USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Sudbury > The history of Sudbury, Massachusetts, 1638-1889 > Part 48
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567
HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
Nov. 7, 1882, a committee appointed to consider the laying out of a road between the Horatio Hunt place and the rail- road junction, reported favorably, and the road was com- pleted.
THE GEORGE GOODNOW BEQUEST.
In November, 1884, it was voted to " accept of a donation of Ten Thousand Dollars offered the Town of Sudbury, by George Goodnow of Boston, for the purpose of establishing a fund, the income of which he desires to be used by the selectmen of said Town for the time being, to assist such citizens of the Town who are not, at the time of receiving the assistance, paupers, but who may for any cause be in need of temporary or private assistance." By motion of Rev. George A. Oviatt, the town voted that, " we do now as a town by vote express our hearty thanks to the donor of this generous Fund, assuring him of our appreciation of his love of his native town, and equally of his noble desire to render aid to the needy therein. And may his sunset of life be bright to the last, and terminate in the day of endless light and blessedness."
Dec. 24, 1884, Goodman Council, No. 868, of the Royal Arcanum was organized.
March 5, 1885, the Sudbury Grange, No. 21, was organized.
In 1889, an unsuccessful effort was made by the Society of the Orthodox Congregational Church to hold their regular Sabbath Day services at South Sudbury. The same year the town took measures for securing a suitable spot for the erec- tion of a High School Building at Sudbury Centre.
CHAPTER XXXI.
CEMETERIES.
First Burial Place. - Old Burying-Ground at Sudbury Centre. - Mount Wadsworth Cemetery. - Mount Pleasant Cemetery .- New Cem- etery. - North Sudbury Cemetery. - Burial Customs.
Our vales are sweet with fern and rose, Our hills are maple-crowned ; But not from them our fathers chose The village burying-ground. WHITTIER.
THERE are few, if any, places in our New England towns more suggestive of the past than its ancient burial places. It is there that we find names now but rarely spoken in the places that knew them once, and the old headstones give a record of births, ages and deaths, which perhaps could be found nowhere else. Sudbury has at present five cemeteries within its limits : one at South Sudbury, one at North Sud- bury, and three at the Centre ; but the first burial place of the town was in East Sudbury, now Wayland.
SUDBURY'S FIRST BURYING-GROUND.
This ancient burial place is in Wayland, on the north side of the road leading to Sudbury Centre, and about a half mile from the railroad station. It has the general appear- ance of an old-time graveyard. The wild grass covers the toughened and irregular sod, and the uneven surface of the ground indicates that it was long, long ago broken by the sexton's spade. These indications of the existence of old graves are correct. It was the burying-ground of the set- tlers, and here -
" Where heaves the turf in many a mouldering heap, Each in his narrow cell forever laid, The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep."
568
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HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
The older part of this cemetery lies near or beside the county highway, and may be the half acre bought of John Loker for a burial place. Tradition says that prior to the selection of this spot a few interments were made just over the hill to the north, where tradition also states that there was an Indian graveyard. These traditions have perhaps some confirmation in the fact that on the northern hillside remains of human skeletons have been exhumed. An old citizen, Mr. Sumner Draper, states that in his boyhood, when men were at work in the gravel pit in what was known as the "old Indian graveyard," he saw bones which they dug up, that he thought belonged to several human skeletons, and that he had himself in later years dug up a human skull. He also stated that there were two or three flat stones on some graves, which he believed were without any inscrip- tion, and that he thought some such stones were removed from the spot long ago.
The town owned thereabouts two or three acres of land, which was generally known as the " old Indian graveyard." But if this land was reserved by the settlers for a burial place, it was not long made use of; for the southerly slope was soon set apart for this purpose, and has continued to be used for more than two centuries and a half. Additions have repeatedly been made to this latter portion, as the generations have passed away, and new graves have been opened to receive them ; and thus has the slow, solemn march of that silent company been moving over that mid way space, until the two portions are almost joined. Besides the age of the yard, there are other things that make it an inter- esting spot to the inhabitants of Sudbury. Within its enclos- ure stood the first meeting-house. (See page 100.) Here lie buried the bodies of those who bore the name of Goodnow, Curtis, Grout, Rutter, Parmenter, Rice, Bent, and others of the early grantees, besides still others of Sudbury's most prominent citizens before the division of the town. Because of the interest that thus attaches to the place, although it is not now within the limits of the town, we will give the in- scriptions on some of the older gravestones which lie along the common highway.
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HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
MEMENTO MORI.
Here lyethe remains of Ephraim Curtis ESQr who departed this lyfe Novr the 17th A D 1759 in the 80th Year of his age. He was a Loving Husband and a Tender Parent a faithful Friend, as a Justice of the Peace he Hon'd his Commission by adhering steadily to the Rules of Justice. he was Major of a Regiment, in which Office he conducted in such a manner as gave General Satisfaction. He was many years Rep- resentative in the General Court, a lover of True Piety, belov'd. by all that knew him and Equally Lamented at his Death.
" Here learn the end of man Know that thy life is but a span."
On this gravestone is a skull and crossbones.
In memory of Capt. Joseph Smith Who died March 9th 1803, aged 87 years.
Farewell my dear and loving wife Farewell my children and my friends Until the resurrection day.
Probably the captain of the east side militia. (See period 1775-1800.)
Here lyest ye Body of Mrs Abagail Paris wife to Mr Samuel Paris, who departed this life Febry ye 15th 1759 in y 55th Year of her age.
Probably the wife of the son of Samuel Paris of Witch- craft fame. (See period 1675-1700.)
Here Lyes ye Body of Mrs Patience Browne wife to Majr Thomas Browne Aged 59 years. Died Augst ye 15, 1706.
Major Thomas Browne was a very prominent Sudbury citi- zen. (See page 36.)
In memory of Mr. Joseph Rutter, who died Dec. 19th 1781 in ye 78th year of his age.
Down to the dead, all must descend, The saints of God must die. While Angels guard their souls to rest, In dust their Bodies lie.
Erected in memory of Mrs Mary Rutter wife of Mr. Joseph Rutter who died Sept 2ond A E 82
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HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
Joseph Rutter was a descendant and probably grandson of John Rutter, builder of the first meeting-house, which stood just beside where the remains of Joseph Rutter now lie. (See page 43.)
MEMENTO MORI. In memory of
Mr. Thomas Bent who died Wednesday morning July the 26th 1775. Ætatis 69.
Our term of time is seventy years An age that few survive
But if with more than common strength
To eighty we arrive
Mrs. Mary Bent wife of Mr. Thomas Bent who died Wednes- day morning July ye 26th 1775 Ætatis 57. Yet then our boasted strength de- cays,
To sorrow turns and pain
So soon the slender thread is cut And we no more remain
Two notable stones are those that mark the graves of Capt. Edmund Goodnow and wife. They are in a horizontal position, and just east of the old meeting-house site. The inscription is rudely cut, and in the language of other years. It is as follows : -
YE - DUST -
HEARE - LYETH - PRETIOUS - NT - OF - THAT - EMENANT - SARVA
OF - GOD - CAP - EDMOND - GOODENOW - YEARE - WHO - DIED - YE -77 - OF - HIS - AYGE- APRIL- YE-6-1688.
HERE - LYETH - YE - BODY - OF - ANNE - YE- WIFE- OF - CAP - EDMOND-GOODENOW -
WHO-DYED- YE : 9: OF : MARCH 1676 : AGED - 67 - YEARS.
HERE - LYETH - YE - BODY - OF - JOSEPH - GOODENOW- WHO- DYED - YE -30 - OF - MAY : 1676 : AGED-31-YEARS. FEBRY -18-1691.
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HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
Here lies Buried The Body of ye worthy Joshua Haynes Esq De- ceased March ye 29 1757 in the 88 year of His Age. He was a Hearty Promoter of the Public weal Whose . . Humanity Integrity and Laud- able Munificence Embalm His name. He was charitable to the Poor and at his Death gave many Gifts to Particular . . Besides 2 Thousand Pounds Old Tenor to a Publick School and ye Poor of ye Town of Sudbury.
Joshua Haynes was the donor of the fund called, in the list of bequests to Sudbury, the " Ancient Donation Fund."
HERE - LYES - YE -BODY - OF - MR -JONATHAN - SIMPSON - LATE - OF - BOSTON - WHO -DE- PARTED - THIS- LIFE - NOVR - 1st- 1773 -IN -THE- 54th YEAR - OF - HIS - AGE.
Charlestown doth claim his birth, Boston his habitation ; Sudbury hath his grave, Where was his expiration.
THE OLD BURYING-GROUND AT SUDBURY CENTRE.
A winding wall of mossy stone, Frost-flung and broken, lines A lonesome acre thinly grown With grass and wandering vines. WHITTIER.
The oldest graveyard within the present limits of Sudbury is at the Centre. It is situated in the north-easterly part of the village, along the Concord road east of the Methodist Church. An early record of this burying-place is found in the proprietor's book, and bears date Feb. 26, 1716-17. (See pages 121 and 122.) Another record referring to it is dated June 12, 1725. (See page 292.)
In this old graveyard, for a century and a half or upwards, what was mortal of many of the west side inhabitants was laid. The names of Haynes, Hunt, Parmenter, Goodnow, Brown, Moore and Howe, Bent, Rice, Richardson, Willis, Wheeler, Jones, Puffer, Hayden, Walker, and a host of others, long familiar in Sudbury, are to be found on the stones. Un- like the older part of the first yard, at what was East Sud- bury, the gravestones are here quite numerous ; but, though
573
HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
many, they do not mark all the graves, which nearly cover the entire space of that "thickly peopled ground." The enclosure is encompassed by a substantial stone wall, which within a few years has been well repaired. The place has but little shrubbery and few trees. Just beyond the road was the pound, near by or on the site of which the hearse house now stands. Within the past few years this yard has been but little used. Now and then the ground has been broken as the fragment of some ancient family has found its resting place among a group of old graves; but these in- stances are fewer and farther between as time passes by, and it will probably soon cease to be used for new burials, but remain with unbroken turf until the morning of the resurec- tion. It is a place of sacred association, and as such has been regarded by the town's people ; especially was it much visited by them during the intermission between the Sabbath services, when two sermons were preached in one day. Then they visited this quiet spot, read epitaphs, talked of the past, and derived, it may be, such lessons from the suggestive scenes as were a moral and spiritual help. Along the north- erly side of the yard is the Sudbury and Concord highway ; and ranged beside this are family tombs. One of these is that of Mr. John Goodnow, the donor of the Goodnow Library. Upon others are names of old Sudbury families. Within the yard is only one tomb and that is underground and about westerly of the Plympton monument, and sur- mounted with a small brick work upon which lies a slate stone, with these words : -
HOPESTILL BROWN, ESQ., TOMBE. 1731.
This tomb contains the remains of descendants of Dea. William Brown, an early grantee, who once resided near Nobscot. The tomb was years ago nearly full, the last burial being about 1852. This burying-ground contains several · marble monuments of some considerable size. The first one was erected in 1835, and is commemorative of the Plympton family. The graves of two, at least, of Sudbury's old min-
574
HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
isters are there, - Reverends Bigelow and Hurlbut ; the in- scriptions on the headstones are as follows : -
Sacred to the memory of Rev. Rufus Hurlbut late minister of the church and society in Sudbury. He was born in Southampton, April 21, 1787, and died May 11, 1839. Aged 52.
" Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." Jesus said " I am the resurrection and the life, he that believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live."
In memory of Rev. Jacob Bigelow, Pastor of the Church and Con- gregation at Sudbury. Born Mar. 2, 1743. Graduated at Harvard College 1766. Ordained in the Gospel Ministry 1772. After a happy and harmonious connexion with the People of his charge 44 years he died Sept 12, 1818. Æt 75 years. Habitual in piety and exemplary in his life & conduct, Cheerful and active in health, patient and resigned in sickness : beloved and respected while living, he was followed to the tomb with grateful remambrance by his relatives and the flock of his charge.
This yard is the burial place of more or less of those who participated in the Concord fight, and subsequent bat- tles and scenes of the Revolutionary period. Notable among these is the grave of Deacon Haynes, upon whose gravestone is this epitaph: -
In memory of Deacon Josiah Haynes who died in Freedom's Cause ye 19th of April 1775 : in the 79th year of his Age.
Come listen all unto this call Which God doth make to day For you must die as well as I And pass from hence away.
(For more concerning Deacon Haynes see Chapter XX.) Other stones at the graves of prominent men of those times are inscribed as follows : -
In memory of Capt. Asahel Wheeler an officer in the Revolution, Died Oct. 28 1822 aged 81 years.
In the northerly part is the grave of Capt. Jabes Puffer, marked with a slate stone slab.
Sacred to the memory of Col. Ezekial How who died Oct. 15, 1796. Ætatis 77.
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HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
Sacred in memory of Wm Rice. Esq. who died Dec. 5, 1819. Æt. 82. Whose true character will be better known at the resurrection.
Erected in memory of Mr. John Goodnow who died Oct. 13, 1863. Æt. 101. yrs. 8 mos. 14 ds " The Lord is my Shepherd."
The grave of a servant of Rev. Israel Loring has a stone there thus inscribed : -
Here Lies ye Body of Simeon ye Once Faithful & Beloved Servant of ye Rvd Mr Isra11 Loring, who Died May ye 10, 1755. In ye 22 Year of His Age.
On the stone of Capt. David Haynes, who died 1775, in his eighty-fifth year, is this inscription : -
Reader Death is a debt to Nature Due As I have paid it so must You.
On that of Mrs. Mary Willis the inscription is as fol- lows : -
Sacred to the memory of Mrs. Mary Willis who died Oct. 9, 1805. Aged 84 years.
Sickness sore long time I bore Physicians was in vain Till GOD did please to give me ease And free me from my pain.
Some of the oldest have the following inscriptions : -
Here lyes ye Body of Mr Joseph Brintnal Died June ye 28: 1731 in ye 49th year of his age.
Here lies Buried ye Body of Deac" James Haynes who Departed this life Octobr ye 15th A. D. 1732 In ye 72d year of his age.
Here lies buried ye body of Mr Abraham Woods Junr who departed this life July ye 11th A. D. 1742. Age 58 years, 2 M. & 25 D.
The oldest graves are near the centre of the yard. Proba- bly for the first few years after the lot was laid out, burials were less numerous than a little later, as the associations connected with the more ancient churchyard in the east part of the town would naturally lead to its somewhat continued use by the west side inhabitants.
576
HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
MOUNT WADSWORTH CEMETERY.
It lies upon a sunlit slope, Where, lingering late, the sunset rays Aslant their golden radiance cast, And lovingly day longest stays.
This cemetery is at South Sudbury, and formerly belonged to the Israel Howe Browne estate. It was originally quite small, having been enlarged several times. Formerly the last lot to the eastward was that of Asahel Haynes, and the northern boundary was just north of the tombs or about mid- way of the present width of the cemetery. The entrance was formerly south of Dr. Levi Goodenough's house and joined his grounds, but it was changed about the time the Wadsworth monument was erected, and now leads from the avenue that goes to the monument. In presenting the vari- ous changes that have been made in this cemetery, we quote from a paper prepared by A. J. Goodenough in 1881, and read before an audience in Sudbury Town Hall: "The cemetery was first enlarged in 1842. Miss Jerusha Howe, who died Feb. 21, 1842, had provided in her will a sum of money for a monument, which at that time seemed an extravagant outlay. Her brother, Lyman Howe, Esq., wishing to obtain a suit- able site for so costly a structure, and no satisfactory place within the old grounds being found, he selected the emi- nence north of the grounds - then a stony pasture - as being more sightly and appropriate. Mr. Browne was un- willing at first to have him occupy this place, as it involved the enlargement of the grounds, and among other difficulties did not wish to see land further north [used] for burial pur- poses without the consent of Dr. Goodenough, as it might injure his well of water. After considerable consultation on the subject, Mr. Browne yielded, Dr. Goodenough giving his consent, provided no lots should be sold any nearer his land than Miss Howe's. This increased the size of the cemetery to about double the original extent. But many years did not pass before the new ground was almost wholly occupied; Miss Howe's monument attracting much attention, and being probably the principal cause of many selecting their lots
577
HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
here. By some means, however, four lots were sold between Miss Howe's and Dr. Goodenough's land, and three of them were occupied. This proved a difficulty, as they not only interfered with the entrance to Miss Howe's lot, but Dr. Goodenough became anxious lest the water in his well should be injured by this encroachment. Accordingly he bought the three lots that had been occupied, paying the owners for new lots, as well as the expense of removing the remains, and Esquire Howe buying out the unoccupied lot. Thus they hoped to secure for the future open grounds, which might be either a grassy lawn, or be beautified with flowers, and thus render those living near free from danger in their wells of water, Mr. Brown assuring the doctor that the ground should not be used for burial purposes during his lifetime. One of these lots came so close to Miss Howe's that access could scarcely be had to it, no space being left for a walk between. This probably was the reason why Mr. Howe united in purchasing the lots. It is presumable that this was the occasion of a general agreement between the owners of lots, to make walks between their lots, for no pro- vision was made for walks when the cemetery was first laid out."
Since the paper from which we have quoted was written, the cemetery has been still further enlarged until it now ex- tends nearly back to the hill. A few years ago, there was a small growth of trees along the avenues and about more or less of the lots, but they were recently removed lest they should deface the stones. The arch at present over the east entrance to the cemetery was erected in 1879, by Mr. Israel H. Browne over the west entrance. It was completed July, 1879. There are those who remember the old man as he stood and surveyed it, leaning on his staff, his eyes filled with tears. "This will stand," he said, " when I am gone. The rest will live to see it, but I shall not be here long." He died within a few weeks.
The following is from a newspaper notice of his death : "Mr. I. H. Browne, who recently caused the arch to be erected over the entrance to Mt. Wadsworth, was suddenly stricken with paralysis Aug. 10 [1879]. He rallied for a
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HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
few days, then swiftly sank away, and in two weeks passed from earth, dying Ang. 25, proving his own words prophetic, that he might be the first from town borne beneath the arch for burial." The erection of this arch permanently affixed the name Mount Wadsworth to the grounds. After the ceme- tery came under the control of the cemetery corporation the arch was removed to its present position.
The first monument erected in this yard was that of Jerusha Howe, and placed in the first enlargement of the grounds. The next was a plain marble shaft put up by Dr. Goodenough, which was the first in the old ground. Ac- cording to an estimate made about the year 1881, the number buried in the old part of the cemetery was about one hundred and thirty-three, and in the new parts one hun- dred and thirty-nine. This estimate does not include those in the tombs, nor several graves nearly or quite levelled down. The plan of making this a common burial place, it is sup- posed, was first conceived of by Mrs. Lucy Hinckly, a daughter of Mr. I. H. Browne, whose brother had recently died and been interred in the family tomb at the Centre. About that time there also died at South Sudbury Mrs. John Browne, Sen., and Mr. Gideon Richardson and wife, who were likewise buried at Sudbury Centre. The desire to have the bodies of these friends nearer by, the fact that the old burial-ground was so full, and that the spot was suitable, and made appropriate by the grave of Captain Wadsworth and his men, all contributed to the setting apart of this ground as a cemetery. The first interments were of remains removed from the old burying yard, and were made June 20, 1835. It is supposed the bodies then removed were those of Elbridge, Melissa, and John Calvin Richardson and Edwin H. Browne ; that the latter was one of them is indicated by the following from a letter of Mrs. L. Fairbanks, daughter of I. H. Browne : "I have just been to the new cemetery, where dear little Edwin now rests. He was removed with some others some time ago from the old brick tomb where our ancestors were all buried, and now they are only a little dis- tance from our home. Lucy was the first to suggest to have Father plan this new burial place."
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HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
Mr. John Browne, Sr., the brothers Gardner, Luther, and Sewall Hunt formed a plan to build jointly three tombs. Mr. Luther Hunt, dying April 17, 1836, did not see the work completed which he had helped to plan. The tomb of Mr. John Browne, Sr., has inscribed on it J. and E. Browne. These tombs were erected in 1836. The stone was quarried at the foot of Nobscot hill, on the north-east side, and cut, hewn and fitted at the cemetery by Messrs. Damon and Pen- niman, who were the principal workmen. The granite, it is supposed, was from a hugh boulder, rather than from a ledge native to the hill. The next tomb was erected by C. G. Cut- ler, in 1839, and later, followed those of Roland Cutler and A and E. Kidder; the latter of which has been somewhat altered within the last few years. In this tomb were de- posited for a little time the remains of Captain Wadsworth's men, after they were taken up for removal to the present enclosure.
ORGANIZATION OF THE MOUNT WADSWORTH CEMETERY CORPORATION.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSCHUSETTS.
MIDDLESEX SS.
SUDBURY, Jan. 12, 1887. To the proprietors of "Mount Wadsworth Cemetery " in Sudbury, in said County.
A majority in interest of the proprietors of Mount Wadsworth Ceme- tery, having petitioned to Jonas S. Hunt, a justice of the peace in said county, that they desire to organize a corporation under the public statutes, the said justice of the peace has issued his warrant directed to the undersigned, and the substance of said warrant is: That a meeting of said proprietors will be held at the chapel in South Sudbury on Monday, the 31st day of January, A. D. 1887, at 2 o'clock P. M., for the purpose of organizing a corporation of the proprietors of Mount Wads- worth Cemetery, to elect all necessary officers of such Corporation and · to transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting. HUBBARD H. BROWN,
One of said Proprietors.
CERTIFICATE OF ORGANIZATION.
We, Rufus H. Hurlbut, President, Hubbard H. Brown, Treasurer, and Joseph C. Howe, John B. Goodnow and Nahum Goodnow, being a majority of the Board of Directors of the Mount Wadsworth Cemetery Association, in compliance with the requirements of the Public Statutes,
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HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
do hereby certify that the following is a true copy of the agreement of association to constitute said corporation, with the names of the sub- scribers thereto :
" We whose names are hereto subscribed do, by this agreement, associate ourselves with the intention to constitute a corporation accord- ing to the provisions of the eighty-second chapter of the Public Statutes of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the acts in amendment thereof and in addition thereto.
"The name by which this corporation shall be known is 'Mount Wadsworth Cemetery.'
" The purpose for which the corporation is constituted is to hold land and tombs for a place of sepulture, and such buildings as may be necessary for such purpose, with the right to sell burial lots, erect tombs, and with all privileges such corporations are entitled to under the Statutes of Massachusetts.
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