Editor’s note: As the Cemetery Commission contemplates restoration of monuments and rules for use. Rick reminds us of the tasks of the Cemetery Commission long ago.
Town Meeting Book: “August 24, 1795 voted that the selectmen be directed to erect a powder house by contract in such place as they shall think proper, & that the former shall be paid for out of the sum granted for contingent charges.” What they determined to be proper was to place it in the northeast corner of the Old Section of the cemetery. The map showing the 1848 addition to the cemetery indicated that the powder house, then referred to as the magazine, had survived. At a later date a gun house was constructed at the corner of Elm Street and Laurel Lane, now the front lawn of St. Joseph’s Church.
Meet at the Academy on the Plain Monday the tenth day of December next at one O’ Clock in the afternoon (1827)
Article 4 to see what measures the town will adopt for building a fence around the burying yard on the Plain. Voted that a new fence be built around the burying ground similar in form to the present fence & that a committee of one be chosen to build it. Loring Barnum was chosen the committee.
Voted that the posts of the fence be put in the ground in an inverted position & that the posts be cut in [during] the old of the moon [these directions are presumed to be superstition popular at the time.]
Voted that the fence be painted white.
MRS. SARAH DEMING
Wife of
Mr. Elizur Deming
Died July 24th 1804
In the 66th year
Of her age
Look on me as you Pass by
As you are Now so once was I
As I am Now so you must be
Prepare for Death and follow me
[Deming Cemetery]
Memento Mori
In memory of Mrs. Abigail the wife of the
Honourable Timothy Woodbridge, Esq.
She died Dec ye 4th 1772 in the 59th year of her age
Come hither mortals cast an eye
Then go thy way prepare to die
Here read thy gloom for die you must
One day like me be turned to dust
[Old Section South Burying Ground]
Selectmen’s Book 1792-1830
Partridge acct. for attendance on Joseph Grant pauper .67
#40 Stephen Tucker for digging grave for J Grant 1.33
#39 John Whiton for coffin for J Grant 2.27
#3 Stephen Tucker for digging a grave for Mercy Dowd 3.50
Dec 3rd 1821 #79 Stephen Tucker for digging four graves 8.50
