John & Mary Hosmer - South Burying Place, Concord, MA

John Hosmer

Died Feb 16 1836

AE 84

Although in arms at

the Battle of Concord

and a soldier of the

Continental Army, he

was in all his life after

a man of peace

______

Also

Mary his wife. Died 17 of

June, 1814,

and faithful wife, she

aided her husband and

shared with him the

love and memory of

ten children

Joseph Barrett - South Burying Place, Concord, MA

"Here lies buried the Body

of Capt Joseph Barrett

son of Deacon Humphry and

Mrs. Mary Barrett, who died

the 4th Day of April, Anno

Dom. one Thousand Seen Hundred and Sixty three

in the Eighty fifth Year of

his age."

South Burying Place in Concord, Massachusetts

A block and a half down Main Street from Old Hill Burying Ground, at the intersection of Keyes Road, is the South Burying Place, also known as the "Main Street Burying Ground." Comprised of some 300 graves, this small burial site dates back to the late 17th century. According to local history, this site was opened "to accommodate people living on the south side of a mill pond dam where Main Street is now." Most of the headstones are replacements following the destruction of the originals during the 1938 hurricane.

Main street to the right

Ralph Waldo Emerson - Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Concord, MA

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Born in Boston May 25 1803

Died in Concord April 27 1882

"The passive master lent his hand

To the vast soul that o'er him planned"

Lidian Emerson - Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Concord, MA

Lidian

Wife of Ralph Waldo Emerson

Daughter of Charles & Lucy (Cotton) Jackson

Born September 20th 1802, close by

Plymouth Rock, as she loved to remember

Died November 13th 1892 in Concord.

Lidian Emerson

In her youth an unusual sense of

the divine Presence was granted her

and she retained through life

the impress of that high Communion.

To her children she seemed in her

native ascendancy and unquestioning

courage a Queen, a Flower in

elegance and delicacy.

The love and care for her husband and

children was her first earthly interest

\but with overflowing compassion

her heart went out to the slave, the sick

and the dumb creation. She remembered

them that were in bonds as bound with them.

Mary Moody Emerson - Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Concord, MA

Mary Moody Emerson

daughter of

William Emerson, Minister of Concord

and Phebe Bliss his wife.

born in Concord 23 August 1774

died in Wiliamsburgh, L. I. 1 May 1863

She gave high counsels --

It was the privilege of certain boys

to have this immeasurably high standard

indicated to their childhood a blessing

which nothing else in education

could supply

(reverse)

Ah me! it was my childhood's thought

If He should make my web a blot

On life's fair picture of delight

My heart's content would find it right.

Ellen Tucker Emerson - Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Concord, MA

Ellen

Tucker Emerson

Daughter of Ralph Waldo &

Lidian Emerson

Bor February 24, 1839

Died January 14, 1909

Her life was happy in that

"Among the scenes of real life, she wrought

Upon the plan that pleased her childish thought."

She cherished the old Religion.

It was her Guide through each day and the

Temple to which in solitude she withdrew.

The joy of her Father and Mother and

the comfort of their last years, her love

embraced the widest circle of kindred and friends.

She loved her Town.

She loved the simple and hardy life of old

New England, but exercised a wide and joyful

hospitality, and she eagerly helped others.

Of a fine mind, she cared more for persons than books, and her faith

drew out the best in those around her.

Ruth Haskins Emerson

Ruth

widow of Rev. William Emerson

and daughter of John & Hannah (Upham) Haskins

Bor in Boston Nov 1776 died in Concord 7 Nov 1853

"Blest in every domestic relation, in her father's house

in her own, and in those of her sons, she yet endured lasting trials with courage and patience.

Here grandchildren, who learned their

letters at her knee, remember her as a

serene and serious presences; her sons

regarded her with entire love and reverence

and in the generation to which she belonged

it was said of her that she resembled

a vessel laid up unto the Lord

if polished gold without

and full of heavenly manna within.

Ephraim Brown - Old Hill Burying Ground, Concord, MA

Erected

In Memory of

Deacon Ephraim Brown,

who departed this Life Oct 9th AD 1788

Aged 78

By the fruit we may judge "He was a good man

full of the Holy Ghost and of Faith"

His pious Soul urged on the rage

T' improve the pow'rs which God hath given

Till full of days and ripe with grace

He left the earth and hew to heaven

Waldo Emerson - Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Concord, MA

Waldo Emerson

Died 27 January 1842

Five years and three months old

The hyacinthine boy for whom

Morn well might break and April bloom

The gracious boy who did adorn

The world where into he was born

Keyes-Prescott - Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Concord, MA

Reportedly the founders of the cemetery:

Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Concord, MA

Sleepy Hollow, Concord's largest cemetery with some 10,000 gravesites, is located one block east of Monument Square, on Bedford Street. One of the first "pastoral" cemeteries in the United States, Sleepy Hollow is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Two of the most visited areas are "Authors Ridge"  and the Melvin Memorial.

"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.

To the right of the Melvin Memorial, up a short stretch of road lies a hollow, on the far side of which is "Authors Ridge." Here you will find the graves of Henry Thoreau, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Louisa May Alcott and her father, Bronson Alcott. Each is buried in a family plot and marked with modest stones. Hawthorne's marker, in keeping with his personal reserve, bears only his last name, while Emerson created his own epitaph: "The passive master lent his hand to the vast soul which o'er him planned." (from his poem, The Problem).

Emerson's stone faces a large boulder at the base of the hill, which covers the resting place of Ephraim Wales Bull, the originator of the celebrated Concord Grape. At the Alcott plot, Ms. Alcott is surrounded by her father, mother and sisters, whom she made famous in Little Women. Except for Louisa May, the Alcott stones bear only the occupants’ initials. Tragedy hovers here. Bronson Alcott died on March 4, 1888, and Louisa May, gravely ill with pneumonia and shaken by his passage, died two days later. Both were buried on the same day later in the spring when the ground had thawed sufficiently.

Visit the cemetery website: http://www.concordma.gov/Pages/ConcordMA_Cemetery/sleepy

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.

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"

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"

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.

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.

Mary Melven - Old Hill Burying Ground, Concord, MA

Mary Melven

Eleazer Melven - Old Hill Burying Ground, Concord, MA

Eleazer Melven

"Here lies the body of

Capt. Eleazer Melven, who

died October 18th, 1754, in

52nd year of his Age.

His Martial Genius, early engaged 

him in his Country's cause under the

command of the Valiant Capt Lovel;

in that hazardous enterprise where

in our our Hero, his commander, with many

brave & valiant men bleed & died.

He was a bold, & intrepid office, a

cheerful Christian, beloved while living

and in death greatly lamented."

David Melven - Old Hill Burying Ground, Concord, MA

David Melven (center)

"Here lies buried

the body of Capt.

David Melven

Who departed

this life November

the 18th A.D. 1745

in the 56th year

of his age."