USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Woburn > Woburn records of births, deaths, and marriages from 1640 to 1873 Part II - Deaths > Part 23
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(195.) " lIere lyes Buried the Body of M'r Henry Gardner who departed this life Decem'br y" 16'th 1763 Aged 66 Years."
Henry Gardner, born Aug. 2, 1698, son of Henry (epitaph 55) and Elizabeth Gardner (epitaph 27).
(196.) " Zebediah Richardson son of M'r Zebediah & M'rs Esther Richardson died Jan'ry 4'th 1764 Aged 5 Months & 17 D's."
Zebadiah Richardson, born Aug. 21, 1763, son of Zebadiah and Esther (Swan) Richardson; married at Cambridge, April 19, 1759.
(197.) " Here lies ye Body of M'rs Lydia Snow widow to M'r Timothy Snow Who departed this Life April y" 27'th 1764 Aged 81 Years."
Lydia (Peirce) Snow, widow of Timothy Snow (epitaph 132), married Jan. 16, 1705-6; daughter of Samuel and Lydia (Bacon) Peirce, born May 25, 1683; and grand-daughter of Sergt. Thomas Peirce, of Woburn, 1643, died Nov. 6, 1683.
(198.) " Here lyes Buried the Body of M'r William Symmes who departed this life May the 24'thi 1764 Aged 86 Years."
William Symmes, born Jan. 7, 1679, son of William and Mary Symmes, and grandson of Rev. Zechariah Symmes, minister at Charlestown; married Ruth Converse (epitaph 185). He inherited two thirds of his father's large estate, and had a clothing mill where Mr. Bacon's ( Win- chester) now is. ( Vide Brooks's History Medford, 543; Sewall's Woburn, 227.)
(199.) "Ilere lyes ye Body of M'rs Betty Brooks Wife to M'r Josialı Brooks who departed this Life July y" 3'd 1764 in y"' 20'th Year of Her Age."
Betty (Flagg) Brooks, wife of Josiah Brooks, married Ang. 11, 1763. He was born Dec. 14, 1739; was son of Nathaniel and Submit Brooks,
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and grandson of Jabez (epitaph 128) and Hepzibah (Cutter) Brooks (epi- taph 124). She was "daughter of ve widow Betty Flegg" (Town Records), otherwise, Betty, second wife of Gershom Flagg, 3d, and was born in Woburn, June 4, 1745. ( Vide Bond's Watertown Genealogies, 763. )
(200.) " Here lyes Buried the Body of Lieu't Samuel Kendall who departed this life Decem'r the 13'th 1764 Aged 83 Years."
Lieut. Samuel Kendall, born Oct. 29, 1682, son of Thomas and Ruth Kendall, and grandson of Francis Kendall, family ancestor, was a car- penter, received a lieutenant's commission from Gov. Belcher, 1732; was an original proprietor of Townsend and Athol, and widely known. Eliza- beth, his first wife, died 1742 (epitaph 117). ( Vide Sewall's History, Woburn, 621, 622, etc., etc.)
(201.) " Here lyes Buried the Body of M'r Ebenezer Converse who departed this life Sep't ye 6'th 1765 in ye 56'th Year of His Age."
Ebenezer Converse, born Nov. 1. 1708, son of Capt. Robert and Mary (Sawyer) Converse (vide Sewall's History, 606), and grandson of Major James Converse (epitaph 34), was a selectman of Woburn, 1743, 1753, and 1764, and admitted to membership in Woburn First Church, November, 1758 (vide Church Manual, p. 10). He married wife, Ruth. His house was in " Carter's Quarter " (South Village), 1742. ( Vide Sewall's Woburn, 231, etc.)
(202.) " Here lyes ye Body of M'rs Judith Eames Wife to Dea'con Samuel Eames, Who departed this life January ye 10'th 1766 Aged 71 Years."
Judith (Simonds) Eames. first wife of Deacon Samuel Eames (epitaph 231), married July 2, 1717; daughter of Lieut. Benjamin and Rebecca Simonds, born Oct. 5, 1695; grand-daughter of William, Sr., and Judith (Phippen-Hayward) Simonds, married Jan. 18, 1643-44. ( Vide Sewall's Woburn, 639, etc.)
(203.)
* * Who died *5'th 1766 in
Year of Her Age.
* * Young & Gay that do pass by
* You are now So once was I
* s I am now So you must be. Prepare for death and follow me."
[Abigail Reed?] Broken portion of stone missing altogether.
(204.) " Here lyes ye Body of M'rs Sarah Winn Wife of M'r Timothy Winn who departed this life Jan'ry ye 17'th 1767 in ye 25'th Year of ter Age."
Sarah (Reed) Winn, wife of Timothy Winn, Jr., otherwise Ensign Timothy Winn, married Jan. 23, 1766; son of Deacon Timothy Winn, and grandson of Timothy Winn (epitaph 156). She was daughter, probably, of Thomas and Lydia Reed, born June 26, 1742, and grand-daughter of Lieut. Thomas Reed (epitaph 107). ( Tide Sewall's Woburn, 651; History Reed Family, 91.)
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EPITAPHS, FIRST BURIAL-GROUND.
(205.) "Here lyes ye Body of M'rs Susanna Fowle Wife to James Fowle Esq'r who departed this life Nov'br the 11'th 1767 Aged 53 Years."
Susanna (Wyman) Fowle, wife of James Fowle, Esq. (vide note, epitaph 269), married Oct. 22, 1741. She was daughter of Samuel and Susanna Wyman (? Ensign Samuel epitaph 122] and Susanna [epitaph 161] Wyman), and was born Feb. 14, 1714-15, in Woburn. "Susanna Fowle ( Mrs. James) admitted a member of Woburn First Church, Nov. 21, 1756." (Church Manual, p. 9.)
(206.) "Here 'yes ye Body of M'rs Sarah Richardson Dau'tr of M'r Noah & M'rs Phede Richardson Who departed this Life Decem'br ye 9'th 1767 Aged 22 Years."
Sarah Richardson, daughter of Noah (epitaph 181) and Phebe (Walker) Richardson (epitaph 243), born May 30, 1745.
(207.) " Samuel Kendall Son of M'r Obidiah & M'rs Elizabeth Kendall died Feb'ry 22'd 1768 in ye 4'th Year of His Age."
Samuel Kendall, born Dec. 8, 1764, son of Deacon Obadiah and Elizabeth (Miles) Kendall; grandson of Lieut. Samuel (epitaph 200) and Elizabeth Kendall (epitaph 117).
(208.) " Here lyes ye Body of M'r Isaac Brooks Who departed this life March ye 23'd 1768 in ye 38'th Year of His Age."
Isaac Brooks, born July 31, 1729, son of Nathan (epitaph 151) and Sarah (Wyman) Brooks (epitaph 131) ; married Joanna Holden (intention dated June 23, 1753), and both were admitted members of Woburn First Church, Dec. 6, 1761. ( Vide Church Manual, p. 10.)
(209.) " Here Lyes Buried the Body of M'r Ichabod Richardson who departed this Life May the 12'th 1768 in the 63'd Year of His Age."
Ichabod Richardson, born Jan. 11, 1705-6, son of Deacon Stephen (epitaph 157) and Bridget (epitaph 149) Richardson. He was a selectman of Woburn in 1756. ( Vide Sewall's History, 581.)
(210.) " 1Iere lyes y" Body of M'rs Huldah Wyman Wife of M'r Nathan Wyman Who departed this life May ye 28'th 1768 in ye 68'th Year of Her Age."
Huldah (Simonds) Wyman, wife of Nathan Wyman (epitaph 224), married Jan. 29, 1723; daughter of Lieut. Benjamin and Rebecca Simonds, born Oct. 25, 1700; grand-daughter of William, Sr., and Judith ( Phippen-Hayward) Simonds, married 1644. ( Vide Sewall's Woburn, 639, etc.)
(211.> " Here lyes y" Body of M'rs Abigail Richardson Dau'tr of M'r Noah & M'rs Phebe Richardson who departed this life July ye 23'd 1768 Aged 26 Years."
Abigail Richardson, daughter of Noah (epitaph 18I) and Phebe (Walker) Richardson (epitaph 243), born July 19, 1742.
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(212.) "Here lyes ye Body of M'rs Abigail Thompson Wife of Lieu't. Samuel Thompson who departed this life Septemb'r ye 2'd 1768 Aged 35 Years."
Abigail (Tidd) Thompson, first wife of Lieut. Samuel Thompson, other- wise Samuel Thompson, Esq. (vide Sewall's History of Woburn, 644, 445, etc. ), married May 15, 1753, Esquire Thompson, son of Samuel (epitaph 137) and Ruth (Wright) Thompson, was born Oct. 30, 1731, and died in Wo- burn, Aug. 17, 1820. She was daughter of John and Abigail Tidd, of Woburn, and was born Sept. 3, 1733.
"May 15, 1753, I, Samuel Thompson, was married to Abigail Tidd. Sept. 2, 1768, Abigail, my wife, died in a consumption, aged 35 Years." (S. Thompson's Memorandum Books.)
(213.) " Here lyes ye Bo Esther Symonds, Dau'tr * * M'r James & M'rs Anne Symonds who Decem'br ye 31'st 1768 in ye 18'th Year of Her Age."
Esther Simonds, daughter of James and Anne (Converse) Simonds, born March 2, 1750; great-great-grand-daughter of William, Sr., and Judith (Phippen-Hayward) Simonds, married 1644. ( Tide Sewall's Wo- burn, 638.)
(214.) " Here lyes Buried the Body of M'r Benjamin Brooks Who died Jan'ry 6'th 1769, in ye 52'd Year of His Age."
" A loving Husband to His Wife A tender Parent two Greatly lemented was His Death By frinds and Kindred two.
" The Lord was pleas'd to Call him Home And by a Suding Blow 'Twas By the falling of A Tree To His Long Home did Go.
" And now He slumbers in the Dust And will not rise before The Lord the Judge descends from Heaven And time shall be no more.
" Blessed are they that die in ye Lord they Rest from their labours & their works do follow them."
Benjamin Brooks, born April 14, 1717, son of Jabez (epitaph 128) and Hephzibah (Cutter) Brooks (epitaph 124) ; married Susanna Kendall, pub- lished Woburn, April 5, 1746. ( Vide History Cutter Family of New Eng- land, 36.)
Benjamin Brooks was treasurer of Woburn, 1750-51. (Sewall's His- tory, 583.) This curious inscription has been often quoted - more or less correctly - by lovers of the unique in mortuary literature.
" Jan. 6, 1769, Mr. Benjamin Brooks Killed by the fall of a tree, strangely. A jury of inquest, but all well satisfied." (S. Thompson's Memoranda.) " 1769 Benj. Brooks killed by falling a tree, the Jury well satisfied." (S. T.)
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(215.) " Here lyes ye Body of M'rs Susanna Skinner Wife of M'r Abraham Skinner who died Jan'ry y" 8'th 1769 in ye 23'd Year of Her Age.
" Behold all ye that pass by me In Silence here I ly and as you see that hear I be So certain you must dy. This Call then hear for Death Prepare Now in your youthfull days The Lord doth call upon you all How dangres is delay."
Susanna (Brooks) Skinner, wife of Abraham Skinner (marriage inten- tion dated April 20, 1769 ), was born June 4, 1747. daughter of Benjamin (epitaph 214) and Susanna (Kendall) Brooks. The year " 1769" in the epitaph should be " 1770."
(216.) " Thomas Richardson Son of M'r Jeduthun & M'rs Mary Rich- ardson died Feb 22'd 1769 Aged 26 Days."
Thomas Richardson, son of Deacon Jeduthun and Mary (Wright) Rich- ardson, born Jan. 27, 1769; grandson of Thomas (epitaph 225) and Mary (Russell) Richardson (epitaph 118). ( Vide Book of Lockes, 69.)
(217.) "Here lyes y" Body of M'rs Margery Carter Wife of Cap't Samuel Carter who departed this Life September y" 27 1769 Aged 71 Years."
" Blessed are the Dead that die in ye Lord."
Margery (Dickson) Carter, first wife of Capt. Samnel Carter, married June 30, 1719; daughter of John and Margery (Winship) Dickson, of Cambridge, and baptized there Dec. 11, 1698. Capt. Samuel Carter was born Oct. 31, 1694; son of Lieut. John (epitaph 95) and Ruth (Burnham) Carter (epitaph 84). He married, second, Mrs. Rebecca (Cutter) Hill, of Menotomy, Dec. 10 1770, and died Jan. 21, 1787, being buried in Arlington old burial-ground, where his gravestone is standing. ( Vide History Cut- ter Family of New England, 44; Harris's Cambridge Epitaphs, 80, 85.)
(218.) " Here lyes y" Body of M'rs Rebeckah Richardson Wife to M'r Thomas Richardson who departed this life April the 11'th 1771 in ye 79 Year of Her Age."
Rebecca (Wyman) Richardson, wife of Thomas Richardson (epitaph 227), married in Watertown, Sept. 29, 1713; daughter of Samuel (epitaph 89) and Rebecca (Johnson) Wyman, born Nov. 11, 1693. ( l'ide Sewall's Woburn, 654.)
(219.) "Here lyes Buried the Body of Lieu't. Jabez Carter who de- parted this Life July the 10'th 1771 Aged 71 Years.
" The Memory of y" Just is Blessed."
Lieut. Jabez Carter, born Sept. 17, 1700, son of Lieut. John (epitaph 95) and Ruth (Burnham) Carter (epitaph 84). ( Vide Sewall's History, 308, 598.) He married Abigail Manning, of Cambridge (epitaph 221). Jabez Carter, of Woburn, owned the Covenant (Cambridge) Church, Ang. 30, 1724.
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(220.) " Here lies Interred ye Body of M'rs Abigail Fox Consort to M'r William Fox & Dau'tr of Deacon Samuel Wyman of this Town) who departed this Life Octobe'r y" 26'th 1771 in Ye 28'th Year of Her Age."
" Ah, Behold how one does die being young & full in bloom. another dies being very old Whom age commands to remove home. O cruel Death, Ah what awaits thy rage thou shows Respect to Virtue nor to Age."
Abigail (Wyman) Fox. first wife of Capt. William Fox, married June 6, 1765; daughter of Deacon Samuel and Abigail (Hartwell) Wyman (epitaph 222), born April 30, 1744.
" Oct. 1771, William Fox's wife died very sudden." (S. Thompson's Memoranda.)
(221.) "Here lyes ye Body of M'rs Abigail Carter Widow to Lieu't Jabez Carter who departed this life February ye 3'd 1772 Aged 73 Years."
" The Memory of y" Just is Blessed."
Abigail (Manning) Carter, widow of Lieut. Jabez Carter (epitaph 219) married July 2, 1723, in Cambridge. (See Paige's Cambridge, 602.)
(222.) " Here lies Buried y" Body of M'rs Abigail Wyman Consort of Deacon Samuel Wyman who departed this Life August 31'st 1772 in ye 53'd Year of Her Age."
" IIere lies y" Wife of my Youth ye desire of my Eyes."
Abigail (Hartwell) Wyman, first wife of Deacon Samuel Wyman, married Dec. 30. 1742; daughter of Deacon Joseph (epitaph 121) and Ruhamah (Cutter) Hartwell (epitaph 1×2). ( Vide History Cutter Family of New England, 37.) Deacon Samuel Wyman, her husband, was a promi- nent Revolutionary patriot and civil magistrate of Woburn, where he was born April 4. 1717, and died June 14, 1787. He was son of Ensign Samuel (epitaph 122) and Susanne (Simonds) Wyman (epitapli 161); chosen cleacon of Woburn Church, 1764, to which he and his wife, Abigail, were admitted to membership, Aug. 29, 1756 (Church Manual, p. 9) ; selectman of Woburn, 1766, 1768, 1769, 1770-75, 1780, etc .; treasurer, 1775, 1776; representative to Provincial Congress, 1774, 1775, 1776, 1777, etc., etc. Dec. 12, 1777, he married Mary Green, widow, being the third of her four hus- bands. ( Vide Vinton Memorial, 408; Sewall's Woburn. 656, etc.)
(223.) " Here lyes ye Body of M'rs Elizabeth Wyman Wife of M'r Ben- jamiu Wyman Jun'r who departed this life Jan. ye 6'th 1773 in ye 30'th Year of Her Age."
Elizabeth (Swain) Wyman, only wife of Benjamin Wyman, Jr., married Oct. 31, 1765, in Woburn. Mr. Thomas B. Wyman, of Charlestown, Mass., well known as an antiquary and genealogist, in a letter to the compiler of this collection, Oct. 18, 1873, states that she was daughter of Benjamin Swain and Sarah, daughter of Oliver Appleton, of Ipswich, the second
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wife of Benjamin Wyman, Sr. Benjamin Wyman, Jr., died July 6, 1774, son of Benjamin (epitaph 229) and first wife, Esther Richardson (epitaph 154), born Jan. 1, 1740.
(224.) "In Memory of M'r Nathan Wyman, Who departed this life February the 4'th A. D. 1773 in y" 78'th Year of His Age."
" He was a kind Husband
A tender Parent A Good Master a Faithful Friend A Generous Neighbour Charitable to the Poor. Prudent Diligent & Frugal in his worldly Affairs A promoter of peace in Church and State Upright and Honest in all his Dealings with men Constant Sincere & devout in the Worship of God Useful in Life Peaceful & Happy in Death. Mark the Perfect man & Behold y" Upright For the End of that man is peace."
Nathan Wyman, born Jan. 8, 1695-96, son of Sergt. John and Hannah (Farrer) Wyman, of Woburn; married Huldah Simonds (epitaph 210); was a wheelwright; a subscriber of the covenant of Woburn First Church, in 1756; ancestor of Nathan Wyman, Esq., the present (1872) town clerk of Woburn. ( Vide Sewall's History, 287, 288, 536, 657.)
(225.) " Here lies Buried the Body of M'r Thomas Richardson who departed this life June the 13'th 1773 in y" 67'th Year of His Age."
Thomas Richardson, born Nov. 19, 1706, son of Samuel (epitaph 170) and Susanna (epitaph 94) Richardson. He married first, Mary Russell (epitaph 118), and second, Sarah Brooks (epitaph 258).
(226.) "Here lyes ye Body of Nathan Eames Son of M'r Jacob and M'rs Rachel Eames who departed this life July y" 21'st 1773 in ye 21'st Year of His Age."
Nathan Eames, born April 11, 1753; son of Jacob and Rachel (Wyman) Eames; grandson of Deacon Samuel (epitaph 231) and Judith (Simonds) Eames (epitaph 202), also of Nathan (epitaph 224) and Huldah (Simonds) Wyman (epitaph 210). ( Vide Sewall's Woburn, 610.)
(227.) " Here lies Buried the Body of M'r Thomas Richardson who departed this life January the 12 th 1774 in y" 93'rd Year of His Age."
Thomas Richardson, born Sept. 25, 1684, son of Samuel (epitaph 43) and Sarah (Hayward) Richardson (epitaph 66); married Rebecca Wyman (epi- taph 218). Ile was in Lovewell's Fight, 1725 (vide Sewall's Woburn, 195, 203, etc. , and was one of the few who escaped any considerable injury. " Jan. 1774, Mr. Thomas Richardson died aged ninety, or more." (S. Thompson's Memoranda.)
(228.) " Here lies Interred ye Body of M'r Nathan Brooks the Only Son of M'r Nathan and M'rs Elizabeth Brooks who departed this life April the 24'th 1774 in ye 20'th Year of His Age."
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EPITAPHS, FIRST BURIAL-GROUND.
" As man perhaps the moment of his breath Receives the lurking principle of Death
The young disease that must subdue at length
Grows with his Growth and strengthens with his Strength."
Nathan Brooks, born Jan. 26, 1754, son of Nathan (epitaph 183) and Elizabeth (Richardson) Brooks. ( Vide epitaph 245.) " April 26, 1774, Nathan Brooks died, consumption." (S. Thompson's Memoranda.)
(229.) "Here lies Buried the Body of Cap't Benjamin Wyman who departed this Life May the 26'th 1774 in ye 68'th Year of His Age."
" The Memory of the Just is Blessed."
Capt. Benjamin Wyman, born Nov. 13, 1706, son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Hancock) Wyman; grandson of Francis Wyman (epitaph 23) ; married Esther Richardson (epitaph 154) ; was treasurer of Woburn from 1752 to 1758, inclusive ; likewise in 1774, the year he died. ( Vide Sewall's History, 656, etc.) " May 26, 1774, Capt. Benj'n Wyman died, fever." (S. Thompson's Memoranda. )
Thomas B. Wyman, of Charlestown, well known as the author of a MS. Wyman Genealogy, embracing the Woburn families of that name, says, in a letter, Oct. 18, 1873. that " Earl Wyman had Journal of Capt. Benj. Wy- man, b. 1706; beginning 1729-30, affords lengthy details, a great deal to go to type for narration." Mr. Wyman also says : " I do not know how to treat these past worthies biographically other than by a summary method - maintaining that they were worthy in their day and generation - ex- emplary in a measure of grateful consideration for what they did - serv- ing to constitute and continue the inevitable current of human life to people the present time and provide the connection for all future."
(230.) " Here lies the Body of M'rs Jemima Brooks Wife of M'r Eben- ezer Brooks who departed this life Nov'br the 5'th 1774 in y" 57'th Year of Her Age."
Jemima (Locke) Brooks, wife of Ebenezer Brooks, married Oct. 28, 1736; daughter of William and Jemima (Russell) Locke. born July 4, 1718. (Book of Lockes, 23, 37.) Ebenezer Brooks, her husband, was son of Jabez (epitaph 128 ) and Hephzibah (Cutter) Brooks (epitaph 124), and born June 1, 1712. ( Vide History Cutter Family of New England, 36.)
"Nov. 4, 1774, Ebenezer Brooks's wife died - bloody flux." (S. Thomp- son's Memoranda. )
(231.) " Here lies Buried the Body of Deacon Samuel Eames Who Departed this Life Janu'ry the 20'th 1775 in ye 84'th Year of His Age."
Deacon Samuel Eames, born Sept. 8, 1692, son of Samuel and Mary Eames, and grandson of Robert and Elizabeth Eames, who removed to Woburn from Charlestown about 1666; married, first, Judith Simonds (epitaplı 202); second, Joanna Fassett, of Bedford, July 4, 1770; was chosen deacon of Woburn Church in 1745; styled lieutenant, 1741; was one of the building comm ttee of the third house of worship of Woburn First Parish, 1747, frame raised 1748; and, altogether, an active and influential citizen. ( Vide Sewall's Woburn, 192, 309, 536, 610, etc.)
" January 20. 1775, Deacon Samuel Eames died, old age." (S. Thomp- son's Memoranda.)
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EPITAPHS, FIRST BURIAL-GROUND.
(232.) " Here lies Buried the Body of M'r Daniel Thompson who was slain in Concord Battle on ye 19'th of April 1775, Aged 40 Years."
" Here Passenger Confined Reduced to dust lies what was once Religious wise & Just The cause he engaged did animate him high Namely Religion & dear Liberty. Steady & warm in Liberties defense True to his Country Loyal to His Prince Though in his Breast a Thirst for glory fir'd Couragious in his Country's cause expired.
Although he's gone his name Embalm'd shall be And had in Everlasting Memory."
Daniel Thompson, born March 9, 1734, son of Samuel (epitaph 137) and Ruth ( Wright) Thompson, married Phebe Snow, Oct. 29, 1760, daughter of I-aac (epitaph 242) and Phebe (Richardson) Snow, of Woburn. (Tide Sewall's History, 641; Vinton Memorial, 384.) Daniel Thompson was admitted member of Woburn First Church, Oct. 7, 1759; and Phebe Thompson, wife of Daniel, was admitted member of the same, March 11, 1764. ( Vide Church Mannal, p. 10.) He lived in Central Square, where the late C'apt. John I. Richardson's place is. On the morning of April 19, 1775, he rode to North Woburn to rouse the people to re-ist the foe. He declared his determination to oppose the enemy, even if he alone were to do it. Early in the afternoon during the retreat of the enemy from Concord, he was shot dead in Lincoln by a British grenadier. His remains and those of Asahel Porter, the other Woburn man who fell on that eventful day, were interred in Woburn on Friday, April 21, follow- ing. Before the interment, Rev. Josiah Sherman, of Woburn, delivered a very suitable sermon and prayer. A multitude of persons who assem- bled on the occasion from Woburn and the neighboring towns attended the remains to the grave. ( Tide Vinton Memorial, 384, 385, note; Froth- ingham's Siege of Boston, 74; Sewall's Woburn, 362, etc.)
" Our party had but three or four killed in this skirmish; one was my brother Daniel Thompson, who was much lamented and who behaved very valiantly." (S. Thompson's Memoranda.)
No stone to the memory of Asahel Porter in this yard exists; whether one was ever erected is very doubtful. The following few particulars regarding this individual may not be out of place. [A stone was erected April 21, 1875, by the G. A. R.]
He was the son of William Porter, and was shot down by the British in the early part of the day on the Common at Lexington. Having pre- viously been taken prisoner on their march, he was killed by his captors as he was endeavoring to effect his escape. ( Vide Sewall's Woburn, 362; Frothingham's Siege of Boston, 64.)
COPY OF MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE.
" PROVINCE OF
SEABROOK, Oct. 3, 1773. NEW HAMT HIRE S
" This may certify whom it may concer .. , that Mr Asahel Porter & Mrs. Abigail Brooks, both of Salem in the county of Essex, Province of Massa- chusetts Bay, are legally married by Mr. Samuel Perley, A. M , and pastor of Church att Seabrook.
" Test. JOHN BROOKS, TIMOTHY BROOKS, MARY KNOWLTON."
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EPITAPHS, FIRST BURIAL-GROUND.
Mr. Samuel Perley's parish of Seabrook, New Hampshire, touching the seacoast and lying on the Massachusetts border, seems to have been a sort of Gretna Green for persons in this State a century ago. An instance in point is cited in History Cutter Family of New England, p. 48.
Abigail Brooks, married, as above, to Asahel Porter, "both of Salem," Oct. 3, 1773, was daughter of Capt. Timothy and Ruth (Wyman) Brooks, of Woburn, where she was born June 18, 1756, and baptized March 20, 1757. Her father was son of John and Mary (Richardson) Brooks, and grandson of John and Eunice (Mousall) Brooks, whose father, Henry Brooks, came to Woburn from Concord. As widow of Asahel Porter, killed at Lexington fight, April 19, 1775, as before stated, she married Ephraim Peirce (son of Jacob) (intention dated Nov. 30, 1782). Peirce died May 16, 1810, aged 52. Her deatlı occurred Jan. 9, 1840, at the advanced age of 84. (Dr Benjamin Cutter's MS.)
" Israel (Asahel) Porter was taken prisoner by the British when they were marching up in the morning. In attempting to escape from them he was killed and his body was found close by the stone wall below (Rufus) Merriam's garden, east of the (Lexington) Meeting house." (MS. narrative of Lexington battle by Levi Harrington, an eye-witness, 1846.) (See Middlesex Journal, April 26, 1873.)
" A Reminiscence. - Dr. Loring in his address at Lexington on the 19th, referred to Asahel Porter. This has reminded a gentleman of Woburn who was present last Wednesday, of an account of the death of Porter. It seems that Asahel Porter and - Richardson set out on the morning of the battle to go to market. Richardson lived where Capt. Woodberry's store in Woburn now stands. They started for Boston and their route lay through West Cambridge. They were mounted on horses with their market stuff in panniers. Near West Cambridge they were halted by the advancing column of the British. In spite of their asser- tion that they were peaceable citizens, they were made prisoners and made to accompany the troops to Lexington. Here the British set them at liberty on condition they should go peaceably about their business. Richardson, walked off slowly, but Porter, after walking a few steps, started to run, when he was shot by the soldiers." (Middlesex County Journal, Saturday, May 6, 1871.)
(233.) " In Memory of Sybil Carter Dau'tr of M'r Jonathan & M'rs Sybil Carter who died Aug'st 27'th 1775 Aged 2 Years & 6 Months."
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