time shall be slain, all nature destroy'd,
Nor leave an atom in mighty void." (Ep.)
159. Mary Jenison, w. of Capt. Israel J. (No. 203); d. June 19; a 57.
" Israel Jenison and Mary his wife, lived together 36 years, 8 months and 9 days in peace and love. When this you see, remember me." (Epitaph.)
160. Dorothy Chapin, w. of Benj. C .; d. July 14; a. 20.
161. Abel Flagg; d. Sept. 18; a. 22.
" All you that read the state of me,
think of the glass that runs for thee." (Ep.)
162. Jonathan Rice, s. of Jona. and Eunice R .; d. Oct. 28; a. 11 y. 10 m.
1776.
[During this year, there were 76 deaths in Worcester, mostly from the Small Pox. See Linc. Hist.]
163. Isaac Gleson ; d. Jan. 7, 1776 ; a. 57. " Reader, Far from this world of toil and strife, They're present with the Lord,
The labors of their mortal life
End in a large Reward." (Epitaph.)
164. Hannah Pratt, dr. of Richard and Elisabeth P. ; d. Feb. 17; a. *
165. Cornelius Stowell, s. of Cornelius and Survilah ; b. Dec. 26, 1766 ; d. Ap. 24, 1776.
166. " Mrs. Elisabeth Muncreef, late of Boston ;" d. May 3, 1776 ; a. 44.
167. Thomas Stearnes Stephens, s. of Capt. Simon and Mar- tha S. (No. 320) ; d. June 1; a. 7 y. 10. m.
163. Capt. James Goodwin ; d. June 2; a 62.
[He was engaged in the campaign of 1757, and was "well respected as an honest, worthy man." Mass. Spy of June 21, and Linc. Hist.]
16
169. Elisabeth Brown, dr. of Sam'l and Abigail B .; d. June 22 ; a. 10.
" She often made our hearts for to rejoice, her pleasant nature and her chearful voice,
But God * * * *
* * * (Epitaph partly indistinct.) 170. Daniel Bigelow ; d. Aug. 29; a 48.
[He was a brother of the distinguished Col. Timothy Big- elow (post No. 237), and the names of his other brothers, his sister and parents, with further particulars of interest, may be found in Linc. Hist. p. 277. The name Bigelow was formerly written Biglo-by corruption from the ancient name Bedloc ]
171. Elisabeth Howe, w. of Ezekiel H .; b. Oct. 25, 1718; d. Sep. 13, 1776.
" Sweet soul, we leave thee to thy Rest, Enjoy thy Jesus and thy God,
Till we climb up the shining Road." (Ep.)
172. Luke Brown, Jr .; d. Nov. 6; a. 31.
[Same epitaph as in No. 40. His son, Luke Brown, Esq., graduated at Harvard University in 1794, and practiced law in Hardwick. Linc. Hist. p. 270.]
173. Thomas Brown ; d. Dec. 11; a. 40. [Same epitaph as in No. 136 ante ]
174. David Young ; born in the Parish of Tarboyn, county of Douagall, Ireland; d. Dec. 26 ; a. 94.
[See note, ante No. 2. The Young family first introduced and planted here that valuable esculent, the potato. About the time of its introduction, a few were presented, by the Irish, to some of our early inhabitants, who, being suspicious of their poisonous quality, threw them away as unsafe to enter their homes. Linc. Hist. p. 49.]
175. " Nathaniel Lucy Adanıs,
& Adams,
176. Dec'd 1776. Dec'd 1776." (Inscription on one stone.) 1777.
177. Nathaniel Fullerton ; d. Feb. 16, 1777; a. 38. [The name " Mary Raymond " is below this inscription.]
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