First Parish Burial Ground facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
First Parish Burial Ground
|
|
An 18th-century grave marker
|
|
 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 122 Centennial Ave., Gloucester, Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Built | 1644 |
| NRHP reference No. | 10000040 |
| Added to NRHP | February 26, 2010 |
The First Parish Burial Ground is a really old cemetery in Gloucester, Massachusetts. It's located at 122 Centennial Avenue. This special place was started way back in 1644, making it Gloucester's oldest burial ground. It covers about 2.5 acres (1 hectare). For 80 years, it was the only cemetery in town! In 1975, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical site. Today, the city and the Cemetery Restoration Partnership work together to take care of it.
Contents
Exploring the Oldest Cemetery in Gloucester
The First Parish Burial Ground is found northwest of downtown Gloucester. It's about 0.25 miles (0.4 km) east of the Annisquam River. Even though it's 2.5 acres, it's a bit hidden. Mature plants and its distance from main roads keep it private.
What Does the Cemetery Look Like?
This burial ground has a shape that's roughly like a hexagon. You can get to it through a narrow path from Centennial Avenue. It's surrounded by a playground, another cemetery called Clark's Cemetery, and the MBTA Commuter Rail tracks. There are also many houses nearby on Centennial Avenue.
Most of the cemetery's edge has a low wall made of fieldstone. This is a type of stone found in fields. At the entrance, you'll see an iron gate with stone posts. The ground inside is not perfectly flat. It has bumpy grass and other plants, making it look a bit wild and old.
Discovering Old Grave Markers
The grave markers here cover a huge time span. The oldest ones date back to at least 1661. However, this particular marker is a copy, not the original. The newest marked grave is from 1956. There are about 650 marked graves in total. They aren't laid out in neat rows or a formal pattern.
Many of the markers have broken over time. Some have also been worn down by weather. The very oldest markers, from the 1600s, are usually made of slate, schist, or sandstone. These often have carvings of winged skulls. Graves from the 1800s are typically made of marble.
Notable Burials and Monuments
The biggest monument in the cemetery belongs to Reverend John White. He passed away in 1760. His tomb is made of brick with a sandstone top. Many important people are buried here. This includes soldiers who fought in the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812.
After 1850, fewer people were buried in this cemetery. The very last recorded burial happened in 1925.
The Cemetery's Early Days
The First Parish Burial Ground was first created in 1644. At that time, this area was close to Gloucester's first main settlement. This was roughly where Grant Circle is now. For eighty years, this was the only cemetery for the town of Gloucester.
Today, the city's Cemetery Advisory Committee helps manage and care for this historic site. You can find more information on their webpage.
