Chapter I: Front Matter

Transcriber’s Note
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HANDBOOK

OF

Old Burial Hill

PLYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS.

Its History,
Its Famous Dead, and
Its Quaint Epitaphs.

BY
FRANK H. PERKINS.

PUBLISHED BY
A. S. Burbank,
Pilgrim Bookstore, Plymouth, Mass.

Copyright, 1902, by A. S. BURBANK, Plymouth, Mass.

INDEX

PAGE

Atwood, Mehitable, 40

Bartlett, Joseph, 37

” Thomas, 40

Bradford, Gov. William, 13, 15, 16

” Maj. William, 35, 36

Bramhall, Phebe J., 41

Brewster, Capt. Ellis, 47

” Nancy, 47

” William, 47

Carver, Capt. Nathaniel, 30

” Gov., 17

Clark, Hannah, 13

” Thomas, 13, 17, 18

Cobb, Isaac Eames, 40

Cook, Caleb, 31, 33

Cotton, children of John and Josiah, 13, 37

” Rachel, 44

Crombie, Fanny, 43

Crowe, William, 13, 14, 15

Cushman, Robert, 20

” Thomas, 13, 19, 20, 21

Doggett, Jane, 37

Dyer, Mary, 43

Farrell, Andrew, 41

Faunce, Elder Thomas, 26, 49

Finney, children of Ephraim, 37

Fort, site of, 9

“Gen. Arnold,” seamen of, 24

Goodwin, Gen. Nathaniel, 30

” Hannah, 45

” Nathaniel, 23

Gray, Edward, 13, 15

Hammatt, Abraham, 26

Harlow, Benjamin, 41

Hobart, Priscilla, 38

Holbrook, Peggy, 44

Holmes, Bathsheba James, 46

Howard, John W., 39

Howland, Consider, 26

” Hannah, 25

” John, 13, 17

Jackson, Anna, 45

” Ezra Thayer, 45

” Frederick, 45

” F. W., 44

” Harriet, 46

” Nathaniel, 38, 39

” Thomas, 44

Jordan, James, 38

Judson family, 32, 33, 35

” Rev. Adoniram, 33

Keen, William, 44

Kempton, children of Zacheus, 39

Kendall, Rev. James, 27

Le Baron, Dr. Francis, 22

” ” Dr. Lazarus, 23

Little, Dr. Thomas, 40

Lothrop, Col. Isaac, 38

Magee, Capt. James, 24

Morton, Nathaniel, 35, 48

“Nameless Nobleman,” 22

Oldest grave, 13

” stone, 13

Paty, Thomas, 39

Pearson, Capt. William, 31

Plasket, Joseph, 46

” Tabitha, 46

Powder-house, 45

Rider, John, 36

Ring, Ansel, 24

” William, 37

Revolutionary Patriots, 31

Robbins, Lemuel Cobb, 47

” Rev. Chandler, 27

” Sally C., 37

Russell, Thomas, 34, 35

Sampson, Capt. Simeon, 26, 28, 29

Savery, Elizabeth, 47

Spooner, Sarah, 41, 42

” Thomas, 42

Symmes, Hannah, 44

Taylor, Capt. Jacob, 30

Thatcher, Dr. James, 31

Thomas, Dr. William, 31

” John, 31

” Joseph, 31

” Joshua, 31

” Nathaniel, 13, 31

Tilley, Elizabeth, 17

Tufts, William Drew, 36

Warren, Col. Ben, 31

” Gen. James, 28

” James, 28

” Mercy, 28

Watch-tower site of, 9

The Old Burying-Ground.

“The Pilgrim Fathers are at rest:
When Summer’s throned on high,
And the world’s warm breast is in verdure dressed,
Go, stand on the hill where they lie.
The earliest ray of the golden day
On that hallowed spot is cast,
And the evening sun, as he leaves the world,
Looks kindly on that spot last.”

—PIERPONT.

No spot in Plymouth is so interesting to the antiquary as Burial Hill. Here are the sites of the Pilgrims’ fort and watch-tower. Here sleep the early settlers of the colony, the heroes of the Revolution and of our later wars, and the men who went “down to the sea in ships” and braved dangers, in the days of Plymouth’s maritime glory. Here are to be seen the rude symbols of the sculptor’s art and the crude effusions of the elegiac poet.

Burial Hill is 165 feet above the sea level, and rises abruptly just back of the town’s busiest thoroughfare. It is irregular in form and contains about eight acres. From this elevation the visitor has a splendid panorama of ocean and country. Nestling at his feet, between the hill and the sea, are the thickly clustering roofs of the old town. Turning his eyes northward, he sees in the far distance the villages of Kingston and Duxbury and the monument on Captain’s Hill, erected in memory of Myles Standish, the doughty Pilgrim commander. To the west stretches a rolling swell of hills, ending in an almost unbroken forest, through whose shades Massasoit led his warriors to meet the Plymouth colonists. On the south, shrouded in purple mist, are the “Pine Hills” of Manomet. Looking eastward, across the bay he spies the green dot known as Clark’s Island, where the Pilgrims spent their first Sabbath; and far beyond the shining strand of Plymouth Beach, if the day be clear and his vision keen, he can just discern Provincetown, at the point of Cape Cod,—the “tip end of Yankee-land.”

Visited as it is daily by tourists from all parts of the world, it is fitting that this consecrated ground should be well cared for and that its surroundings should be somewhat in keeping with its historic character. By the will of J. Henry Stickney of Baltimore, late vice-president of the Pilgrim Society, $10,000 was bequeathed for improvements on this ground. It had been suggested that the legacy be used in removing some, at least, of the unsightly buildings which skirt the foot of the hill on the easterly side, and in the erection of an ornamental gateway at the Town Square entrance.

There are several ways of approaching Burial Hill, but the main entrance is at Town Square. As we pass through the gateway the new First Church, now in process of building (1896), looms up on our left. It is of gray stone, in the Norman type of architecture, and its severity of style is suggestive of the rugged lives of the Fathers. In the vestibule of the square central tower will be placed tablets of a historical character. This church is the oldest religious organization in the country. In an unbroken succession the ministry of this church has continued from the days of Robinson and Brewster to the present. Its records are piously preserved.

Aside from its interest to those who find pleasure in meditation among the tombs of past generations, Burial Hill has a history which forms a part of the early history of the town. Long before the spot was used for burial purposes, it served as a ground for possible defence against the savage foe, and here the first church of the colony was established. Shortly after the landing of the Pilgrims, on Dec. 21, 1620, they set about to provide against attack from the redskins, and we learn from their records that “in one field is a great hill, on which we poynt to make a platform and plant our ordnance, which will command all round about.”

In 1622 a larger fort was erected, and in 1627 De Raisieres describes it as a large square house, with flat roof made of thick sawn planks, stayed with oak beams, upon the top of which six cannon were mounted. The lower part was used for a church. The Pilgrims assembled at beat of drum, each with his musket or firelock, and marched to the place of worship.

The exact situation of this fort is unknown. No traces of it remain. It is reasonable to suppose, however, that it stood well toward the top of the hill on the southeasterly side, on a spot which would command the approach from Leyden Street (the first thoroughfare) on the east and the approach from the path leading to the fording-place on the south. This path, now Spring Street, leads directly from the hill to Town Brook.

On Sept. 23, 1643, it was agreed that a watchhouse “shall be forthwith built of brick.” This structure stood at the top of the hill, on the southeasterly side, and commanded a wide view of all the country about. Its bounds are marked by four square granite blocks, and a small oval stone on a standard, suitably inscribed, more definitely designates the location. Within recent years pieces of the brick of which this watchhouse, or watch-tower, as it is more commonly called, have been unearthed.

Strolling down the southeasterly slope, the visitor comes to another similar oval stone, which tells us that here stood the old fort, erected in 1621. This may be the site of the first fortification, but history makes no record of it. We have evidence, however, that in 1676, when invasion from King Philip, the Indian chieftain, was feared, a fort was built on this spot, and the conformation of the ground indicates the existence at some time of such a work. On Feb. 19, 1676, the colonists decided to erect a fortification, “to be a hundred foot square, the pallasadoes to be ten foot and a halfe longe; to be sett two foot and a halfe in the Ground; and to be sett against a post and a Rail ... and that there shal be a watch house erected within the said ffence or fortification, and that the three peece of ordnance shal be planted within the said ffence or fortification ... said watch house which is to be sixteen foot in length and twelve foot in breadth and eight foot stud, to be walled with board.”

This construction is significant of the peril of the times and of the stern and unbending determination of the Forefathers. With the close of King Philip’s War the fort was abandoned, and in 1677 the material of which it was built was granted to one William Harlow. Some of the massive timbers were used in the construction of the old Harlow house on Sandwich Street, and are still to be seen.

Built of timber from old Burial Hill Fort.]

The hill was not used as a place of burial until after it was abandoned for defensive purposes. Those of the “Mayflower” company who died the first winter were buried on Cole’s Hill, and, while no traces of their graves remain, a tablet appropriately inscribed marks their resting-place. Others of the Pilgrim band found burial on their own estates, and no man knoweth their sepulchre. The first mention of Burial Hill as a cemetery was in 1698, when Chief Justice Sewall recorded the following in his diary: “I walk out in the morn to see the mill, then turn up to the graves, come down to the meeting-house, and seeing the door partly open went in and found a very convenient place to pray.”

The oldest stone in this ground is that of Edward Gray, and bears the date of 1681. It is probable, however, that earlier burials took place here. Tradition says that the oldest grave is that of John Howland, who died in 1672, although the stone which marks it was erected within comparatively recent years. Tradition also places here the earthly remains of Gov. William Bradford, and a monument bearing his name rises among the graves of the Bradford family, the exact place of the Governor’s interment, however, not being designated.

There are six ancient gravestones bearing date before 1700, as follows:—

Edward Gray, 1681.
William Crowe, 1683-84.
Hannah Clark, 1687.
Thomas Cushman, 1691.
Thomas Clark, 1697.
Ten children of John and Josiah Cotton, 1699.

Possibly there is a seventh,—the defaced tombstone of Nathaniel Thomas, who is said to have died in 1697. The figures on the stone are illegible.

All these stones are on the summit of the hill, within a narrow radius, and near the intersection of the two main paths. With the exception of Gray’s, all are of English make, and in fact most of those bearing dates to 1745 were brought from across the water.

The Gray stone, the oldest on the hill, as has been said, is of dark, compact slate. It probably has the usual “cherub,” or symbol; if so, it is concealed by the iron hood which protects the edges from water and frost. By its side is a wooden slab bearing the legend, “The Grave of Edward Gray, June, 1681.” The inscription on the stone is as follows:—

Here Lyeth ye Body
of E D W A R D G R A Y
Gent Aged About
52 years & Departd
this life ye Last of
June 1681

Edward Gray appeared in Plymouth about the year 1643. Tradition has it that he and his brother were sent from England in order that scheming relations might obtain possession of their property. He became a merchant, and the wealthiest man in the colony.

The stone of William Crowe, the next in order of date, is of purple slate and is thus inscribed:—

Here lies buried
ye body of Mr
W I L L I A M C R O W E
Aged About 55 years
who decd January
1683-4

The Bradford obelisk is one of the first objects to claim the visitor’s attention. It is of white marble on a granite base, and rises to a height of eight feet or more. On the south side are these words:—

H I William Bradford of Austerfield Yorkshire England. Was the son
of William and Alice Bradford He was Governor of Plymouth Colony
from 1621 to 1633 1635 1637 1639 to 1643 1645 to 1657

On the north side is a Hebrew sentence, said to signify “Jehovah is our help,” but by other Hebrew scholars translated “In Jehovah’s name I die.” Then follows:—

Under this stone rest the ashes of William Bradford a zealous
Puritan & sincere Christian Gov. of Ply. Col. from 1621 to 1657,
(the year he died) aged 69, except 5 yrs. which he declined.

The grave of that sturdy old Pilgrim, John Howland, has a great attraction for thousands who tread this sacred soil, many of whom come from the good old Pilgrim stock. The stone is of reddish hue, tall and wide, and bears the following beautiful inscription:—

Here ended the Pilgrimage of
J O H N H O W L A N D
who died February 23, 167⅔
aged above 80 years.
He married Elizabeth daughter of
J O H N T I L L E Y
who came with him in the
Mayflower Dec. 1620.
From them are descended a
numerous posterity.

* * * * *

“Hee was a godly man and an ancient professor in the wayes of
Christ. Hee was one of the first comers into this land and was the
last man that was left of those that came over in the Shipp called
the Mayflower that lived in Plymouth.”

_Plymouth Records._

One of the six stones bearing date in the seventeenth century marks the grave of Thomas Clark, or Clarke, who is often spoken of as the “mate of the ‘Mayflower.’” History, however, tells a different story, and it is known that the name of the first officer of the ship was John Clark. The stone is of purple Welsh slate, and is thus lettered:—

Here lyes ye body of Mr. Thomas Clark aged 98 years departed this
life March ye 24th 1697.

A huge boulder has been recently placed on this grave, and a metallic plate secured to it reads:—

Here lies buried ye body of Mr. Thomas Clarke, aged 98. Departed
this life March 24, 1697. Thomas Clarke came to Plymouth from
England in the ship Anne 1623. He married Susan Ring of Plymouth,
1634. Their children were Andrew, James, William, Susanna,
Nathaniel, and John. From whom descended a numerous posterity. He
married his second wife, Mrs. Alice Hallett Nichols of Boston,
in 1664. He lived for some years in Boston, and also in Harwich,
of which town he was one of the original proprietors. He died in
Plymouth, having lived in the reigns of six British sovereigns and
the Com’th. This stone is erected to his memory by his descendants
A.D. 1891.

It is with reverent step that the latter-day Pilgrim approaches the Cushman monument, an enduring memorial to a “precious servant of God.” This is a granite column, twenty-five feet high, and it is by far the most conspicuous monument on the hill. There is a bronze tablet on each of its four sides, that on the northerly side reading as follows:—

R O B E R T C U S H M A N,

Fellow-exile with the Pilgrims in Holland,
Afterwards their chief agent in England,
Arrived here -IX- November, -MDCXXI,
With Thomas Cushman his son:
Preached -IX- December,
His memorable sermon on “The Danger of self-love
And the sweetness of true friendship:”
Returned to England -XIII- December,
To vindicate the enterprise of Christian emigration;
And there remained in the service of the Colony Till -MDCXXV,
When, having prepared to make Plymouth His permanent home.

West side:—

He died, lamented by the forefathers
as “their ancient friend,—who was
as their right hand with their friends
the adventurers, and for divers years
had done and agitated all their business
with them to their great advantage.”

“And you, my loving friends, the adventurers
to this plantation, as your care has been first
to settle religion here before either profit
or popularity, so, I pray you, go on.——
I rejoice——that you thus honor God
with your riches, and I trust you shall be repaid
again double and treble in this world, yea,
and the memory of this action shall never die.”

DEDICATION OF THE SERMON.

South side:—

T H O M A S C U S H M A N.

Son of Robert, died -X- December, MDCXCI,
Aged nearly -LXXXIV- years.
For more than -XLII- years he was
Ruling Elder of the First Church in Plymouth,
By whom a tablet was placed to mark his grave on this spot,
Now consecrated anew by a more enduring memorial.