USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Bridgewater > Epitaphs in old Bridgewater, Massachusetts : illustrated with plans and views > Part 5
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2. In memory of Mr. Philip Reynolds, who died Jan. 4, 1775, in ye 35th year of his age.
3. In memory of Freelove Brett, daugh. of Mr. John Brett and Alice, his wife, who died Jany 12, 1779. in the 33ª year of her age.
4. In memory of Hannah Brett, daugh. of Mr. John Brett and Alice, his wife, who died Oct. 20th, 1779, in the 26th year of her age.
5. Here lies Mr. John Brett, who died Aug. 28th, 1793, in the 88th year of his age.
6. In memory of Alice, widow of Mr. John Brett, who died Dec. 11, 1794, in her 81" year.
7. In memory of Mrs. Anna Williams, wife of Mr. George Wil- liams, who died Sept. 4, 1775, in ye 234 year of her age.
8. In memory of Mrs. Sarah Kingman, wife of Mr. Alexander Kingman, who died Nov. 16, 1789, aged 65 years.
9. In memory of Lieut. Daniel Howard, who died March y" 23", 1782, in ye 35th year of his age. Stoop down my thoughts that used to rise, Converse a while with death, Think how a gasping mortal lies And pants away his breath.
IO. In memory of Mrs. Silence, the wife of Abiel Howard, M. D. ; she died Aug' y' 17. 1775, atatis 62. (A daughter of Nehemiah Wash- burn).
In dus: I die, to dust I return ; This is my place, my destined urn, ( think of death, heaven, and hell; Make God your friend and all is well.
11. In memory of Abiel Howard, M. D .; he died Jany the 10th, 1777, in ye 734 year of his age, (A graduate H. U. 1729, whose dau. Si-
47
JERUSALEM GRAVE YARD.
lence m. Dr. Philip. Bryant, father of Dr. Peter Bryant, of Cummington, who was the father of William Cullen Bryant, the poet).
The sweet remembrance of the just Shall flourish when they sleep in dust.
I2. In memory of Mr. Joshua Howard, who died March ya 31st, 1780, in ye 29th year of his age.
13. In memory of Miss Charity Howard, who died Dec. 4, 1829, a 82 years.
14. Here lies Mr. Jonathan Burr; he died January 24th, in the 66th year of his age.
Death, inexorable, hath laid in the dust
The man who was faithful, pious. and just ;
From torments extreme, how happy the flight From misery to joy-from darkness to light.
15. In memory of Mrs. Martha, wife of Mr. Jonathan Burr, who died Dec. ye 12th, 1791, in ye 55th year of her age.
Our loving friend is gone, No more to cheer her friends and children dear,
O certain fate, we view this teaching stone
And mourn thy death to meditate our own.
16. In memory of Mrs. Mary Hayward, the wife of Mr. Abner Hay- ward, who died Dec. 4, æ 1783, in the 65th year of her age.
Our life is ever on the wing,
And death is ever nigh ;
The moments when our lives begin
We all begin to die.
Death is a debt to nature due
Which I have paid, and so must you.
17. In memory of Mrs. Susanna Hayward, who died March 25, 1800, in the 48th year of her age.
Here let you rest in peaceful dust Till God to glory raise the dust.
18. In memory of Rev. John Burr, who died March the 16th, 1777, in ye 62ª year of his age.
In memory of Mrs. Silence Burr, wife of Deac. John Burr, who died May 6, 1773, in ye 68 year of her age. (Dea. John Burr here means the Rev. John Burr above).
19. In memory of Ruth, daugh. of Mr. Jonathan Burr and Martha, his wife ; she died Oct. 15, 1776, in the 2ª year of her age.
20. John, son of Mr. Theophilus Howard and Susanna, his wife, born Sept. 30, 1750, died Mch. 1, 1752-3.
21. Kezia, wife of Mr. Thaddeus Howard, died May 26, 1811, in her 50 year.
22. In memory of Jerahmul, son of Jonathan Hayward and Mary, his wife ; he died Aug. 28, 1774, in ye 3 year of his age.
23. In memory of Mr. Jonathan Hayward, who died April 30, 1824, in the 89th year of his age.
78
WEST BRIDGEWATER,
Stop, kind friends, and take a view : The shroud and grave do wait for you;
When on my grave you cast an eye, Think on cold death; you soon must die.
24. Miss Mary Hayward wife of Mr. Jonathan Hayward, died Oct. 6, 1813, æ 61.
Let this vain world engage no more, Behold the gaping tomb; It bids us seize the present hour, To-morrow death may come.
25. In memory of Mrs. Betty Hartwell, the wife of Mr. Nathan Hartwell, who died Feb. 28, 1762, aged 26 years and 6 mos.
26. In memory of Silence Burr, daughter of Mr. Seth Burr and Charity, his wife, who died March ye 20, A. D. 1780, in the'26th year of her age.
You, reader, stop And lend a tear ; Think on the dust That slumbers here.
27. Orin Hayward, son of Mr. Solomon Hayward and Mrs. Martha, his wife, died Feb. 15, 1797, aged 6 mos.
29. Sally B. Hayward, daughter of Mr. Solomon Hayward and Mrs. Martha, his wife, died Feb. 6, 1803, in the 4 year of her age.
29. Royal Hayward, son of Mr. Solomon Hayward and Mrs. Mar- tha, his wife, died Feb. 7, 1797, aged 2 years, 9 months.
30. In memory of Mrs. Abigail Hayward, wife of Mr. Peter Hay- ward, who died Oct. 9. 1776, in ye 67th year of her age. (She was one of five daughters of Jonathan Williams, of Taunton, a large land- holder. Her sister, Mary, married Seth Dean, of Raynham, and her daughter, Rebecca Dean, married Woodward Latham).
31. In memory of Mr. Peter Hayward, who died July the 14, 1765, in ye 66th year of his age. (He was son of Dea. Joseph).
32. Abigail, daughter of Mr. Peter Hayward and Abigail, his wife, died April y" 21", 1760, in ye 15th year of her age.
33. Peter, son of Mr. Peter Hayward and Abigail, his wife, died January y^ 13th, 1753, in the 24 year of his age.
34. Here lies buried Mr. Samuel Hartwell, who decd December ye 25, 1760, in the 67th year of his age.
Here lies buried Mr. Jonathan Hartwell, who died Feb. 8th, 1761, in the 40th year of his age.
And Hannah, his daughter, decd Jany ye 30th, 1761, in ye 3d year of her age. (These persons died with small-pox).
35. Mary, daugh. of Mr. Benjamin Hayward and Sarah, his wife, died June 15, 1749. aged 6 years and 6 mos.
36. In memory of Thomas, son of Mr. David Wade and Mary, his wife ; he died March ;º 14h, 1768, in ye 4th year of his age.
ALPHABETICAL INDEX
TO THE NAMES ON MONUMENTS IN THE ALGER GRAVE-YARD AND TOMB IN WEST BRIDGEWATER.
Name of Person.
Died. Age.
Alger, Dau. of Abiezer, Jr., stillborn, June 21,
1813, . 0
Alger, Abiezer, son of Abiezer, Jr., d. Feb. 14,
. 1822, I year, 2 m. 25 d
Alger, son of Abiezer, Jr., stillborn, Jan. 10,
Alger, son of Abiezer, Jr., stillborn, June 5,
1828,
o
Alger, Abiezer, Sen.,
Alger, Abiezer, Jr.,
1863, 76
Alger, Annie Dean
1856, 10 ds
Alger, Caroline Belinda
1869, 44
Alger, Caroline Richmond
1869, 24
Alger, Caroline
1824, 24
Alger, Henry Williams
1878, 24
Alger, Hepsey
1866,
74
Alger, Hepsibah
1841,
SI
Alger, Lieut. James
1810, 81
Alger, James
1878, 62
Alger, Martha Kingman
1865, 18
Cook, Hannah
1822, 2 years, 10 m
Green, Dilly, wife of Robert Green,
1824, 60 or more
Keith, James, son of Calvin
ISO1, 16
Keith, Rachel
1815, 70 or more
Keith, Vienna
1847, 83
.
. 1823, O
1830, 73
Alger, Anne Cushing
1857, 71
NOTE TO FIRST GRAVE-YARD, ON PAGE SIX.
Since the preceding pages were printed, we have found a deed from John Field to John Howard, dated May 16, 1707, recorded in Plym- outh Registry, book 11, page 218, conveying to said Howard " a tract of land butting the Towr River ; bounded westerly by land of James Keith, easterly by the highway, and on the northerly end it is bounded by Mr. Keith's head fence, next to the highway that goes to Jonathan Howard, and by an heap of stones, and so by that range to the high- way, only excepting sixteen pole of land joining to the burying-place, being two poles in breadth, eight poles in length. The rest of said tract containing twelve acres and a half."
Jonathan Howard then lived where the late Lloyd Howard lived, near Nahum Leonard's house, and was a brother of the grantee, called John Minimus, and Tapster John ; and the third highway referred to means the Boston road, leading from the house of Benjamin Howard, by the house of Francis E. Howard, to and by the present meeting- house, and these premises are the two house lots, each twelve by eighty, originally laid out to George Turner, whereon he lived, and on his death, about 1696, descended, and became the property of his son, John Turner, who conveyed the same to said John Field, by deed dated March 17, 1706, book 13, page 144, and was bounded westerly by the homestead of Rev. James Keith, now George M. Pratt's, and easterly by said Boston road.
THE ALGER GRAVE-YARD
AND TOMB, - IN -
WEST BRIDGEWATER.
This yard contains sixteen to twenty square rods of land on Wolf Trap Hill, west side of Flaggy Meadow Brook, south side of the road, nearly opposite the dwelling house of James Otis Alger, in West Bridgewater.
There is a common balance wall on the west side, and a bank wall on the north side, next to the road, and otherwise it is unenclosed. There are four graves with grave-stones having the following inscrip- tion thereon, to wit:
I. James Keith, son of Mr. Calvin Keith, died of an epilepsy, March 13, 1801, in his 17th year.
2. Erected in memory of Lieut. James Alger, who died May 20, 1810, in his 82ª year.
3. Erected in memory of Mrs. Martha Alger, wife of Lieut. James Alger ; she died 23d Aug., 1813, in her 81st year.
4. Hannah, daughter of Kingman and Sarah Cook, died Jan. 29, 1822, 2 years, 10 mos.
And, there are five graves in this yard without monument or in- scription, to wit :
I. A daughter of Abiezer Alger, Jr., stillborn, June 21, 1813.
2. Rachel Keith, born July 22, 1744, died about 1815, 71 years of. age. (She was a dau. of Ebenezer Keith, and half-sister of the first Abiezer Alger's wife).
3. Abiezer Alger, 3ª, son of Abiezer Alger, Jr., born Nov. 20, 1820, died Feb. 14, 1822, 1 year, 2 months, 25 days.
4. A son of Abiezer Alger, Jr., stillborn, Jan. 10, 1823.
-
52
WEST BRIDGEWATER,
5. Dilly Green, colored, buried about 1824. She was probably over 60 years of age and was one of the four wives of Robert Prince, better 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, and died in the poor house in West Bridgewater, in January, 1827, 106 years of age.
And there is also one large tomb upon these premises, built by the late Abiezer Alger, Jr., in the early part of the year of 1828, con- taining the remains of fourteen persons deposited there, in the order of their deaths, to wit :
1. Cornelia Alger, born Aug. 24. 1800, died Oct. 26, 1824. Put into Zephaniah Lathrop's tomb and removed June 7, 1828.
2. A son of Abiezer and Annie C. Alger, stillborn, June 5, 1828.
3. Abiezer Alger, Sen., born'July 25, 1757, died July 31, 1830.
4. Hepsibah Alger, wife of Abiezer Alger, born in Scotland, Dec. 20, 1760, died Feb. 25, 1841.
5. Vienna Keith, born in Scotland, Aug. 1, 1764, died July 21, 1847, a daughter of Ebenezer Keith, and sister of said Hepsibah.
6. Annie Dean Alger, dau. of James and Caroline B. Alger, born Feb. 1856, died, aged 10 days.
7. Anne Cushing Alger, wife of the second Abiezer Alger, born in Pembroke, now Hanson, Oct. 15, 1786, died Sept. 24, 1857.
8. Abiezer Alger, born May 21, 1787, died March 1, 1863,
9. Martha Kingman Alger, born May 16, 1848, died May 17, 1866.
10. Hepsey Alger, born Oct. 24, 1792, died June 14, 1866.
11. Caroline Belinda Alger, born in Raynham, Mar. 2, 1825, died April 2, 1869.
12. Caroline Richmond Alger, born July 16, 1845, died July 4, 1869.
13. James Alger, born Aug. 29, 1816, died Jan. 26, 1878. (Son of Abiezer, Jr.)
14. Henry Williams Alger, born April 18, 1854, died Feb. 26, 1878.
ALPHABETICAL INDEX TO THE NAMES ON MONUMENTS IN JERUSALEM GRAVE-YARD IN WEST BRIDGEWATER.
No. of Epitaph.
Name of pe. son.
Year of death. Age. Epitaph.
No. of
Name of person.
Year of death. Age.
6.
Brett, Alice
1794,
80
24.
Hayward Mary
1813, 61
3.
Freelove
1779,
32
27.
Orin
1797, 6 m
4.
5
Hannah
1779,
25
33.
Peter
1753,
I
5.
John
1793,
88
31.
66
Royal
1797,
2
14.
66
Jonathan
1791,
54
17.
Howard, Abiel, M. D.,
1777,
72
26.
Silence
1780,
25
13.
6.
Lt. Daniel
1782,
34
34.
Hannah
1761,
2
12.
Joshua
1780,
28
34.
Jonas
1761,
39
21.
Kezia
18II,
49
34.
Samuel
1760,
66
20.
¥
Theophilus
1752,
2
30.
Hayward, Abigail
1776,
5
IO.
Silence
1775,
62
32.
"
Abigail
1760,
15
8.
Kingman, Sarah
1789,
65
22.
Jerahmul
1774,
2
2.
Reynolds. Philip
1775,
34
23.
Jonathan
1,824,
88
I.
Hannah
I774,
6
35.
Mary
I749,
5
36.
Wade, Thomas
1768,
3
16.
" Mary
1783,
64
7.
William, Anna
1775,
22
18.
Burr, Rev. John
1777,
66
28.
Sally B.
1803,
3
1 5.
66
Martha
19.
Ruth
1776,
I
II.
Charity
1829,
82
25
Hartwell, Betty
1762,
26
9.
Peter
1765,
65
61
29.
Susanna
1800,
47
219ft
S 56º 50'E
387
388
369
386
$29
330
.370 385
405 $10
203
436
204
403
205
202
16/
133
135
163
170
190
134 136
/32
/3/
138
166
175
176
196
2/2
241 234
20
340 341
416
427
128
144
148
425
/27
145
149
150
125
151
124
522
126 123
122
276
303
277
283
278
282
300
353
299
113 /18
159
490
492
112/17/16
160
5 23
516
488
110
115
473
494
108
472 474
495
515
450 455
460
471
58497001
5/3
498502
512
530
476
462
486 499 503 511
451
485
450
505 5.00
478
449
508
470
448
483
463
482
506
Sheds
22 21
443
465
442
466
İ13
467
441
203 ft
440
S 70° E
25/02/ 2020
65
39
1
38 37
36 35
34
Summer Street
296
328
367 372 366
383
327
245 246
326 325
365 373
435
243 247
294
333
363
323
334 362
335 361
393
413
164
?
198
137
165
173 174
197
2/1
254 255
339
357
399 500 415
428
140
/67
142
169
239 233
259 268 290
342
289
343
269 288
26/
262270
271 287
, 263 272 286 228 264 273 285
347
348
349
274 284 275
350
301 302
352
519
119
158
19/ 193
279
281
298
458
457
489 493
226
227
109
114
72. 73
80 81 82
454
475
461
463
452
477
504 510
53/
484
52 5- 3257 529
106 105
Stone
104
64 63 62 6/ 60
201918 16,5,4
57
67
440 444 445
469
479 480
507
464
468
48/
23 24
I to 103
Section A
94 95 96 97 98 99 100
10/ 102
66
103
O
139
30
141 146 168 178
129
143
147
179 194
215
237
180
181 153 182
219
235
229
220
420 422
421
222
521
49
$20
121 120
100192
223
225
518 517
440 to 531
Section D
S 19LOW 196 Ft
S 17º W 246ft
107
104 to 297
Section B
224
Oneare A. D. 1881. Bridge water
Old Grave Yard
356
417
426
418
854
419 423 424
152 154 183 86
181
22/
155 184 188
Section C
438
429
158
$98
256
265 293
322
321 336 360
381
394
402
395
382
338
396
401
414
430
Summer Street
324 J32
364- 374
390
434
$91
162
201
208
248
200
209
250 251
432
437
431
210
2421
252 253
177
195
213 240
257 2665-291 258 2674
$18
214
238 232
260
231
216
<17 218
236 230
355
Plan of
298 to 4,39
Meeting House Avenue
297
249 2,95
244
206 207
4+33
392
412
331 368 371 384
408 409
407
389 406
404 411
Meeting House Lawn
486500
514
74
84 85
+1 1519 83 868 ) 887
90 91 92 93
(2) 98765432
58 59
156 185 189 157
397
337 359
OLD GRAVE-YARD,
-IN -
BRIDGEWATER.
The Old-Grave Yard, near the Unitarian Church, was the first burying-place in the South Precinct, now Bridgewater. The land, one acre, is a part of two acres given to the "Inhabitants of the Southerly Precinct," by John Washburn, " to build a Meeting House on," by deed dated April 6, 1719, recorded June 20, 1722, in Plymouth Registry, book 16, page 61, and also recorded in the third book of Parish Rec- ords of the South Precinct, now the First Congregational Society in Bridgewater, pages 197-8. The premises conveyed by that deed were twenty rods north and south, and sixteen rods east and west, on which a meeting-house, 38 x 43, was commenced in 1716, finished and dedi- cated June 14, 1717. It stood on the spot where the present meeting- house stands, and fronted south, was enlarged, 1747, sixteen feet in the middle and taken down 1760.
There is no allusion to any burial in the above deed of John Wash- burn, nor in the Parish Records for many years after.
John Washburn, the donor, died in 17 19, and his wife, Rebecca, in 1717, and both were buried here, in the southwest part, on the high ground which was first used for burial, and the ground first appropri- ated for burial was afterwards enlarged by the parish. The late Capt. Abram Washburn, about 1843, set up new grave-stones at their graves in place of the old natural stones removed, and in 1850 planted the two larch trees, now standing and growing over their graves, in the presence of the writer, and always claimed that said Rebecca, wife of the donor of the ground, was the first person buried in the yard, it being so writ- ten on her grave-stone, and there is no evidence, written, printed or otherwise, of this ground being used for burial prior to 1716.
Where were those people buried who lived and died in this part of old Bridgewater prior to 1716 ?
56
BRIDGEWATER,
Several families were living here as early as 1680, and the popula- tion of this part of old Bridgewater was constantly increasing from that date down to 1716, when the South Precinct was formed, and this burial-place was commenced. But we have no evidence, or even tradi- tion, of there being any grave-yard in this part of old Bridgewater dur- ing this time, a period of more than thirty years. If private burial- places existed, we should probably have heard of them. There is no evidence, and it is not probable, that they were buried in the old yard in West Bridgewater, and they may have been buried.in one or more places in this part of old Bridgewater, not yet discovered.
In 1736 the South Precinct voted to build a board fence around the burying-ground, and the next year rescinded that vote, and voted to build, and did build, a post and rail fence. This kind of fence was continued, with occasional repairs, down to 1795-6, when the members of the South Precinct concluded to have the yard fenced in with a stone wall, and the parish voted "to take off the fence round the bury- ing-place, and sell it to build another, to be no expense to the parish." They made a bee. The whole parish turned out with more ox teams in those days than now, and voluntarily, in one day, brought together stone enough and sufficient for the whole fence, about fifty rods in length, making a common balance wall around the yard, with a gate entrance at each corner ; and this wall fence remained till IS44, when Capt. Abram Washburn, with a little help from subscribers, rebuilt the whole wall, and put the capping stones on, and made one gate entrance near the middle of the south side.
In the upper, or southwest part of this yard, were many graves with natural stones, without inscription, and when the wall was rebuilt in 1844, these natural stones, and many of the foot-stones, were used and put into the wall. From 1845 to 1850 the foot-stones were all removed, and the graves and ground were levelled, so as to make it comfortable for mowing and raking. In 1847 twenty-eight of these foot-stones were made into head stones, and set to graves without monuments, with a simple inscription of the name, or initials of the name, and year of death. About twenty of these foot stones made into head-stones are still to be found in their proper places; and about this time, 1847 to 1850, two paths, or walks, each about five feet wide, from north to south, dividing the yard into three parts nearly equal, were plowed up, levelled, and fitted for walks, and a few head and footstones were dis- placed to make an unobstructed walk ; but in a few years these walks were grassed over, and the paths were disused and lost. About 1820
57
OLD GRAVE YARD.
five tombs were built in the central part of this yard, used and occupied for many years, and from 1845 to 1855 were taken down by permission of owners, and remains were removed to the new cemetery and other places. In 1842 a new public cemetery was established in the town, called the Bridgewater Cemetery, on Mount Prospect street, and some head-stones and remains have been removed from this old yard to this new cemetery and other places, and since 1842 very few interments have been made in this old yard.
Most of the trees in and around this yard were planted between 1838 to 1843. The pitch pine, in the easterly part of the yard, came from Isam Leonard. The elm now standing in the triangle formed by the junction of Plymouth with Summer streets is the survivor of seven elms planted in that triangle, in such manner that you could see three trees in a row in six directions. One morning it appeared that the row of trees on the northerly side of the road, from the house lot of W. Latham to the house of Widow Holmes, had been barked, cut, and injured more or less, with a large, sharp knife, or other instrument, so much so that six of the seven trees in this triangle were given up as lost and destroyed. This central tree, now standing there, was not cut entirely off, but so much cut that the top fell over and hung down. This tree was straightened up with splinters, clay, and bandages, and soon healed up and became sound, and now has its original top branches. This is the only malicious mischief ever done to trees in this neighborhood, though many trees have had narrow escapes.
The elm tree now standing in the triangle formed by the junction of School and Summer streets, was set out in the afternoon of the last May Training in this Commonwealth. While the writer was planting that tree his name was called by the clerk, as a member of the com- pany then parading in front of the old meeting-house, and was marked absent, though the call was answered by the writer then outside of the training ground, without equipments except a spade. Upon a little con- sideration it was deemed expedient to call upon the captain to apollo- gize for improper conduct in answering to the call, and to offer to pay the fine of four dollars incurred, without trouble or expense. In a few days the captain brought to the writer his list of delinquents for collec- tion. Among other suits to recover fines, was one against Henry Ran- dall, who claimed that his name was Henry Miller Randall, but it ap- peared in evidence that he had written his name Henry Randall, as well as Henry M. Randall. The court decided that a man may as well
58
BRIDGEWATER,
be known by one name as another, and he was held to answer to either name, and to pay his fine and cost.
This old grave-yard was the only place of burial in the South Pre- cinct, now Bridgewater, for about thirty five years. Lt. John Wash- burn, born 1711, and die.l 1797, was the sexton, and dug the graves in this old yard from 1739 to the time of his death, 1797, and kept an ac- count thereof, which is now (1882) in the possession of the writer. The dates in this record mean date of burial, and not day of death ; and which record was made as a matter of account, and not as a record of deaths.
His record begins with the year 1739, and shows an average of nineteen deaths per year for the first eight years, from 1739 to 1747, inclusive, and sixteen and five-eighths deaths per year, from 1748 to 1755, inclusive, and an average of twelve deaths per year for the next eight years, from 1756 to 1763, inclusive, and an average of eight and four-tenth's for the next ten years, from 1764 to 1773, and an average of twelve and seven-tenths for the next ten years, from 1774 to 1783.
The greatest mortality, as appears from this record, was twenty- seven deaths in 1741 ; twenty-two in 1744; twenty-seven in 1747 ; forty in 1750; forty-seven in 1756; and forty-one in 1778.
The total number of graves dug by him in this yard during these fifty-eight years, from 1739 to 1797 is 706. There were probably more interments made during this time, as many years had but few graves dug by him, to wit : in 1796 only one ; three in each of the years 1767, 1772, 1780, and 1791 ;. four in 1783 ; five in 1768 ; six in 1785, 1763, 1779, 1792. The total number of grave-stones, counting each monu- mental slab, on stone or brick foundation, as one stone, is now (1882), 531, and from an examination and inquiry made some thirty odd years ago, when graves could better be seen and counted, it was estimated that there had been at least 1500 ; and probably from that to 2000 in- terments in this yard.
There was early a disposition to increase the number of burial- places in the town of Bridgewater. The population being scattered over some twenty-eight or thirty square miles of territory, and funerals being burdensome before hearses were used, they began, in different parts of the town, to establish burying-places, and to bury the dead in the following order ;
1. The Old grave yard, near Unitarian church, 1716 :
2. Vernon Street grave-yard, at Cross street, 1751;
3. Scotland grave yard, near meeting-house, 1753;
59
OLD GRAVE YARD.
4. South. Street grave-yard, near Zephaniah Keith, 1756;
5. Trinity Church grave-yard, first used for burial, 1763;
6. Japan grave-yard, near Jennings' brook, 1766 ;
7. Small-pox grave-yard, at Rufus Woods,
8. Great Woods grave-yard, near Solomon Alden,
9. Harlow grave-yard, near Childs' Bridge. 1803 ;
IO. Pratt Town grave-yard, 1828;
II. Conant Town grave-yard, 1829 ;
12. Benson Town grave-yard, 1839;
13. Bridgewater Cemetery, 1842;
14. State Workhouse grave-yard,
15. Catholic Cemetery, at church,
16. on Centre street,
1853;
1854;
18,67 .
So that. with a population of less than 4000; exclusive of state pau- pers and convicts, we have fifteen grave-yards ; in fourteen of which places interments are made every year, or nearly so. We have copied the inscriptions or epitaphs of the first eight of the above fifteen grave- yards, which were commenced before 1800, including stones and monu- ments erected before or since in each yard, down to the present time.
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