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Sunday, May 29, 2011

Melvin Memorial - Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Concord, MA


"Mourning Victory," commonly known as the Melvin Memorial was and commissioned by James Melvin in memory of his three brothers who died during the Civil War, was created by his boyhood friend, Daniel Chester French. Mr. French who also designed the Minuteman Statue at Concord's North Bridge and the Lincoln Statue in Washington's D.C.'s Lincoln Memorial. French is himself buried nearby, on the ridge directly behind the monument.

Saturday, May 28, 2011

The Sprague Children at Swan Point

One of my favorite stops when I visit Swan Point is the touching memorial to the two Sprague children:

Friday, May 27, 2011

Mt. Auburn - Maria Coppenhagen by Martin Milmore

Martin Milmore (1844-1883), the noted 19th century sculptor, executed this wonderful sculpture of an angel holding the trumpet. Milmore also designed the American Sphinx located directly across from the Bigelow Chapel at Mt. Auburn as well as the Soldiers' & Sailors' Monument on the Boston Common.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Grave Carvings, Symbols and Epitaphs - Old Hill Burying Ground, Concord, MA

Sarah Wheeler

Here lies buried
the Body of Mrs. Sarah Wheeler
Wife of Ens. William Wheeler 
who Departed this Life 
Sept 23 A.D. 1744
Age 75 years 7 M & 1 Day


Mary Chandler

In Memory of
Mrs. Mary Chandler
Consort of Mr. James Chandler
who died
May 4th 1746
Aged 26 years
3 months & 4 days


Mary Minot

Erected 
in memory of Mrs. Mary Minot
consort of
Capt. Jonas Minot
who was virtuous and exemplary
in life manifested a steady hope
in the mercy of God through a redeemer
and died in the 34th year of her age


Ephraim Whittaker

Sacred 
to the Memory of
Mr. Ephraim Whittaker
who departed this Life
on the 3rd day of June 1799
AE 79

Diseases fore long time I bore
Physicians proved in vain
Till Death did seize and God did please 
to ease me of my pain
As you are now once was I
Reader As I am now so you must be 
Prepare for death and follow me
Charlestown 1792


Mary Ingraham

Here lies the Body of
Mrs. Mary Ingraham
wife of Duncan Ingraham
who died the 15th of Nov 1794
in the 64th year of her Age


Esther Buttrick

Here lies the Body of Mrs. Esther Buttrick
wife of Mr. Willard Buttrick
who died Nov 3, 1775 n the 27th year of her age

She was a loving wife, a desirable 
Companion, a tender & loving mother, 
A peaceable, kind & good Neighbor. 
Insomuch that she gained a good report
& love of all her Neighbors, in Many
Things she was Exemplary.
Being in her a Meek & humble Sperit
Given to acts of Charity & kindness;
Liberal to the poor, in her Life she
Seemed to behave like a Christian; &
towards her latter end endured long 
Sickness with Remarkable patience;
At last with a Resigned will to God's 
will laid down her Life with hopes 
That through Christ she might
Obtain Eternal Life.


Job Brooks

In
Memory of
Mr. Job Brooks
who departed this life
Oct 26 1788,
In the 91st year of his age

He lived in the belief of the truths
of the Gospel of Christ,
and died in the hope of salvation
through his merits,
and was considered by survivors
as coming to the grave in a full age
as a shock of corn cometh in
in his season
______________________
"Now let my death be all serene
Exclaimed the ancient saint
Since thy salvation I have seen;
I die without complaint"

Friday, May 20, 2011

Mt. Auburn - Earle family

This is an odd pair of stones -- apparently the same family but set in such a way as to keep the two as far apart as possible and yet still remain in the same plot.


Both are heavily weathered and Caroline's has probably been in place since early 1885.

"My John" - John Earle Jr.

Caroline Earle Crose - "born into the other life March 28 1885"

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Eleanor H. Porter - Mt. Auburn

Located along the shore of Halcyon Lake, a stone's throw from Mary Baker Eddy is this dramatic and inspiring monument to Eleanor Porter. That's right, the Eleanor Porter who wrote Pollyanna. (My first serious crush was on Hayley Mills who starred in the title role circa 1960-61.  But this was before I discovered Annette Funicello.)


Sunday, May 15, 2011

William Emerson - Old Hill Burying Ground, Concord, MA

William Emerson



"Erected by this town
in memory of their pastor
Rev. William Emerson
who died at Rutland, VT, 1777
aet. 33
on his return from the American Army
of which he was a chaplain

Enthusiastic Eloquent
Affectionate and Pious
He loved his family his people
his God and his country
and to this last he yielded 
the cheerful sacrifice 
of his life"




Saturday, May 14, 2011

Burial Hill in Plymouth

Aside from being one of the oldest cemeteries in New England Burial Hill offers the visitor today nearly the same view the first pilgrims had.



Friday, May 13, 2011

Mt. Auburn - Charles Turner Torrey

This small, unassuming stone set in the middle of the intersection of Fir and Spruce avenues tells a very large tale.

Ch's. T. Torrey.
Born at Scituate Nov. 21 1813,
Graduated at Yale College Aug. 1833.
Ordained at Providence March 1837
Arrested at Baltimore June 24, 1844.
Died in the Penitentiary of that city May 9, 1846.

The friends of the
American Slave
erect this stone
in his memory,
a martyr for Liberty


"It is better to die in prison with the peace of God in our breasts, than to live in freedom
with a polluted conscience."

Torrey's Letter, Feb 7, 1846


Long before the Freedom Riders of the 1960s hit the Deep southern US in busses, there were abolitionists like Torrey who also pursued the cause of Freedom at the risk of their own life. According to his epitaph:

"Charles Turner Torrey was arrested for aiding slaves to regain their Liberty. For this humane act he was indicted as a Criminal, convicted by the Baltimore City Court and sentenced to the
Penitentiary for six years.

While on his death bed he was refused a pardon by the Governor of Maryland, and died on consumption after two years confinement, a victim of his sufferings."


"Where NOW beneath
his burthen
The toiling slave
is driven.
Where now a tyrant's
mockery
is offered up
to heaven.
THERE shall his praise
be spoken,
redeemed from
falsehood's ban.
When the fetters shall
be broken,
And the slave shall
be a MAN."

It is unknown where Torrey's body actually lies today.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Charles and Fern Bedaux - Mt. Auburn

I first came across Charles Bedaux (1886-1944) in Charles Glass' illuminating study of Americans in Paris: Life and Death under the Nazi Occupation. In fact, Bedaux, a French-American, is one of central and perhaps most controversial characters in this fantastic peek into a corner of WW2 history that few have discussed until now. Collaborator? Traitor? Or something more complex and complicated?

We'll never know since Bedaux committed suicide in Miami, Florida, in 1944, shortly after his arrest for treason.


Monday, May 9, 2011

May Day in Mt. Auburn

These were taken last Sunday. . . .



Blackburn

Clark

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Miss Elizabeth Blood - Old Hill Burying Ground, Concord, MA


Elizabeth Blood
 Here lies the Body
of Miss Elizabeth
Blood daughter 
of Cornet Stephen
Blood & Mrs. mary
his wife who de-
parted this Life
Oct 19 1775 In the 34
Year of her age

Affliction fore long time I bore
Physician  was in  vain
Till God did please & death did seas
To ease me of my pain.
Ho all you who passeth by
As you are now so once was I.
As I am now so you must be
prepare for death and follow me.

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Josiah Blood - Old Hill Burying Ground, Concord, MA

Josiah Blood

Here Lyes Buried
the Body of
Josiah Blood
who Departed this
Life July 2 A.D. 1731 in
the 68th Year of His Age.