Handbook of Old Burial Hill Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Continuing our search along the southeasterly slope we find these three. The first two quoted are near the tombs at the foot of the hill:—

In memory of John W. Howard Son of Capt. James Howard & Mrs. Hannah his wife born March 20, 1815 died April 2, 1815

In memory of Four Children of Mr Zacheus Kempton & Sarah his wife viz Sally aged 36 years Charles aged 21 years Woodard aged 17 years Robinson aged 2 years They died between 1802 & 1820.

In memory of Thomas Paty son of Mr Thomas Paty and Mrs Jorusha his wife who departed this life Oct 7th 1802 aged 2 years 10 months and 20 days.

And must thy childrin Dye so soon.

Passing around the southerly edge of the hill, we pause a moment to read these words:—

To the memory of Isaac Eames Cobb who was born Jany 19, 1789, and died Jany 14, 1821.

Possess’d he talents ten, or five or one

The work he had to do that work was done

Improv’d his mind, in wisdom’s ways he trod

Reluctant died, but died resigned to GOD.

For quaintness of diction this is well matched by the two following headstones, which are close at hand:—

To the memory of Thomas Bartlett son of Mr. Thomas & Mrs. Ruth Bartlett who died Septr 9th 1802 aged 1 year 2 months 11 days.

That once loved form now cold & dead,

Each mournfull thought imploys

And nature weeps his comforts fled

And withered all his joys,

But ceas fond nature dry thy tears

Religion pints on high

And ever lasting spring appears

And joys that never die.

Here lyes buried ye body of Mr. Thomas Little Practitioner in Physick & Chyrurgery Aged 58 years Decd Decemr ye 22 1712

Erected to the memory of Mrs. MEHITABEL, wife of Capt. Thos. Atwood, who died Jan. 11, 1809, In the 58 year of her age. In early life her feeble constitution gave painful premonition of her early exit. She however unexpectedly passed the meridian of life, discharging in a very laudable manner, filial parental & conjugal duties. At length the seeds of death were planted in her vitals—she sickened, languished & expired in hopes of a blessed immortality.

Short is our longest day of life,

And soon its prospect ends

Yet on that day’s uncertain date

Eternity depends.

ANDREW FARRELL, of respectable connexions In IRELAND Aged 38 years, Owner & Commander of the Ship Hibernia, Sailed from Boston Jany 26, And was wrecked on Plymouth Beach Jany 28 1805. His remains With five of seven seaman Who perished with him are here interred.

O piteous lot of man’s uncertain state!

What woes on life’s eventful journey wait—

By sea what treacherous calms; what sudden storms;

And death attendant in a thousand forms.

In memory of Mr Benjamin Harlow who died November 18th 1816 aged 34 years.

Friends and physicians could not save

My mortal Body from the Grave

Nor can the Grave confine me here

When Christ the son of God appears

The westerly side of the hill abounds in curious inscriptions, and among them we note the following:—

Here lies Interrd
The Body of Ms
SARAH SPOONER
who deceased
January
Ye 25th AD 1767
In ye 72d year of
her age. She was
widow to ☞

(The hand points to the next stone, which marks the grave of her husband.)

Sacred to the memory of Phebe J. Bramhall, A native of Virginia & wife of Benjn Bramhall Jun who died August 27, 1817, aged 21 years.

Possess’d of an amiable disposition, She endeared herself to
all around her
“but”
Weep not for her in her Spring time she flew
To that land, where the wings of the soul are unfurl’d
And now, like a star beyond evening’s cold dew
Looks radiantly down on the tears of this world.

Consecrated to the Memory of Mrs Mary Dyer who died April 17th 1805 aged 47 years

One thing is needfull And Mary hath chosen that Good part which shall not be taken away from her.

Fanney Crombie daughter of Mr Calvin Crombie & Mrs Naomi his wife Departed this life June 25th 1804 in the 8th year of her age.

As young as beautiful! and soft as young!

And gay as soft! and innocent as gay!

Erected in memory of Mr. William Keen, who died February 18, 1825, aged 69.

This modest stone, what few vain marbles can,

May truly say, Here lies an honest man.

Calmly he looked on either life, and here

Saw nothing to regret, or there to fear.

From Nature’s temperate feast rose satisfied,

Thank’d Heav’n that he had lived and that he died.

Here lies inter’d the body of Miss Hannah Symmes eldest Daughter of Mr Isaac and Mrs Hannah Symmes who at the early period of 28 years after being long exercis’d with bodily pain with christian fortitude yielded her spirit to its benevolent Author. Born Jany 30, 1766, Died March 27, 1794.

To the memory of Thomas Jackson Esqr This Monument is erected Obiit September 19, 1794, Aged 67 years

Consecrated to the memory of Mrs PEGGY HOLBROOK wife of Mr Jeremiah Holbrook who departed this life August 28th 1811 aged 26 years

Her amiable Disposition endeared her to her friends and died lamented by all who knew her

Though harsh the strike and most severe the rod

Cease mourner cease it was a strike from God

I
am erected
by
Josiah Cotton Esqr
in remembrance of Rachel his pious and Virtuous Wife, who
died Janury 17th 1808 aged 50 years.
In belief of Christianity I lived,
In hope of a glorious Resurrection I died.

F. W. Jackson Obiit March 23, 1799 Aged One year 7 days.

Heav’n knows What man

He might have made, But we

He died a most rare boy.

The three latter are on the extreme westerly edge of the ground, not far from the corner where the powder house was built in 1770. No trace of this structure remains.

Turning our steps toward the northerly side, the following epitaphs invite our attention:—

To the Memory Of Mrs. Anna Jackson Obii. July 20, 1794 Aged 28 years.

Death is the privilege of human nature,

And life without it were not worth our taking

Thither the poor, the unfortunate, and Mourner

Fly for relief & lay their burdens down.

In Memory of Ezra Thayer Jackson son of Mr Thomas Jackson 2d & Mrs Lucy his wife who died Novr 23d 1783 Aged 25 days

What did the Little hasty Sojournr find so forbidding & disgustful in our upper World to occasion its precipitant exit.

In Memory of Frederick son of Mr Thomas Jackson and Mrs Lucy his wife who died March J5, J788 aged J year & 5 days

O! happy Probationer! accepted without being exercised!— It was thy peculiar Privilege not to feel the slightest of those Evils, which oppress thy surviving kindred.

Here lies Buried the Body of Mrs Hannah Goodwin, the wife of Mr John Goodwin and daughter of Mr Thomas and Mrs Sarah Jackson who departed this life March 8th AD. 1777; in the 22d Year of her Age.

A Soul pre par’d Needs no delays

The Summons comes the Saint obeys

Swift was Her flight & short the Road

She close’d Her Eyes & saw Her God

The Flesh rests here till Jesus comes

And claims the Treasure from the Tomb

In memory of Harriet Daughter of Mr Samuel & Mrs Hannah Jackson who died Sept. 17, 1793 aged 10 months & 3d (piece gone)

Babes thither caught from Womb and Breast

Claim Right to sing above the Rest

Because they found the happy shore

They never saw nor sought before.

In memory of Mrs. Tabitha Plasket who died June 10, 1807 aged 64 years.

Adieu vain world I have seen enough of the

And I am careless what thou say’st of me

Thy smiles I wish not;

Nor thy frowns I fear,

I am now at rest my head lies quiet here.

In Memory of Mr. JOSEPH PLASKET who died August 1, AD. 1794 in the 48 year of his age

All you that doth behold my stone

Consider how soon I was gone

Death does not always warning give

Therefore be careful how you live

Repent in time, no time delay

I in my prime was called away.

(Tabitha Plasket was for many years a school-teacher in Plymouth and was well known as an eccentric character.)

BATHSHEBA JAMES widow of Capt William Holmes 3d Mariner and daughter to Capt Joseph Doten Do. she was killed instantaneously in a thunder storm by the Electrich fluid of lightning on the 6th of July 1830, aged 35 years and 26 days.

She was an affectionate wife; a dutiful Daughter, a happy mother, a kind and sincere friend. Alas sweet Blossom short was the period that thy enlivening virtues contributed to the Happiness of those connections; But oh, how long have they to mourn the loss of so much worth and Excellence.

Farewell dear Wife untill that day more blest

When if deserving I with thee shall rest,

With thee shall rise with thee shall live above

In worlds of endless bliss and boundless love.

In memory of William Brewster Son of Capt William Brewster & Mrs Elizabeth his wife died April 5th 1804 aged one year 5 months & 17 days

The father and the children dead

We hope to Heaven their souls are fled

The widow now alone is left

Of all her family bereft.

May she now put her trust in God.

To heal the wounds made by his rod.

To the memory of Lemuel Cobb Robbins son of Capt Ansel Robbins and Hannah his wife who died Oct 2sd 1801 aged 1 year & 10 days

We have no Reason for to mourn

For gods will must be don

He lent him for a little space

Then sudden Called him home

In memory of Elizabeth Savery, wife of Lemuel Savery who died August 1, 1831, Aged 71 years.

Remember me as you pass by,

As you are now so once was I;

As I am now so you must be,

Prepare for death to follow me.

There are about 2,150 headstones on Burial Hill, and many graves are unmarked. In some cases, undoubtedly, this absence of a memorial is due to the considerable cost of stones in the early days. In other instances the monuments have fallen prey to the ravages of time. Rigid restrictions now govern burials in this ground.

Standing thus among the graves of the pioneer dead and putting all modern life behind him, one’s thoughts go back across the centuries and grasp, with a new sense of reality, the facts of Pilgrim history. The Forefathers, who did brave deeds and suffered much, and planted in the wilderness the seeds of a free nation, stand forth not as shadowy historical figures, but as living men. And thinking on such things, these words of the poet Pierpont find ready echo:—