Salem Street Burying Ground facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Salem Street Burying Ground
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Marker for New Hampshire's fallen in the Battle of Bunker Hill
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Medford Square |
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| Nearest city | Medford, Massachusetts |
| NRHP reference No. | 81000115 |
| Added to NRHP | August 27, 1981 |
The Salem Street Burying Ground is a historic cemetery in Medford, Massachusetts. You can find it where Salem Street meets Riverside Avenue. This special place was used for burials from the late 1600s to the late 1800s. It was mainly where the wealthy families of Medford were laid to rest. Because of its history, the cemetery was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.
This burying ground started as a private cemetery for the Wade family. The town of Medford bought it in May 1717. The oldest headstone here is from 1683, and the newest is from 1881. Records show that about 600 people are buried here. However, there are only 485 grave markers. There are a few reasons why these numbers don't match up.
Sometimes, one gravestone marked the burial spot for several family members. For example, a large stone marks where at least four members of the Wade family are buried. Also, near the Riverside Avenue entrance, a flagpole and a granite marker honor several unknown soldiers. These soldiers fought in the Battle of Bunker Hill during the American Revolutionary War. The marker says, "In Memory of New Hampshire Soldiers who Fell at Bunker Hill Buried in this Town and Interred at this Spot." Records also show that more than fifty enslaved people are buried in unmarked graves. These graves are in the southwest corner of the cemetery.
Contents
A Look at the History of the Burying Ground
The land where the cemetery sits was once part of a large plantation. This plantation was owned by Matthew Cradock, the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He owned the land starting in 1630. For 45 years, it was used as a private farm.
Later, from 1660 to 1675, the land's second owner, Edward Collins, divided it. He sold smaller pieces to different families. These families, like the Tufts, Bradshaw, Willis, Wade, Brooks, Francis, and Whitmore families, helped found the town of Medford.
The biggest farm in the area belonged to Jonathan Wade. When he passed away in 1689, he left his estate to his son, Dudley. This estate included "that little pasture called the burying place." By 1717, this family burial plot had become the official town burying ground.
Who Is Buried Here?
Many important people are buried in the Salem Street Burying Ground.
Famous Figures and Their Graves
- John Brooks: He was a governor of Massachusetts and a hero of the Revolutionary War. His grave is marked by a tall stone monument called an obelisk. You can find it near the center of the cemetery.
- Sarah Bradlee Fulton: She was a brave woman known as a Revolutionary War heroine. Her grave is marked by a rock located to the left of the Brooks monument.
Grave Markers and Their Meanings
Many of the old gravestones don't show a specific birthday. Instead, they often tell you how old the person was in years, months, and days. Sometimes, the tombstones for women didn't even include their first name. For example, it might say, "Here lyes buried the wife John Chalcedony, Mrs. Chalcedony."
The most common image you'll see on the tombstones is a winged skull. This symbol represents a soul rising into Heaven. Other symbols carved into the stones include:
- The willow tree: This often means sadness or mourning.
- The hourglass: This symbol reminds us that time passes quickly.
- Bones: These represent death or decay.
Most of the markers are traditional headstones. But you can also find three obelisks, which are tall, narrow monuments. There are also two table tombs, which look like stone tables, and one double stone. You'll also see three large flat slabs. In the southernmost corner, there's a large, tall block of granite with no markings. It's unclear if it's a memorial or just a leftover stone.
Most of the grave markers in the cemetery are made from slate.
