USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Old Copp's Hill and Burial Ground : with historical sketches, March 1, 1882 > Part 6
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1807, Sept. 16, (p. 358.) " Messrs Daniel and Ignatius Sargent hav- ing applied for a deed of a Tomb in the Granary burying ground lately rebuilt by Mr. Michael Homer, it was agreed that upon Mr. Sargent pay- ing $300 for said Tomb,'the Chairman should be authorized to give a cer- tificate as proposed by them ; and Mr. Homer to exhibit to the Board his account of expenses for allowance."
" Voted, that in future, when any Tombs are gone to decay from the neglect of the owners or from the want of any proprietor thereto, that they shall be advertised in the public papers, for any one who has a legal claim to appear and make the necessary repairs ; and in case no such person is to be found, that the Board would employ workmen to rebuild or repair the same, and sell them for the advantage of the Town."
1810, Feb. 7, (p. 449.) "An application was read from Robt. T. Paine, Esq., stating his claim to a Tomb in the Granary burying ground formerly belonging to Josiah Willard, Esq., and in which tomb several of the ancestors of Judge Paine are now deposited, but which was taken possession of by Mr. Samuel Bangs for repairs done thereon in 1786, by consent of the selectmen at that time. The Board considered the ap- plication and are of opinion that Judge Paine's claim is well founded, and are willing that he should take possession of the said Tomb, but that he should not ditsurb or remove the remains of any of the family of Mr. Bangs who may be therein."
1810, March 19, Board of Health Records. It was reported inexpe- dient to adopt the plan for building tombs in the Granary.
11
HISTORY OF GRANARY BURIAL-GROUND.
May 7. Orders passed relating to graves and providing that "on application to this Board persons may be licensed to build Tombs, in the North, Chapel, Granary, Central, and South burying-grounds, on condition the tombs be built under the direction of the Superintendent ; that against each tomb the proprietor thereof shall erect a substantial brick wall at least six feet high from the top of the arch of the tomb, and at the joint expense of all the proprietors shall sink good and sufficient stone or brick drains to carry off the water from the tombs."
June 18, Report " that it will be well to reserve the North East line of Ground (Granary) for Tombs."
July 23, Voted " that the subject of laying out a new range of Tombs in the Granary Burying ground be referred to the Superintending Com- mittee of the Ground."
1810, July 30. Report of a Committee " that they have examined the said grouuds and so far as respects the application of Mr. Sullivan, think it advisable to allow him to build on or enlarge a Tomb on the North westerly side of the Bellingham Tomb, he contributing to the expense of a wall on the West side of the Granary Ground, but that it will not be advisable to allow any new Tombs in the ground, except adjacent to the fences and on ground next to the Fence."
Report accepted.
August 6. Voted, " that the Committee to procure Records of Tombs, &c., for the Selectmen, have further time."
12
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 47.
GRANARY BURIAL-GROUND.
OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH, BOSTON, March 6, 1879.
To the City Council of Boston :-
GENTLEMEN, - The Board of Health respectfully reports that the public health requires that future interments in each and all of the tombs in the " GRANARY" burial-ground be prohibited. Said tombs are numbered from one to two hun- dred and four inclusive.
The names of the past and present owners, so far as we know, are hereto annexed.
S. H. DURGIN,
Chairman.
NO. OF TOMB. OWNERS.
2 Archibald, Azor G., part.
12 Allen, Jeremiah (now George Allen).
28 Allen, Silence, p't.
31 Andrews, Stephen S.
35 Allardise, Ann, p't.
38 Amory, Rebecca, p't.
38 Amory, Francis, p't.
39 Adams, Capt. Thomas.
42 Allery, Lydia, p't.
84 Armitage, Jeremiah, p't.
106 Ashton, John, p't.
117 Austin, Thomas, claims p't.
145 Allen, p't.
155 Andrews, Stephen S.
164 Adams, Hon. Isaac, p't.
165 Adams, Elijah.
182 Alline, William, p't.
192 Armstrong, Samuel T., p't.
196 Andrews, Stephen S., p't.
13
HISTORY OF GRANARY BURIAL-GROUND.
NO. OF TOMB. OWNERS.
3 Bean, Aaron, p't.
6 Bowdoin, James.
1 Bethune, George.
14
Bulfinch, Adino, p't.
14 Bulfinch, Samuel, p't.
21 Barrett, Samuel, p't.
21 Bates, John, p't.
25 Belknap, p't.
30 Bonner, John and Samuel.
32 Baker, Letitia, p't.
33 Belknap, Jeremiah.
34 Bowen, William, p't.
37 Borland, John,
38 Brandon, Joseph, p't.
42 Blaie, William, p't.
43 Bradbury, Charles, p't.
49 Byfield, Nathaniel, p't.
60 Buttolf, Nicholas, p't.
62 Bradlee, Thomas and John, p't.
63 Brigham,. B., p't.
67 Blinn, Capt. James, 1729, p't.
67 Baldwin, Rev. Thomas, p't.
72 Billings, Ebenezer, p't.
73 Blanchard, Joshua.
74 Blake, Edward, p't.
76 Bullard, Jabez, p't.
79 Blake, George, p't.
80 Breed, Rebecca, p't.
81 Beighton, James, p't.
82 Boylston, Nicholas, p't.
85 Binney, Barnaba, p't.
86 Babcock, Adam.
92 Baxter, Daniel, p't.
105 Blanchard, Jedediah, p't.
108 Bradlee, Joseph P., p't.
120 Bourne, Melatiah, p't.
132 Blake, Edward.
141 Bumstead.
143 Bumstead, Thomas.
144 Baury, Alfred L., p't.
152 Bullard, J., p't
159 Barton, J., p't.
161 Brown, p't.
173 Bangs, Samuel, p't.
176 Baxter, John, p't.
178 Barrett, Francis, p't.
14
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 47.
No. OF TOMB. OWNERS.
181 Blake, George W., p't.
184 Bass, Moses, p't.
188 Bishop, R. C., p't.
190 Brooks, John, p't.
192 Bass, p't.
194 Badger, John, p't.
199 Bradford, Samuel, p't.
200 Boardman, Thomas and William.
113 Baxter, Joseph, p't.
202 Brown, Naucy, p't.
4 Cushing, Thomas.
13 Clark, Nathaniel.
20 Coney, J.
22 Clark, Jonas, p't.
40 Cunningham, Nathaniel.
38 Colman, William.
671 Callender, R. B., p't.
68 Chuly, Richard.
80 Clapp, William W.
110 Coolidge, Cornelius.
125 Cabot, George.
128 Cunningham, Andrew, p't.
129 Coverly, Wells.
135 Crackbon, Lemuel, p't.
166 Cushing, Charles.
192 Clough, p't.
173 Cheeney, Samuel, p't.
15 'Dorr, Joseph H., p't.
Dorr, Samuel, p't.
24 Downs, William and Decoster T.
24 Dillaway, Samuel.
27 Dorby, E.
29 Deming, David and H.
32 Durivage, Ann.
35 Durant, John.
44 Down.
47 Dyer, John D., p't.
50 Dolbear, John.
53 Dolliver, Peter.
72 Day.
75 Dixwell.
83 Davidson, Andrew C.
89 Dalton, Peter R.
97 Dexter, Jonathan M.
109 Draper, Lorenzo.
135 Davis, Isaac, p't.
15
HISTORY OF GRANARY BURIAL-GROUND.
No. OF TOMB. OWNERS.
168 Dumer and Freeman, p't.
182 Doggett, Noah, p't.
183 Dall, William, p't.
186 Donnison, William.
189 Derby, I., p't.
201 Dean, Thomas, p't.
14 Emmons, Joshua, p't.
18 Erving, Edward S., p't.
95 Easte, Caleb.
116 Ewing, John and E. S.
145 Eaton, p't.
154
Eliot, Samuel.
193 Ellis, David.
194 Emerson, p't.
163 Eckley, Joseph.
71 Emmons, Benjamin.
108 Emmons, Nathaniel, p't.
134 Englesby, William T.
22 Emmerson, Jonathan.
7 Foy, William.
35 Fiske, Mary, p't.
43 Fairweather, John, p't.
47 Ficker, John, p't.
66 Farris, William, p't.
67 Flagg, David, p't.
138 Faneuil, Peter, p't.
167 Farmer, Jesse, p't.
169 Foster, B. and W.
174 Freeman, Nye and.
177 Freeman, James, p't.
177 Fitch, Jeremiah, p't.
187 Freke, John, p't,
195 Franklin.
3 Gooch, John and William, p't.
9 Gray, Abigail, p't.
10 Gould, William, p't.
16 Gill, p't.
18 Greese, Dr. Thomas, p't.
19 Guinea, Henry, p't.
32 Gibbin, Henry, p't.
41 Green, Ann, Rufus, and Gardiner.
59 Gatcomb, Francis, p't.
59 Greenlief, Oliver, p't.
69 Goddard, William, p't.
74 Gray, p't.
80 Green, Joseph, p't.
16
CITY DOCUMENT No. 47.
NO. OF TOMB. OWNERS.
83 Greenlief, Samuel, p't.
87 Goodwin, Ozias, p't.
124 Gay, Martin.
131 Gore, John.
135 Gore, p't.
135 Goodrich, Isaac W., p't.
147 Griggs, Robert D.
152
Guild, C., p't.
158 Goddard, Jonathan, p't.
170 Greenough, David.
193 Grafton, p't.
201 Grubb, William.
202 Gilbert, Samuel, p't.
11 Hale, Benjamin, p't.
11 Hatch, Asa, p't.
11
Hatch, Harrington, p't.
13 Harris, William, p't.
14 Hyde, Abigail, p't.
15 Henshaw, Joshua, p't.
16 Hancock, Thomas, p't.
45 Hill, Ann and Elizabeth.
51 Hunt, John, p't.
53 Huntington, Benjamin, p't.
70 Hubbard, Thomas.
72 Howe, Abraham, p't.
97 Hammond, Samuel, p't.
98 Head, Joseph, Jr., p't.
106 Homer, James and David, p't.
107 Hawks, Joseph, p't.
113
Hichborn, Samuel, p't.
127 Hall, Hugh, p't.
144
158 Hubbart, John, p't.
171 Hill, James, p't.
176 Hayden, William, p't.
180 Hyslop, William, p't.
191 Homer, Jacob, Michael and Eleazer, p't.
185 Huntington, Ralph.
190 Hooper, James, p't.
193 Hodgden, Benjamin, p't.
194 Hunt, Mary, p't.
196 Hutchinson, James, p't.
197 Hinckley, Elizabeth and E., p't.
197 Hooton, Mary, p't.
203 Infants' Tomb.
Hayden, William.
115 Hammatt, John B. and Charles.
17
HISTORY OF GRANARY BURIAL-GROUND.
NO. OF TOMB.
OWNERS.
23 Jackson, Jonathan, p't.
47 Jackson, John, p't.
23 Jackson, Charles, p't.
57 Jackson, Dr. Thomas P.
671 Jackson, Thomas, p't.
77 Jackson, Thomas, p't.
81 Jackson, Anna, p't.
84 James and Pelham, p't.
84 James, John W., p't.
107 Jackson, Johnson, p't.
126 Jenney, Stephen, p't.
136
Jones, Nancy, p't.
138 Jones, Edward, p't.
175 Jeffries, Dr. John.
63 Kendall, Sewell, p't.
76 Kettell, James, p't.
9 Lewis, Ezekiel, p't.
13 Lasenby, Joseph, p't.
21 Leach, Thomas, p't.
28 Lamb, Rebecca and Abigail, p't.
34 Lucas, John, p't. Leitner, George, p't.
36 Lewis, p't.
40 Longley, George, p't.
46 Lepean, John, p't.
51 Loring, John J., p't.
49 Lyde, p't.
54 Lee, William.
60 Leverett and Phillips, p't.
103 Lodge, Giles.
108 Ludington, ( ?) p't.
125 Lee, Joseph, p't.
120 Lee, Jeremiah, p't.
121 Lamb, James, p't.
194 Lillie, John, p't.
197 Lee, Deacon John.
17 Mosely, Elizabeth M.
19 Molineaux, John, p't.
22 Minot, p't.
44 Morrill, Jar es, p't.
56 Mazereen, C 1. Paul, p't.
671 Manley, Wil. 'am, p't. .
102 Mackay, Mungo.
109 McClure, Thomas, p't.
113 Munroe, William, p't.
136 McClench, Nancy, heirs of, p't.
18
CITY DOCUMENT No. 47.
NO. OF TOMB. OWNERS.
136 Motley, Mary, p't.
188 Maguer, John, p't.
2 Noyes, Oliver, p't.
61 Nickerson, Ebenezer, p't.
174 Nye and Freeman.
26 Oliver, Hubbard, p't.
74 Oliver, Henry J., p't.
75 Osborne, John, p't.
75 Otis, Harrison Gray, p't.
91 Osborn, John.
160 Old South Church.
20 Prentice, William H.
35 Peck, William D., p't.
36 Perkins, John S., p't.
39 Paine, William, p't.
42 Phillips, John, p't.
42 Perkins, Mary, p't.
48 Pemberton, James, p't.
34 Park-st. Church, p't.
56 Perkins, Thomas, p't.
60 Phillips, Leverett and, p't.
60 Phillips, Thomas W., p't.
64 Palfrey, William.
66 Petershall, Robert.
76 Parker, M. S., p't.
81 Parker, Jacob, p't.
82
Priest, John F.
84 Pelham, James and, p't.
88 Paine, Robert T.
105 Park, John, p't.
115 Parker, Mrs., p't.
117 Parker, Thomas, p't.
118 Peck, Thomas, H., p't.
122 Price, Ezekiel.
123 Payne, William.
118 Perkins, Thomas H., p't.
145 Prince, p't.
161 Partridge, p't.
162 Phillips, Turner and James.
164 Patterson, Enoch, p't.
168 Powell, Dumer and, p't.
168 Powell, William, p't.
178 Phillips, Samuel, p't.
184 Phillips, Samuel, heirs, p't.
196 Payne, William, p't.
10 Robinson, William, p't.
19
HISTORY OF GRANARY BURIAL-GROUND.
NO. OF TOMB. OWNERS.
25 Rand, Samuel, p't.
27 Robbins, Jonathan Dorby, p't.
66 Roulstone, John, p't.
68 Randall, Dr. John, p't.
81 Rand, Isaac, p't.
94 Richard, John, p't.
95 Richardson, Asa, p't.
1
Reynolds, Edward and William.
97 Richardson, John Drew, p't.
100 Russell, Benjamin.
105
Richardson, Luke, p't.
121 Roberts, Mary, p't.
134 Reany, William L., p't.
137
Richardson, William.
139 Ritchie, William, p't.
139 Ritchie, Edward S.
172 Revere, Paul.
173 Ray, Daniel, p't.
18.7 Russell, Joseph, p't.
198 Redman and Page, p't.
198 Roulstone, Michael, p't.
1 Smith, Franklin.
78 Smith, Franklin.
107 Smith, Franklin.
119 Smith, Franklin.
133 Smith, Franklin.
156 Smith, Franklin.
171 Smith, Franklin.
5 Steel, Thomas.
35 Strong, Abraham, p't.
39 Staples, p't.
44 Stimson, p't.
46 Southac, Capt. Cyprian, p't.
46 Southac, Francis, p't.
47. Sweetser, John, p't.
52 Sutton, p't.
69 Shedd, Joseph and Samuel A., p't.
48 Sears, David, p't.
65 Sumner, James.
75 Sargent, Epes, p't.
77 Stackpole, William, p't.
84 Straw, John A., p't.
85 Stillman, Samuel, p't.
92 Stedman, Josiah, p't.
98 Smith, Samuel, p't.
99 Sumner, Thomas W.
20
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 47.
NO. OF TOMB. OWNERS.
101 Snow, Gideon.
112 Spooner, Dr. William, p't.
114 Snelling, Samuel.
117 Stimpson, Isaac P., p't.
142 Smith, Margaret, p't.
146 Sullivan, James.
148 Stevens, Isaac.
158
Sumner, Thomas W., p't.
180 Sumner, Genl.
183 Shattuck, William, p't.
193 Stackpole, p't.
Symmes, Thomas.
36 Townsend, Penn, p't.
52 Tuckerman, A., p't.
55 Townsend, Dr., p't.
58 Tyler, Andrew, p't.
61 Train, Samuel, p't.
63 Thayer, Zachariah and Cornelius, p't.
65 Thayer, Z. and C., 1729.
90 Tucker, Richard D.
93 Tilden, Joseph.
105 Tolman, Henry, p't.
109 Tufts, Francis, p't.
111 Trask, Francis, p't.
126 Tileston, Thomas, p't.
108
Tilden, p't.
130 Thorndike, Israel, p't.
134 Torrey, Ebenezer, p't.
142 Thaxter, Seth, p't.
149 Taylor, William.
150 . Tidd, Jacob.
167 Trull, Ezra, p't.
189 Townes, William, p't.
191 Torrey, Samuel.
192 Torrey, p't.
67 Vezie, Joseph, p't.
10 Walker, Edward B., p't.
11 Webster, William, p't.
21 Webb, Nathan, p't.
26 Wallace, Thomas, p't ..
42 Wheeler, p't.
44 Whitwell, Samuel, p't.
53 Wardell, Francis, p't.
55 Wendell, John, p't.
58 Wheelwright, George, p't.
59 Welsh, Francis, p't.
-
21
HISTORY OF GRANARY BURIAL-GROUND.
NO. OF TOMB. OWNERS.
61 Welstead, William, p't.
61 Welsh, Jonas, p't.
62 Williams, Nathaniel, p't.
65 Wheeler, William, p't.
68 Wells, Samuel A., p't.
69 Williams, Jonathan.
79 Welland, Capt. John, p't.
94 Wells, Titus, pt.
104
White, Ebenezer.
111
Wright, Obadiah, p't.
140
Willis, Abigail and Charles.
144 Welch, William, p't.
145 Wells, p't.
151 White, Isaac.
152 Willett, J.
153 Williams, John F. and Robert.
157 Walley, Thomas.
179 Whitwell, Benjamin and William.
199 Williams, Jonathan, p't.
52 Young, p't.
CITY OF BOSTON.
APRIL 12, 1879.
Agreeably to the provisions of Chapter 182 of the Acts of 1877, notice is hereby given to the owners of the tombs, described in the foregoing report of the Board of Health, to appear before the special committee of the City Council, appointed for that purpose, on TUESDAY, the fifteenth day of July next, at 3 o'clock, P.M., at the City Hall. Boston, and show cause, if any they have, why each and all of said tombs in the Granary Burial-Ground should not be closed against any future interment therein.
S. F. McCLEARY, City Clerk.
- 4
KING'S CHAPEL BURIAL-GROUND.
OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH,
BOSTON, March 6, 1879.
" To the City Council of Boston : -
"GENTLEMEN,- The Board of Health respectfully reports that the public health requires that future interments in each and all the tombs in King's Chapel burial-ground be prohibited. Said tombs are numbered from one to twenty-three, inclusive, in the front portion of said ground, and from one to twenty-four, inclusive, in the rear, and from one to thirty-two, inclusive, in the interior portion of the same.
" The names of the past and present owners of said tombs, so far as we know, are hereto annexed.
" S. H. DURGIN, Chairman."
(Then follows a long list of names.)
" CITY OF BOSTON, April 12, 1879.
" Agreeably to the provisions of Chapter 182 of the Acts of 1877, notice is hereby given to the owners of the tombs described in the foregoing report of the Board of Health, to appear before the special committee of the City Council, appointed for that pur- pose, on Tuesday the twenty-second day of July next, at 3 o'clock, P.M., at the City Hall, Boston, and show cause, if any they have, why each and all of said tombs in the King's Chapel burial-ground should not be closed against any future interment therein.
"S. F. McCLEARY, City Clerk."
The members of the Board of Health are : -
Dr. S. H. DURGIN, Chairman, Hon. A. W. BOARDMAN, Mr. J. M. KEITH.
The Special Committee on Interments, to whom this subject was referred, are : -
Aldermen J. A. TUCKER, Chairman, 66 J. S. ROBINSON, Councilmen J. J. BARRY,
GEO. H. WYMAN,
GEO. T. PERKINS.
A first meeting of the committee was held on the twenty-second day of July last, and an adjourned meeting will be held at City Hall, Thursday, September 4, 1879, at 2 o'clock P.M., at which all parties may be heard.
2
SOME EXTRACTS FROM RECENT REPORTS OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.
P. 9, 1875. " The propriety of closing several of the cemeteries in the city proper against any further burials has been considered, and we fully believe that the time has arrived when no further in- terments should be made in the following grounds, viz. : King's Chapel, Granary, Copp's Hill, and Central. Others might be given, but these require more immediate action. The work of find- ing and notifying the various proprietors according to law, before closing, is somewhat formidable, and has been the cause of some delay ; but this work is being forwarded as fast as possible. The dilapidated condition of the tombs, monuments, and head-stones, and the dangerous walks which are now constantly breaking through into tombs in the Granary and Chapel grounds, have suggested the question as to whether the city would not do well to make an arrangement with the proprietors by which the remains may be removed and deposited elsewhere in grounds equally desirable for cemetery purposes.
" As it is, a large outlay of money is required annually for the pur- pose of making the necessary repairs, while the general decayed and unsafe appearance of things renders the grounds neither ornamental nor creditable to the city.
" We have mentioned this question of removal to several of the older proprietors, and in every instance the response was decided and favorable for removal."
P. 15, 1876. " The cemeteries and burial-grounds in charge of this Board are a continuous and yearly increasing expense to the city. Many of the fences are old and dilapidated, requiring large repairs. The walls have been affected more or less by the frost, and por- tions of them have already been relaid. The high wall of the Copp's Hill cemetery has been considerably thrown out of line, and will soon require relaying. The monuments are crumbling away, and must, in the course of a few years, be replaced or removed altogether. Many of the tombs have fallen in, exposing their contents, and have been repaired at the expense of the city, in consequence of the difficulty of finding the proprietors.
" If these tombs are to be kept in good condition, they should be filled up with earth and closed against further burials. Every year has lessened the number of those who feel an interest in these tombs. Only so much money has been expended by the Board upon these grounds as was absolutely necessary to keep them in decent condition.
" The work of ascertaining the names of the proprietors is pro- gressing slowly, in consequence of the difficulty of tracing the proprietorship from deficient and imperfect records.
" The Board, as time elapses, is still more convinced that it would be for the best interest of the proprietors and the city to have the contents of these grounds, lying in the city proper, removed to some cemetery without the limits, or remote from the centre of the city, and the grounds utilized for some other purpose."
P. 17, 1877. " The cemeteries under the charge of this Board
3
contain about thirty-seven and one-half (37}) acres of land, (1,634,892 sq. ft.) divided as follows, viz. : -
*
* *
Boston proper, King's Chapel cemetery
19,200 sq. ft.
Granary
81,900 66
" It has been the aim of this Board to expend as little money as possible upon these grounds, and at the same time keep them in a creditable condition.
" The time is fast approaching, however, when a much larger yearly expenditure will be required for repairs on walls, fences, monuments, etc., which are fast going to decay. We believe the time has already arrived when the cemeteries within the city proper should be closed against further burials, not only as a sanitary measure, but with the view of eventually removing the remains of the bodies which have been buried therein to some more suitable locality in the suburbs.
" The following estimate of the value of the lands in the Chapel and Granary grounds is estimated upon the valuation of land in their vicinity : -
Value of Chapel ground
Value of Granary grounds .
$300,000 00 900,000 00
Total .
$1,200,000 00
" If they could be sold at this valuation, or taken by the city for public use, say for the extension of City Hall or a Court-House, the amount would purchase a larger tract of land in some outlying district or neighboring town, put it in proper condition, and still leave a surplus, the income of which would, if properly invested, be more than amply sufficient to keep the grounds perpetually in order.
" Sooner or later (it may not be in this or the next generation), the remains of those buried in these cemeteries will be removed, and the ground will be used for other purposes.
" There can be no better time for such a movement than when some of the descendants of those who were buried therein are liv- ing, and can see that the removal is properly accomplished."
The report of 1878, p. 23 and 24, repeats the same remarks, and quotes the law of 1877 on the subject.
" An Act to Amend Chapter 28 of the General Statutes, above quoted, in respect to closing tombs in cities, was passed in 1877, the material part of which reads as follows : -
" SECTION 1. The City Council of any city may, upon report of the Board of Health thereof that the public health requires it, and after public notice and hearing in the manner hereinafter provided, forbid future interment in any tomb or tombs within the city limits.
"SECT. 2. The report of the Board of Health above mentioned shall specify the tomb or tombs to which its action refers, and
4
name the owner or owners thereof, if the same be known; and thereupon," etc.
SECT. 3 provides for the repair of any tomb by the owner or the Board of Health, and if the city shall incur any expense in re- gard to any tomb, said tomb shall be held and no further use of it made, until, etc.
The report then continues : -
" Complaints have been made to the Board in a few instances of interments in private tombs under churches in the central part of the city, asking the action of the Board to prohibit such interments.
" But while the Board is fully convinced that such interments are injurious, and, as a sanitary measure, ought not to be permitted, still in any given case inquiry always discloses such a divided senti- ment among the owners of the tombs and the worshippers in such churches, as to the fact whether interments there have become prejudicial to the public health, - some maintaining the affirmative and others as stoutly asserting the contrary, - that it is very doubtful whether the jury by whom the question would ultimately have to be decided would sustain the action of the Board of Health and City Council in prohibiting such interments. While almost all intelligent men are willing to assent to the abstract proposition, that interments in populous places are injurious, the moment that any interference with private property is recommended as a means of carrying such proposition into effect, the hostility of the owners is instantly arroused ; and unless a strong case of necessity can be made out, such interference will not be sanctioned by the tribunal of final resort."
Every one who knows anything of the condition of the King's Chapel Burying-ground will see at once that these statements do not relate to that cemetery.
The argument against " interments in populous places" seems to have no bearing on the plan to destroy an Old Historical burying- place that has existed from the first settlement of the country, and is used no more than this is.
FROM CITY REGISTRAR'S RECORDS.
Original interments in, and removal of bodies from other places to tombs in King's Chapel burying-ground during the five years from 1874 to 1878 inclusive : -
1874.
1875.
1876.
1877. None
1878. In 5 years.
Interments,
2
2
1
4
9
Removals,
3
2
1
None
2
8
Total,
5
4
2
None
6
17
-
-
The next meeting of the Committee will be held at City Hall, Thursday, September 4, 1879, at 2 o'clock P.M., at which meeting all persons interested will be heard.
BOSTON, Sept. 18, 1879.
5
5-
KING'S CHAPEL BURIAL-GROUND.
OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH, BOSTON, March 6, 1879.
To the City Council of Boston: -
GENTLEMEN : - The Board of Health respectfully reports that the public health requires that future interments in each and all of the tombs in KING's CHAPEL burial-ground be pro- hibited. Said tombs are numbered from one to twenty-three inclusive in the front portion of said ground, and from one to twenty-four inclusive in the rear, and from one to thirty-two inclusive in the interior portion of the same.
The names of the past and present owners of said tombs, so far as we know, are hereto annexed.
S. H. DURGIN,
Chairman.
NO. OF TOMB. OWNERS.
16 Aspinwall, Samuel, p't.
15 Andrews, James, p't.
2 Apthorp, Charles.
10 Austin, James T., p't.
2 Billings, John and Richard.
2 Bordman, William H., p't.
3 Brinley, George, p't.
11 Boutineau.
19 Blower, John, p't.
20 Bradley, Jonathan W., p't.
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