A Very Grave Blog

New Worst Caretaker Award: South Berwick, Maine

2009-06-20T19:09:00.002-04:00

The other day I received a phone call from a woman in tears. She was sad and angry because a piece of her families history had been destroyed. The town was indifferent, and had little interest in protecting something it seems to think of as having little value.

History is made of many heart beats, and when those hearts die, they go to rest in cemeteries. They and the historic artworks made during their time to mark their places are precious and deserve to be recognized. Too many people responsible for protecting these places don't realize this lesson.

The cemetery of the Free Will Baptist Church was severely damaged recently, and much to the dismay of many a descendant and local South Berwick historian many of their forefathers' gravestones have been lost.

If you'd like to help with your voice, contact the town manager of South Berwick through their contact form or call them at (207) 384-3300 or write them at 180 Main Street, South Berwick, ME 03908.

Upcoming Event: Walking Tour of Medfield's Vine Lake Cemetery

2009-06-11T16:55:00.001-04:00

Walking Tour of Medfield's Vine Lake Cemetery, June 13th

On Saturday afternoon, June 13th, Vine Lake Preservation Trust will sponsor a two-hour walking tour in Vine Lake Cemetery. Starting at 2:00 pm, “Discover Vine Lake Cemetery” will be an overview of landscapes, landmarks, and legacies within the cemetery which dates from 1651.
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●What date is on the oldest marked gravestone?
●Which historical family has the most gravestones?
●In which year did the most burials occur? What were the causes of death in that year?
●What three distinctive landscape or gravescape styles can you identify?
●At which gravestone is buried the 4th great-grandfather of Edgar Rice Burroughs, the creator of “Tarzan?”
●What’s the view from inside the public holding tomb?
●Which of Medfield’s 13 founders are buried here?
●What geological features can you identify?
●Where are the paupers’ graves?
You are welcome to bring water and wear walking shoes. Plan to meet at the lake. Parking is on the paved roads within the cemetery; please so not park on the grass.
Admission is $5 a person, students under 16 free. A rain date is Saturday, June 20th, at 2:00 pm.

Inquires are welcome at vinelakepreservationtrust@verizon.net.
More information is available at www.vinelakepreservationtrust.org.

Worst Attended Cemetery Award: Newburyport

2009-06-11T16:20:00.005-04:00

I've just returned from giving an individual tour of the Old Hill Burying Ground in Newburyport, Massachusetts. This small, seaside city is normally known for its beauty and rich history. Aside from the fact the grass has yet to be mowed, that trees and other plants are overgrown and overtaking gravestones...
that some of this has died and come crashing and smashing down then left to rot...
that there are twice as many broken gravestones since the last time I visited...
that the place is full of numerous animal holes located just where you forget to look where you're going...
The city has left this resting place of their founding fathers derelict, disregarded and disrespected. I'm a little disgusted.

Upcoming Cemetery Events

2009-05-26T13:24:00.002-04:00

Milk Row Cemetery Tour, Somerville Massachusetts

The City of Somerville and Historic Somerville, Inc. will continue to celebrate May as Preservation Month with a tour of historic Milk Row Cemetery, 1804- about 1900. This cemetery was founded by Samuel Tufts on his farm in what was then Charlestown. It is quite small, but contains an extraordinary memorial to those who died from Somerville in the Civil War. The memorial was dedicated in 1863, prior to the war's end.

Milk Row Cemetery is located in Somerville, at 439 Somerville Avenue, next to Demoulas' Market Basket. The tour will last about an hour.

Forest Hill Cemetery, East Derry New Hampshire
Gravestone Conservation Workshop

Mark your calendars!!!! Headstone Conservation Workshop with Jonathan Appell will be held: Saturday, June 13 from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Visit the Forest Hill website for more information.

Hilldale Cemetery, Haverhill MA Fundraiser

2009-05-11T16:07:00.001-04:00

The Hilldale Cemetery with the help of the Essex County Ghost Project and the Pelham Paranormal Research will hold a ghost talk and ghost hunt on Saturday May 16th starting at 6:00pm at the Sons Of Italy in Haverhill, Massachusetts. This night will feature to well known Paranormal Historian and Psychic Fionna Broom who will give a ghost hunting class. After the glass you will be able to use some of those skills you learned at Hilldale Cemetery. Nationaly known UK Psychic Gavin Cromwell will take you around Hilldale cemetery and show you all the hot spots in the cemetery with help from Fiona Broom. If you have any questions please feel free to call Thomas Spitalere at 978-289-8271 or thomasspitalere@yahoo.com. All the money raised will go to the restoration of Hilldale Cemetery.

Union Cemetery

2009-05-05T14:04:00.005-04:00

The warm weather is finally here and I'm out and about again photographing cemeteries. Two weeks ago I met up with Gravestone Girl Brenda in the Old North Burying Ground in Ipswich, Massachusetts. The photos have been uploaded to http://gravematter.smugmug.com/gallery/917218_LXdEo#41897550_moLC9 and are at the end of the gallery. She showed me how they make an impression of a gravestone carving to use later in making their casts.

Last Sunday I revisited Union Cemetery in Amesbury, Massachusetts in another attempt to make a dent in photographing this huge cemetery. I'll need a couple more trips. The new photos have been added to http://gravematter.smugmug.com/gallery/848855_xmJEp#38152639_CHTGg and are at the end of the gallery.

Thanks to Renee C. of Durham, NH for your donation!

Workshop showcases gravestone restoration

2008-07-14T16:50:00.001-04:00

BY AMIE PLUMMER
aplummer@fosters.com

Article Date: Monday, July 14, 2008

EJ Hersom/Staff photographer Jonathan Appell explains how gravestones are made during a gravestone restoration workshop Saturday in Portsmouth.

PORTSMOUTH — The Ports-mouth Cemetery Committee held a gravestone restoration workshop Saturday, drawing about 20 people.

The workshop covered restoration techniques explained by professional gravestone conservator and monument mason Jonathan Appell of Connecticut.

He spent the afternoon with attendees at the North Cemetery going over proper gravestone cleaning techniques, teaching them how to reset a leaning stone before it snaps and how to handle broken gravestones.

Jen Marcelais, Portsmouth Cemetery Committee member, said this is the first workshop of its kind the committee has put together.

"I think it was a good idea to get a professional out here to let us know the dos and don'ts of keeping up with the grave sites," she said. "We have people here who are part of cemetery committees in different towns and those who are just interested in this topic."

Appell, who owns New England Cemetery Services, has worked at many sites across the region.

One of the most common questions he gets asked about gravestone restoration is what to do when a stone has begun to deteriorate.

"Many people think carvings on a grave stone can simply be redone once they have worn away or deteriorated," he said. "In fact, that is probably the worst thing you can do. It won't last, and will just open up the pores and make things worse."

He said many gravestones are sealed after they have been carved, and recarving an engraved message will break the seal and allow the elements to wear away the stone faster than it normally would.

During the workshop, he demonstrated how to reset a stone after it has broken off at the base and how to stand up stones that have been leaning and are in danger of breaking.

"It is really important to have the right kind of tools for these restorations and know what type of stone you are working with," he said. "Besides, some of these things are really heavy."

Another common question is about how to clean a gravestone, Appell said.

"Sometimes cleaning the stone may not be an option without making it look worse," he said. "You need to be extremely gentle, or you might remove some of the stone in the cleaning process."

He suggests examining the stone before doing anything to see if it's cleanable. If the stone shows signs of flaking, chipping, scaling or other forms of deterioration, cleaning the stone will do more harm than good.

Appell's website is www.gravestonerestoration.info. For more information on the Portsmouth Cemetery Committee, call 436-5096 or visit their website at www.portsmoutholdgraves.org.

Copyright © 2008 Geo. J. Foster Company.

City's historic cemetery is in grave condition, Aim is to restore 17th-century Revere site (Revere, Massachusetts)

2008-06-15T09:17:00.002-04:00

Revere official Nicholas Bua at the city’s historic Rumney Marsh Burial Ground. (Globe Staff Photo / Dina Rudick)

By Katheleen Conti Globe Staff / January 3, 2008

When most people consider Revere's historical treasures, they might think first of Revere Beach and its pride in being "America's first public beach."

But few are aware that Revere's only burial ground, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, is more than 300 years old and is the final resting place of its early residents and war veterans.

Last Memorial Day, Nicholas Bua, the city's director of Veteran Services, and City Councilor Ira Novoselsky walked among the cracked, broken, and toppled headstones, making their way past the large trees with overgrown roots to place American flags on the graves of Revolutionary War and Civil War veterans.

They were appalled at what they saw.

"I said to Ira, 'This is in deplorable condition,' " Bua said. "It's neglect. It's just out of the way, out of sight, out of mind. . . . It's heartbreaking to see these graves and the condition of the cemetery."

The city has not paid much attention to the Olde Rumney Marsh Burial Ground, which is in a residential neighborhood on Butler Street, Novoselsky said.

"All the city is doing is cutting the grass, but the trees are overgrown," Novoselsky said. "Everybody involved in it said it's a city thing, but it's not a top priority. I said, 'Well, we have to make it a top priority.' "

Bua and Novoselsky tapped Jeff Pearlman, a history buff and former Revere school teacher, and Nicholas Catinazzo, the city's public health director, to form a cemetery restoration committee about six months ago. They estimated it would cost about $100,000 for an entire makeover - removing overgrown trees, fixing the brick walkway, and repairing the stone wall and entrance gate, which is unhinged. The last time the grounds were restored was in 1975 by the Revere Historical and Cultural Commission, according to City Clerk John Henry.

The committee, along with the Revere Society for Cultural and Historic Preservation, has created a bank account to accept donations, and has been selling $5 commemorative pins to raise funds. The City Council has agreed to commit $15,000 a year for the next three years toward the restoration. But as soon as the council vote was taken, concerns arose about the feasibility of such a commitment, given a warning to Mayor Thomas G. Ambrosino from local lawmakers that the city might not get much local aid from the state in the next fiscal year.

"It would be my goal to put it in the budget, but next fiscal year is the one I'm most worried about now," Ambrosino said. "If we get the same amount in aid as we did this year, or less, it'll be a disaster. Layoffs would be likely."

City Councilor George Rotondo, who voted in favor of the $15,000 annual appropriation, said he is not optimistic that the city will come through.

"We're coming on the heels of what appears to me to be a deficit next year, so to commit $15,000 a year seems like a lot," Rotondo said. "I feel comfortable doing it for the first year, but after that, we need to look at private sources. I'm in favor of $15,000 for this year, but not after that."

Novoselsky said Ambrosino's "got to be able to finagle a bagel and work things out," because "$15,000 isn't a lot of money." Still, the restoration committee is preparing for a major fund-raising effort. It has secured a $5,000 grant from Shore Educational Collaborative for the production of a promotional film telling the history of the city's only cemetery.

"I hate to say it, and, as a historian, it makes me angry, there just aren't enough people that are knowledgeable that we even have the Rumney Marsh Burial Grounds," Pearlman said. "It's not just one of the first, but [it's] the only one within the confines of the city of Revere. The kids and parents have no idea. Revere Beach takes up all the attention."

From 1624 to 1738, the village of Rumney Marsh was part of Boston. In 1690, in the midst of a smallpox breakout, Boston selectmen ordered that "all persons dying at Rumney Marsh, and parts adjacent, of small-pox" be buried in that area instead of being carried south through Boston, creating a hazard to residents there, according to research done by Henry. It wasn't until 1743 that Chelsea adopted what would become the Rumney Marsh Burial Ground. In 1871, North Chelsea, which included the burial ground, adopted the name of Revere.

Many of the local Revolutionary War veterans and the city's first residents buried there have names familiar to most area residents, since many streets and neighborhoods in Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop are named for them. Of the close to 150 people buried there, the most noted would be Deane Winthrop, son of John Winthrop, first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Also buried are seven Colonial Wars (1675-1763) veterans, 20 Revolutionary War veterans, four veterans of the War of 1812, and 13 Civil War veterans, according to research prepared by Henry. Along the Butler Street wall, an estimated 16 slaves and former slaves are buried.

The oldest gravestone in the burial ground marks the resting place of Mary Smith, who died in 1693, while the latest burial was that of Lewis L. Bullard in 1929. According to Henry's research, Rumney Marsh is the fourth-oldest burial ground in Suffolk County, which is why Catinazzo said the city needs to preserve it as local history.

"Kids go in there at night, drinking, doing some vandalism," Catinazzo said. "We want to see it done right. It's amazing when you put this out, people just think it's a cemetery, but when they see the history, they get excited."

Among those buried

Deane Winthrop, son of John Winthrop, who was the first governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony. The seaside town is named for Deane Winthrop.
Mary Smith, oldest recorded remains at the Rumney Marsh Burial Ground. Smith died in 1693 and was initially buried under or near the site of the Church of Christ at Carey Avenue and Beach and Eustis streets. In 1910, the remains of many early settlers, including Smith, were removed from the church site and reburied at Rumney Marsh.
The Rev. Thomas Cheever, whose son, Joshua, deeded in his will the Rumney Marsh Burial Ground to the town of Chelsea in 1751. That part of Chelsea is now Revere.
Deacon John Sale, a delegate to the Provincial Congress and a representative to the Massachusetts General Court. His farm, Beachmont, played an important role in the first naval battle of the Revolutionary War, known as the Battle of Chelsea Creek, in 1775.
Lieutenant Thomas Pratt, who owned a farm once belonging to the estate of Sir Henry Vane, a Massachusetts governor. In 1734, at his own expense, Pratt built a tidewater mill, where the famous Slade's Spice Mill would later stand. The Prattville section of Chelsea is named for him.
Samuel Sprague, who led three companies of Minutemen during the Revolution.
The Rev. Phillips Payson, known as the "fighting parson," who actively participated in the Battle of Lexington in 1775.

SOURCE: The Rumney Marsh Burial Ground Renovation Committee

Katheleen Conti can be reached at kconti@globe.com.
© 2008 NY Times Co. / The Boston Globe

View this burying ground at Gravematter.com

New Amesbury Photos: Salisbury Plains and Old Corner Cemetery

2008-05-11T22:01:00.007-04:00

Today I stopped by to reshoot Salisbury Plains Cemetery. It's been a few years since my last visit so I thought I'd update the photos and check out the condition. It hasn't improved much, there are still lots of broken stones and some landscaping to be done. But there were some interesting replacement markers that had been placed since my last visit. They were placed next to the original stones for a few of the early Clough family members and each had carvings that reflected the style of the carvers at the time of their death. On the back of each was a small plaque that noted the people whom the gravestones were donated in memory of on behalf of their family. I thought it was a great concept, both for helping to restore the cemetery and give a lasting gift in memory of a lover of genealogy who has passed on. View all the latest and the old photos at http://www.gravematter.com/cem-ma-amesbury2.asp.

I also stopped by the Old Corner Cemetery for the first time. It was established in 1772 and has many interesting gravestones. But it's in horrible shape. The grounds are littered with broken stones. Some are stacked up in piles. But it's filled with the old ancestors of Amesbury along with some unique carvings and Revolutionary War veterans. View all photos at http://www.gravematter.com/cem-ma-amesbury5.asp.

Last weekend I came across the Bridge St. Cemetery in West Newbury, MA. I took some photos but the older gravestones were shadowed so I'll have to go back another day. They're at http://www.gravematter.com/cem-ma-westnewbury.asp

2007-10-18T11:53:00.000-04:00

Help Save the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

It's hard to believe, but officials at Arlington National Cemetery plan to replace the original Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with a new replica solely because of repairable cosmetic imperfections. This 1932 monument is nationally significant and eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

The 48-ton marble block has two nonstructural cracks which pose no threat to visitors or the historic structure. Surprisingly, federal administrators want the replica carved from new stone that experts agree will likely again crack along its grain just as marble does naturally when exposed to the elements. Repair and proper care of the Tomb (re-grouting the cracks and using only gentle cleaning methods instead of high-pressure power-washing) is possible and is the preferred method for fixing the existing cracks, as other marble monuments such as the Lincoln Memorial were repaired.

Stone preservation expert Mary Oehrlein explained this method of restoration to the staff of the Senate Armed Services Committee on September 13, 2007, saying, "The existing monument can easily be repaired, as was done 17 years ago, using conventional conservation methods to re-grout the cracks. Once repaired, the fault lines would be virtually invisible from the public viewing areas." (Read more of Ms. Oerhlein's comments to the committee staff here.)

Once the National Trust learned about the ill-considered replacement plan, we raised the alarm with Members of Congress and tried to consult with those who administer the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. In response to our concerns and your advocacy efforts, the Senate adopted an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (H.R. 1585) sponsored by Senator Akaka (D-HI) and cosponsored by Senator Webb (D-VA) that would delay any hasty action and require a report to be submitted to Congress on the plans for replacing the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The bill is still being debated and awaits full passage in the upcoming weeks.

Although the Senate amendment is a tremendous step forwarded in helping to save the Tomb Monument, your help is needed now to weigh in with decision-makers to help save the memorial.

Contact John Metzler, superintendent of Arlington National Cemetery and ask him to repair rather than replace the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Make a donation to support this campaign.

Rochester burial site official defies police order, faces charges

2007-10-17T08:23:00.001-04:00

By AARON SANBORN
Democrat Staff Writer

ROCHESTER — Michelle Smith says she was just doing her job when she refused a police officer's order to move her vehicle from a construction site on Wednesday afternoon and was arrested.

She claimed that construction crews in the Washington Street area had parked their bulldozers and were digging in a cemetery that is protected by the city and she wouldn't budge from the property.

Smith, the vice president of The Society for the Preservation of Rochester Burial Grounds, is facing misdemeanor charges of reckless operation, disorderly conduct and criminal trespass.

On Thursday, Police Chief David Dubois said it appears the arrest stems from how Smith conducted herself and not what she was trying to accomplish.

"They appear to be a result of behavior," Dubois said. "The officer forwarded the charges to the prosecutor and it will now be processed through the courts."

The piece of land Smith was protecting is a burial ground at the corner of Washington Street and Woodlawn Road. In December, the city confirmed the land was a burial ground after archaeologists from Independent Archaeological Consulting, LLC of Portsmouth discovered graves there.

Since then, the city has told construction crews working on the six-acre site owned by The Flatley Company of Massachusetts to not work in that area. However, Smith claims she saw construction crews working in the area on Wednesday afternoon. The cemetery site is across the street from a retail development project.

Smith says her husband was driving by the property at 3:30 p.m. and saw bulldozers parked on it and working in the area. He returned to their Janet Street home and told Smith. She called city officials and drove to the site.

She said she rolled down her window and spoke with a police officer working traffic control.

"I told him 'there's a cemetery there, you need to tell them to stop digging'," Smith said.

The officer said he didn't know of a cemetery, according to Smith. She pointed to the area and told the officer she was going to drive over there.

Smith parked her SUV just before a small blue flag that marks the beginning of the cemetery. She said there were nine such flags marking the area along with a wooden stake. She stood above the flag.

"I figured that was the only way to stop a bulldozer from coming back down towards the cemetery because they're not going to hit a car," Smith said.

The officer told Smith to move several times but she refused. He then gave her the ultimatum 'leave or be arrested,' according to Smith.

"I told him if you tell them to stop driving on the cemetery and stop digging it, I will move," she said. "He said no, so I said 'then I'm not moving."

Shortly after four police cruisers arrived, and Smith said she asked officers not to arrest her until officials from the city arrived. But Smith was taken to the Police Station and booked. She was released on $1,000 personal recognizance bail and had to pay a $30 bail fee.

On her way home, Smith said crews from Public Works were staking the area and putting up an orange snow fence around it.

"If there wasn't a cemetery there, then why was public works staking it off," she said.

The owner of the construction company, Severino Trucking, is out of town and was unable to be reached.

City Engineer Tom Willis said on Thursday afternoon he was aware of complaints about construction crews being near the site and spoke with the project manager.

"They're essentially going to stay away," Willis said. "They know about the location and are going to work around it."

Richard Longo, the president of The Society for the Preservation of Rochester Burial Grounds, wants the charges against Smith dropped.

"They arrested her for doing what she was supposed to be doing, protecting the graves," Longo said.

Longo said the society plans on placing a plaque on the site with the names of the 19 members of the French-Hussey family buried there.

Smith is scheduled to appear at Rochester District Court on May 21. She plans to represent herself.

"My goal is to protect that area and its history," she said. "The people buried there belong to somebody, they should be given the respect they deserve."

Arrest of Rochester cemetery preservationist leads to more charges and Legal defense fund has been set up

2007-10-17T08:10:00.000-04:00

Michelle Smith, Vice President of The Society for the Preservation of Rochester Burial Grounds, 45, of Rochester, New Hampshire, a self proclaimed preservationist, is facing charges of criminal trespass and disorderly conduct for refusing a police officer's order to move her vehicle from a burial site near a construction project had two new charges added during Smith's court appearance for trial at Rochester District Court on July 31. She now also faces a reckless conduct charge and a violation for disobeying a police officer. She entered a plea of not guilty to all charges. The cemetery site, at the corner of Washington Street and Woodlawn Road, is in the area of a retail development project owned by the Flatley Company of Massachusetts.

"Those are the charges we intended to bring forward all along," said Lt. Joseph Fricano, police prosecutor.

Smith was scheduled for trial on July 31 but her attorneys, Samdperil & Welsh of Exeter, asked for and were granted a continuance.

A new trial date has been set for October 10. Smith, was arrested on the afternoon of April 25 when Smith saw construction crews in the Washington Street area had parked their heavy equipment on and were digging in a cemetery that is protected by the city. Her arraignment of her original charges was in May.

The cemetery site, at the corner of Washington Street and Woodlawn Road, is in the area of a retail development project owned by the Flatley Company of Massachusetts.

In an effort to prevent further digging Smith drove to the site, rolled down her window and spoke with a police officer working traffic control. Smith said she told the officer that crews were digging at the burial site. The officer claimed no knowledge of a cemetery being located at that site.

When the officer refused to stop construction she pointed to the area of the cemetery and told the officer she was going to drive over there. She then parked her SUV just before a small blue flag that marks the beginning of the cemetery. She said there were nine such flags marking the area along with a wooden stake. She stood above one of the flags. "I figured that was the only way to stop the heavy equipment from coming back down towards the cemetery because they're not going to hit a car," Smith said.

"I told him if you tell them to stop driving on the cemetery and stop digging it, I will move," she said. "He said no, so I said 'then I'm not moving." Shortly after four police cruisers arrived, Smith said she asked officers not to arrest her until officials from the city arrived. The officers refused and Smith was taken to the Police Station and booked. She was released on $1,000 personal recognizance bail and had to pay a $30 bail fee. Within a half hour from her arrest and on her way home, an orange snow fence was put up around the site by the Rochester Public Work Crew and several days after that, the Attorney General got involved and had a metal fence put around not only the grave site but also the 25 foot boundary that is required by law and that fence still remains there. Smith says, "If there wasn't a cemetery there, then why was Public Works staking it off, and why is a fence still there?."

City Engineer Tom Willis said he was aware of complaints about construction crews being near the site and spoke with the project manager. "They're essentially going to stay away," Willis said. "They know about the location and are going to work around it."

The burial ground contains the remains of 19 members of the French-Hussey family. Independent Archaeological Consulting, LLC of Portsmouth discovered graves there in December 2006 and several newspaper articles were printed about the archaeological dig and its findings.

Richard Longo, the president of The Society for the Preservation of Rochester Burial Grounds, wants the charges against Smith dropped. "They arrested her for doing what she was supposed to be doing, protecting the graves," Longo said. Longo said the society plans on placing a plaque on the site with the names of the 19 members of the French-Hussey family buried there.

"My goal is to protect that area and its history," she said. "The people buried there belong to somebody, they should be given the respect they deserve."

"I was hoping for the charges to be dropped but I guess that isn't going to happen. In the meantime I have to pay for the expense of this and so does the city, This is going to get very expensive for both sides. This is money that could be better spent elsewhere." Smith said.

Smith doesn't want to comment about her case but did reference a fund being established at Northeast Credit Union by her friend Cyndy Lambert, to help pay for legal expenses. She said that any money that isn't used on her legal expenses would go toward cemeteries in the city because there are as many as 200 needing extensive repair.

Cyndy Lambert was contacted and said that anyone interested in donating may do so by sending a check in any amount to Northeast Credit Union, Michelle Smith's Legal Defense Fund, 200 Charles Steet, Rochester, NH 03867,

**Most of this information was taken from the articles written by Aaron Sanborn, Democrat Staff Writer and were published in the Foster's Daily Democrat of Dover, New Hampshire over the last four months and condensed into one article.*****

St. John's Church, Portsmouth

2007-10-17T07:26:00.000-04:00

St. John's Church in Portsmouth is located on Bow Street, at the top of the hill overlooking the river. It's placement is rather majestic, which is fitting since it's the resting place of some of Portsmouth's "royalty".

Charles Brewster wrote of it in his Rambles, "Among the early cemeteries of Portsmouth was that of the St. John's churchyard. This was used as a cemetery some twenty years before the first interment was made in the old North Burying Ground. Within the walls of this Churchyard rest the remains of the principal and highest in rank, in their time, of the inhabitants of Portsmouth previous to the Revolution. Here are the remains of the Governors, Counsellors, and Secretaries of the Province of New Hampshire, in the colonial days -- for it was then in the Church of England that all felt obligated to worship who held an office under the Crown. So the Ground around the church was the place where they also, with the humblest citizens, mingled in one common dust, at death." Read the full ramble at http://seacoastnh.com/brewster/146.html.

The church itself was built in 1732 and was originally referred to as Queen's Chapel. The original building was destroyed in 1806 during one of the 3 great fires of Portsmouth. The current building was constructed in 1807. But after the Revolution, townspeople did away with all references to their former rulers and renamed to St. John's.

St. John's is also home to several artifacts, including a bell taken from the French at the Battle of Louisburg during the French and Indian War. The bell was in need of repair at one point so they took it to Paul Revere who recast it. It also houses a rare "Vinegar Bible" and one of the oldest Brattle organs in the country. The baptismal fount was captured from the French at Senegal by John Tufton Mason's regiment.

George Washington attended services there and Daniel Webster was a regular (and once a Portsmouth resident.)

The burying ground itself overlooks Bow Street, and its residents have some of the best views in town. There are about 100 marked graves with stones and 10 crypts built into the wall surrounding the church.

Some of the most prominent people of Portsmouth were buried here, including Royal Governor Benning Wentworth, as well as other royal and New Hampshire state governors and statesmen.

See the whole gallery at http://www.gravematter.com/cem-nh-portsmouth5.asp

Stowe Vermont, Biddeford Maine, Site Changes

2007-08-10T22:31:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago we were camping in Vermont near Stowe, so of course I had to visit a cemetery while I was up there. The Old Yard/Center Cemetery is in the heart of Stowe, and it was very tidy. There were some definite differences from the cemeteries here on the coast. Such as the frequent use of "The Grave of..." as an opener and marble caps on top of some of the stones.

They also had an interesting iron gravestone with what appeared to once been a portrait behind glass, but has since been shattered so its tough to tell.

On a random drive last weekend we happened by Woodlawn Cemetery in Biddeford Maine. It's a very large cemetery, and was a very hot day so I only got a few hundred shots as opposed to the thousand or so needed.

I've also decided to eliminate the EList and switch to Blogging instead. Everyone can receive updates when the Blog is updated just like a newsletter. Easier all around.

First Parish Cemetery, Newbury Massachusetts

2007-07-05T20:29:00.001-04:00

After a long drive down Route 1A to Swampscott, we came back the same way and stopped at First Parish Cemetery in Newbury around 3:00pm. So far I’ve found (after several tries) that’s been the best time to get the light on the face of the gravestones.

Newbury once included Newburyport, West Newbury, parts of Rowley and Byfield. This particular cemetery hosts some of the towns earliest and most prestigious founders. Members and founders in America of the Stickney, Chase, Lunt, Coffin, Sewall, Dole and many others. Too bad its such a mess.

There are several stones here from the 1670’s-1740’s, all carved by early Boston artisans. One of the more interesting stones belongs to Henry Sewell:

MR HENRY SEWALL SENT BY
MR HENRY SEWALL, HIS FATHER
IN Ye SHIP ELISABETH & DORCAS
CAPT WATTS COMMANDER
ARRIVED AT BOSTON 1634
WINTERD AT IPSWICH HELPD
BEGIN THIS PLANTATION 1635
FURNISHING ENGLISH SERVANTS
NEAT CATTEL & PROVISIONS
MARRIED MRS JANE DUMMER
MARCH Ye 25, 1646
DIED MAY Ye 16, 1700
ÆTAT. 86 HIS FRUITFULL
VINE, BEING THUS DISJOIND,
FELL TO Ye GROUND JANUARY
Ye 13 FOLLOWING; ÆTAT 74
PSAL · 27 · 10

and Judeth Coffin, virtuous wife of Deacon Tristram Coffin, Esq., who lived to see 177 of her own children and grandchildren.

Many of the older stones were made of Schist and are deteriorating. And of course the 19th century marble and limestone stones are melting away. There are some broken stones but not a large amount by comparison.

The biggest problem seems to be the landscaping. Its tended too rarely. And although I’m happy they’re saving the monuments from weed wacker scars, the grass and plant-life are certainly taking over.

The newest photos can be seen at the end of the gallery at http://gravematter.smugmug.com/gallery/937112 or go to the index page at http://www.gravematter.com/cem-ma-newbury2.asp

First Congregational Church Cemetery, Kittery Point, Maine

2007-07-05T20:23:00.000-04:00

Sunday I took a trip across the bridge up Route 103 to revisit the First Congregational Church Cemetery in Kittery Point, ME. The drive itself is a common one for me on weekends, but it had been a while since I had photographed that cemetery and since I wasn’t happy with the quality of the photos so I decided to replace them.

If I had an award to give any town or caretaker for cemetery upkeep and beautification, it would be this one. This particular cemetery does have the advantage of being in a picturesque location. It rests on a sharp bend overlooking the ocean where it meets Portsmouth Harbor.

It’s neighboring structures add to the antique quaintness as well. Across the street stands the First Congregational Church, established in 1714 with the original parsonage in the back and on the opposite site of the street is the gorgeous Georgian-style Lady Pepperell Mansion, built about 1760.

To add to the already teeming beauty of the area, they’ve added a large memorial garden that was full of blooms and butterflies. The flowers were carefully arranged around large granite boulders and a slate-stone path, which was the same color as many of the older slate gravestones.

And not only was the grass well kept, they had a sprinkler going to compete with the lack of rain lately.

As for the occupants, we have the Whipples, the Crew of the brig Hattie Eaton, the husband and family of author Celia Laighton Thaxter, and many Civil War and Revolutionary War veterans.

This burying ground gets an A+. To view the main page of this gallery, visit http://www.gravematter.com/cem-ma-kittery.asp.