African American Historic Burial Grounds And Gravesites Of New England

Evidence of the early history of African Americans in New England is found in the many old cemeteries and burial grounds in the region, often in hidden or largely forgotten locations. This unique work covers the burial sites of African Americans--both enslaved and free--in each of the New England states, and uncovers how they came to their final resting places. The lives of well known early African Americans are discussed, including Venture Smith and Elizabeth Freeman, as well as the lives of many ordinary individuals--military veterans, business men and women, common laborers and children. The author's examination of burial sites and grave markers reveals clues that help document the lives of black New Englanders from the 1640s to the early 1900s.

While now known as America's summer playground, Newport was at one time the nation's fifth-largest seaport, containing a diverse population that is reflected in its burial sites. Of special significance is the largest marked site for eighteenth-century African Americans in the country, as well as the oldest surviving colonial Jewish burial site. Notable burials include those for William Ellery, who signed the Declaration of Independence, and Richard Morris Hunt, the eminent nineteenth-century architect. It is also home to John Stevens, a noted gravestone carver who led six generations of his family to create exquisite stones throughout the city. Those same traditions are carried on today by the Benson family, America's premier stone carvers. Join local author and tour guide Lewis Keen as he explores the fascinating history behind the city's early burial grounds.

Whether it's for their solace and beauty or for the sense of history that seeps from the ground, cemeteries are fascinating places to visit, this guide shows where to find the most interesting and unusual ones in all of New England. Some have headstones that are fine art, others are associated with notorious events, and others are the final resting place of famous poets, soldiers, and statesmen. Included are large public facilities as well as the small family burying grounds hidden away behind crumbling stone walls and along once-cultivated farmland. A sampling of cemeteries profiled: *Hope Cemetery in Barre, Vermont, where lifelike sculptures of angels and Greek goddesses stand next to a stone soccer ball and Shell Oil truck gravemarker, all elaborately carved from local granite by immigrant Italian stonecutters. *Spider Gates Cemetery, in Leicester, Massachusetts, a notorious Quaker burying ground famed for its frequent ghost sightings and still in use today. *A cemetery situated on the raised median of the Interstate in Warner, New Hampshire,which was preserved in 1970 by highway planners, who constructed the roadway around it. *Evergreen Cemetery in New Haven, Vermont, final resting place of Timothy Clark Smith, whose 1893 crypt includes a window to help him escape in case he was buried alive. Driving directions are provided for each cemetery, and detailed maps show the location of the more obscure graveyards. This unique guide offers an intriguing way to learn about the history and culture of New England.

Historic Burial Grounds of the New Hampshire Seacoast, a photographic study of Colonial Era-burial grounds, uncovers the fascinating history of the area from the 1680s to 1810. These early cemeteries are a direct link to our past, and yet very little has been done to preserve their history through photographs. By understanding how, why, and by whom these gravestones were made, the symbolism they portray can be understood, and we will gain a clearer understanding of the ways in which our ancestors lived and died. The burial grounds and the gravestones within them have often been called “open air museums.” They contain some of the oldest works of art found in the area; some gravestones are more than 300 years old. Through the author’s collection of photographs, one can see the entire range of images present in the area’s old burial grounds, including grinning skulls and crossbones, heavenly cherubs, and epitaphs that tell magnificent tales. This collection is a must for anyone interested in local history, genealogy, or colonial-era art.

Presents a history of cemeteries in the United States, from early burial grounds to the landcaped designs of the nineteenth century to alternative methods of burial designed for the twenty-first century.

For more than 350 years New England has been known as one of the foundations of American arts and culture. Some of our countries greatest artists have left their mark in small towns from Maine to Connecticut, and some of the most important artwork is forever on display in the most inconspicuous of places, carved into our history for future generations to see. A simple flower, a morbid skeleton or an ornate sailboat, mysterious symbols from the past, but what do they mean? Unlock the meanings behind these symbols and discover the world of the artists who carved them. This comprehensive visual guide is packed with 300 pictures from cemeteries located all over New England. Superstitious? Learn about the historic superstitions of old New Englanders. Is that cricket chirping just a soothing sound, or an eerie foreshadowing of death? This is Our History In Stone, The New England Cemetery Dictionary.

Recounting the struggles of African-American people to maintain some vestige of their African-American heritage through funeral rites and ownership of their burial grounds, these compelling stories provide background information on cemeteries in the U.S. and Canada--how and when they were founded, who is buried there and the ongoing battle to maintain possession of them. 100 photos.