History of Dorchester Burial Grounds

A recent find in an old Dorchester History Book... - paul

BURIAL-GROUNDS.
The first burial-ground in Dorchester is supposed to have been situated around the first meeting-house of the settlers, near the present corner of Pleasant and Cottage Streets.

The ground now designated as the " Old Burying-Ground," and situated at the corner of Boston and Stoughton Streets, was agreed upon in November, 1633 ; and on March 3, 1634, the town voted to lay it out five rods square. This has been enlarged, from time to time, until it now contains not far from three acres. This is one of the most interesting burial-grounds in the country, having been used as such for two centuries and a quarter, and furnished a final resting-place during that time for the bodies of no less than six thousand persons. Many of the descendants of the first settlers, from far and near, visit this sacred spot. Some " Old Mortality" might here find objects of interest and occupation for many a day. Like other burial-grounds in our country, it was a neglected enclosure until a comparatively recent period. About twenty-five years since, the late Samuel Downer, a man of leisure and great taste, devoted much time to its improvement, by set- ting out and cultivating within its borders a variety of ornamental trees and flowers. It is believed that no burial-ground in the United States has inscriptions so ancient as some here found, excepting perhaps that of Jamestown, in Virginia. The oldest one is that of Barnard Capen, who died November 8, 1638, aged 76 years. The present stone is in place of the original. The oldest original stone covers the grave of two persons, and has the following inscription:
"Abel his offering accepted is
His body to the Grave his soule to bliss
On October, twenty and no more
In til Yeare sixteen hundred 44."

The following is a few years later:
Svbmite svbmitted to her heavenly King
Being a flower of asternal Spring
Neare 3 years old she died in heaven to waite
The Yeare was sixteen hundred 48.

The South Burial-Ground, situated on Washington Street, near the Lower Mills, was first used as a place of interment in 1814; the first tenant being Mrs. Lucinda Hawes, wife of Mr. John Hawes, who died May 18, and was buried May 20, 1814.

"Dorchester Cemetery," so called, situated on Norfolk Street, was bequeathed to the Second Parish by its pastor, Rev. John Codman, D.D. It was consecrated October 27, 1848, an address being made on the occasion by Rev. J. H. Means, successor to Dr. Codman, and a prayer by Rev. William M. Rogers, of Boston. The remains of Dr. Codman were transferred to the family tomb in the Cemetery, on the same day. The members of the Parish have erected a granite monument to his memory, and inscribed upon it " Our Pastor." The first interment was of the body of Mrs. Mary C. Sanborn, and took place on October 19, 1848.

The Roman Catholic Cemetery, on Norfolk Street, was purchased of John Tolman, of Dorchester, August 12, 1850, by John Dolan and James Kelley. It then contained about ten acres, but has since been enlarged. Numerous interments have been made in this ground from Boston and the neighboring towns.

Source: Dorchester Antiquarian and Historical Society: History of the town of Dorchester, Massachusetts. Published 1859 at Boston, by E. Clapp, Jr.

The Gleason Family

The history associated with families buried in the Codman Burying Ground fascinates me. Below is a link to a recent article in the Dorchester Reporter about the Gleason Family, who has a fair-sized monument fenced in a special plot within the cemetery.

Article: The Gleason Pewter and Silver Plating Company on Washington Street.

Enjoy reading! - Paul