Curricular Resources > 2003 Volume II > Unit 1 (03.02.01) > Section 12

Everyday Life in Early America

CONTENTS OF CURRICULUM UNIT 03.02.01

Unit Guide

Death and Dying in Puritan New England: A Study Based on Early Gravestones, Vital Records, and other Primary Sources Relating to Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Stephen P. Broker

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Notes:

1A future outgrowth of this unit will be the study of epidemic disease in colonial America, a subject on which I did substantial reading during the weeks of the seminar but which I reserve for a later date to develop further.

2Broker, Stephen P. 1998. Technological change in a coastal New England village, 1790-1990: the Duck Creek Harbor site, Wellfleet, Massachusetts. Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute, Volume III, pages 54-78 (seminar, Art and Artifacts: the Cultural Meaning of Objects); Broker. 1995. Connecticut's freshwater wetlands. Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute, Volume V, pages 39-63 (seminar, The Geological Environment of Connecticut).

3The Macy course, introduced to the New Haven Public Schools with initial support from the Macy Foundation, uses Patient-Based Learning Modules developed by the University of Southern Illinois, School of Medicine

4See The College Board/Advanced Placement Program. 2001. Course Description, Environmental Science, May 2002, May 2003 (The Acorn Book). New York: College Entrance Examination Board, 45pp. (web address collegeboard.com/ap)

5Stannard, David E. 1977. The Puritan Way of Death: a Study in Religion, Culture, and Social Change. New York: Oxford University Press, 236pp. This is an important resource for understanding the New England Puritan worldview and notions of death and dying in colonial New England.

6Ibid., page 34. Stannard's footnote for this passage relates to the writing of historian Johan Huizinga.

7These beliefs or attributes of the Puritan way of thinking are drawn from throughout the various chapters of the Stannard book. See pages ix, 40, 42, 84, and 89 in particular.

8Bradford, William. 1952, 2002. Of Plymouth Plantation, 1620-1647 , with introduction by Samuel Eliot Morison, page 68.

9Ibid., page 72.

10Ibid., page 447.

11Allan Ludwig, personal communication, 1972.

12John Demos, personal communication (2003 seminar).

13George, Diana Hume, and Malcolm A. Nelson. 1983. Epitaph and Icon: a Field Guide to the Old Burying Grounds of Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket. Orleans, Massachusetts: Parnassus Imprints, 128pp. Page 42 for Shubael Taylor gravestone.

14Ludwig, Graven Images , page 313.

15Ibid, pages 124-133, with the quotation from page 133.

16I photographed this remarkable gravestone in the early 1970s, when it was held together with a bolt through the center. By the early 1990s, the stone lay in three pieces in the Sandwich Old Burying Ground, largely destroyed, and was again photographed.

17Ludwig, Graven Images , page 133.

18Ibid, page 88.

19Ibid, page 100.

20Ibid, page 197.

21Ibid, page 154; page 155; pages 155, 160.

22Ibid, pages 296-300; page 296.

23George and Nelson, Epitaph and Icon , page 23.

24Ludwig, Graven Images , page 155; page 160; page 168.

25George and Nelson, Epitaph and Icon , page 64; photograph on page 65.

26Ludwig, Graven Images, page 214; photograph of Mary Green stone of Newport, Rhode Island (d. 1715) on page 217.

27George and Nelson, Epitaph and Icon , page 50; photograph on page 50.

28Ludwig, Graven Images , page 234; photograph of Hurley and Walton stones on page 235.

29Stannard, The Puritan Way of Death , page 117.

30References taken from notes made some years ago at Beinecke Library.

31George and Nelson, Epitaph and Icon , photograph and description on page 27.

32Ken Collins, personal communication, Summer 2003.

33Barber, John Warner. 1841. Historical collections, being a general collection of interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, anecdotes, &tc., relating to the history and antiquities of every town in Massachusetts with general descriptions.

34George and Nelson, Epitaph and Icon , pages 25-26.

35Ibid., page 64.

36Mayflower Society of Mayflower Descendants. 1933. Vital records of the town of Truro, Massachusetts to the end of the year 1849. Boston: Mayflower Society of Mayflower Descendants, 480pp.; The Deacon Hezekiah Purinton stone is almost unique in Cape Cod cemeteries. The death's head lacks wings, instead being surrounded by an hourglass and crossbones. The only other early gravestone on the Cape with this crossbones and hourglass imagery in place of wings is the destroyed Abigail Otis stone of Sandwich (d. 1712).

37Stannard, The Puritan Way of Death , page 54.

38Mather, Cotton. 1712. A voice, from the place of silence, or, Seasonable Thoughts upon Mortality: a sermon occasioned by the raging of a mortal sickness in the colony of Connecticut, and the many deaths of our brethren there, page 2; page 2; page 3.

Appendix. Gravestone Symbolism/Cape Cod Gravestones:

Paired Gourds and Pumpkins, 1683-1719/20 (36 identified gravestones):

- The Dorothy Rawson stone, d. December 28, 1683, age 2 years (Barnstable)

- The Sarah Lewes stone, d. March 17, 1697/8, age 63 years (Barnstable)

- The Margaret Miller stone, d. October 26, 1698, age 60 years (Yarmouth)

- The Elizabeth Allyn stone, d. December 23, 1698, age 17 years (Barnstable)

- The Joanna Cotton stone, d. October 12, 1702, age 60 years (Sandwich)

- The Capt. Peter Adolph stone, d. March 16, 1702/3, age 48 years (Sandwich)

- The Mr. John Sunderlin stone, d. December 26, 1703, age 84 years (Brewster)

- The Margery Joyce stone, d. April 12, 1705, age 30 years (Yarmouth)

- The Thomas Mulford stone, d. June 8, 1706, age 66 years (Eastham)

- The Elisha Bourne stone, d. December 21, 1706, age 59 years (Sandwich)

- The Samuel Allyn stone, d. December 26, 1706, age 20(?) years (Barnstable)

- The Capt. Jonathan Sprrow stone, d. March 21, 1706/7, age 73 years (Eastham)

- The James Gorham stone, d. November 18, 1707, age 57 years (Barnstable)

- The Paul Sears stone, d. February 20, 1707/8, age 69 years (Yarmouth)

- The Thomas Sturges stone, d. June 30, 1708, age 48 years (Barnstable)

- The Ieremiah Hows stone, d. September 9, 1708, age 71 years (Dennis)

- The Mrs. Tamsen Sunderlin stone, d. June 16, 1709, age 83 (Brewster)

- The Anna Gray stone, d. January 15, 1709/10, age about 4 months (Brewster)

- The Decon John Hall stone, d. October 24, 1710, age 73 years (Dennis)

- The Anthony Thacher stone, d. March 26, 1711, age 1 year (Yarmouth)

- The John Miller stone, d. June 9, 1711, age 79 years (Yarmouth)

- The James Paine stone, d. July 13, 1711, age 20 years (Barnstable)

- The Abigail Otis stone, d. November 3, 1712, age 11 weeks (Sandwich)

- The Deacon Samuel Freeman footstone, d. November 20, 1712, age 74 years (Eastham)

- The Thankful Higins stone, d. July 13, 1712, age 19 years (Eastham)

- The Thomas Baxter stone, d. June 22, 1713, age 59 years (Yarmouth)

- The Jonathan Freeman stone, d. April 27, 1714, age 35 years (Brewster)

- The Samuel Hedge stone, d. May 19, 1714, age 38 years (Eastham)

- The Bethiah Hinckley stone, d. April 2, 1715, age 42 years (Barnstable)

- The Elizabeth Pope stone, d. April 15, 1715, age 35 years (Sandwich)

- The Mary Hamlin stone, d. April 19, 1715, age 72 years (Barnstable)

- The Samuel Blake stone, d. April 29, 1715, age 24 years (Barnstable)

- The Edward Dilingham stone, d. May 27, 1715, age about 9 days (Dennis)

- The Mr. Daniel Parker stone, d. September 23, 1715, age 20 years (Barnstable)

- The Mr. Joseph Hall stone, d. May 31, 1716, age 73 years (Dennis)

- The Josiah Miller stone, d. December 13, 1717, age 4 years (Yarmouth)

Hourglasses, 1697/8-1717/8 (13 identified gravestones):

- The Sarah Lewes stone (reverse cradle-end), d. March 17, 1697/8, age years Barnstable)

- The Mrs. Joanna Cotton stone, d. October 12, 1702, age 60 years (Sandwich)

- The Capt. Jonathan Sprrow stone, d. March 21, 1706/7, age 73 years (Eastham)

- The Elisha Bourne stone, d. December 10, 1710, age 18 years (Sandwich)

- The Marcy Freeman stone, d. September 28, 1711, age 80 years (Eastham)

- The Abigail Otis stone, d. November 3, 1712, age 11 weeks (Sandwich)

- The Jonathan Freeman stone, d. April 27, 1714, age 35 years (Eastham)

- The Barnabas Lothrop Esqr. Stone, d. October 6, 1715, age ?? years (Barnstable)

- The Mrs. Anna Lewes stone, d. December 26, 1715, age ?? years (Barnstable)

- The Deacon Thomas Freeman stone, d. February 9, 1715/16, age 62 years (Brewster)

- The Jonathan Hopkins stone, d. January 28, 1716-7, age 23 years (Brewster)

- The Deacon Hezekiah Purington stone, d. January 8, 1717/8, age 41 years (North Truro)

- The Deacon Hezekiah Purington footstone, d. January 8, 1717/8, age 41 years (North Truro)

Crossbones and Crosses, 1703-1728 (13 identified gravestones):

- The Mr. John Sunderlin stone, d. December 26, 1703, age 84 years (Brewster)

- The Mrs. Tamsen Sunderlin stone, d. June 16, 1709, age 83 years (Brewster)

- The Marcy Freeman stone, d. September 28, 1711, age 80 years (Eastham)

- The Abigail Otis stone, d. November 3, 1712, age 11 weeks (Sandwich)

- The Jonathan Freeman stone, d. April 27, 1714, age 35 years (Eastham)

- The Mrs. Bethshua Bourne footstone, d. May 13, 1714, age 66 years (Sandwich)

- The Elizabeth Pope footstone, d. April 15, 1715, age 35 years (Sandwich)

- The Mrs. Mary Doane stone, d. July 2, 1716, age 17 years (Wellfleet)

- The Capt. Joshua Doane stone, d. November 29, 1716, age 20 years & 8 months (Wellfleet)

- The Deacon Hezekiah Purinton stone, d. January 8, 1717/8, age 41 years (North Truro)

- The Thomas Lewes footstone, d. March 19, 1718_, age 63 years (Eastham)

- The Shearjashub Bourn Esqr. stone, d. March 7, 1718/9, age 75 years (Sandwich)

- The Capt. Jonathan Bangs stone, d. November 19, 1728, age 88 years (Brewster)

Gadrooned Urns and/or Tulips, 1703-1714 (5 identified gravestones):

- The Walley Crocker stone, d. October 2, 1703, age 2 months & 2 days (Barnstable): tulips and central flower

- The Hannah Hall stone, d. August 23, 1710, age 44 years (Dennis): gadrooned urn with flowers, tulips

- The Ruth Chipman footstone, d. October 4, 1713, age 71 years (Sandwich): paired tulips

- The Bethshua Bourne stone, d. May 13, 1714, age 66 years (Sandwich): elaborate gadrooned urn with tulips and composites

- The Bethier Lothrop stone, d. October 26, 1714, age 28 years (Barnstable): gadrooned urn with tulips

Hearts, 1711; 1728-1742/3 (1 identified gravestone):

- The Marcy Freeman stone, d. September 28, 1711, age 80 years (Eastham)

Winged Soul Effigies, 1711-1718[19] (6 identified gravestones):

- The Marcy Freeman stone, d. September 28, 1711, age 80 years (Eastham)

- The Presiller Hall stone, d. March 30, 1712, age 68 years (Dennis)

- The Deacon Samuel Freeman footstone, d. November 20, 1712, age 74 years (Eastham)

- The Mrs. Mary Doane stone, d. July 2, 1716, age 17 years (Wellfleet)

- The Capt. Joshua Doane stone, d. November 29, 1716, age 20 years & 8 months (Wellfleet)

- The Thomas Lewes stone, d. March 19, 1718_, age 63 years (Eastham)

Soul Doves, 1698 (1 identified gravestone):

- The Batha Hall stone, d. February 1698, age 6 weeks (Dennis)

Deliberately Mutilated stones, 1684(?) (1 identified gravestone):

- The Thomas Clark stone, d. July 24, 1684(?), age 7 weeks and ? days (Sandwich)

Stones Signed By Carver (1 identified gravestone):

- The James Paine stone, d. July 13, 1711, age 20 years (Barnstable)

Old Style/New Style Dates (representative examples):

- The Sarah Lewes stone, d. March 17, 1697/8 (Barnstable)

- The Capt. Peter Adolph stone, d. March 16, 1702/3 (Sandwich)

- The Capt. Jonathan Sprrow stone, d. March 21, 1706/7 (Eastham)

- The Paul Sears stone, d. February 20, 1707/8 (Yarmouth)

- The Mrs. Bethiah Paddack stone, d. March 8, 1707/8 (Brewster)

- The Anna Gray stone, d. January 15, 1709/10 (Brewster)

- The Mary Banges stone, d. January 26, 1711_ (Brewster)

- The Melethiah Lothrop stone, d. February 5, 1711/10/12 (Barnstable)

- The Mrs. Lydia Skiffe stone, d. March 17, 1713/4 (Sandwich)

- The Deacon Thomas Freeman stone, d. February 9, 1715/16 (Brewster)

- The Jonathan Hopkins stone, d. January 28, 1716/17 (Brewster)

- The Thomas Freeman stone, d. March 22, 1716/17 (Brewster)

- The James Sturges stone, d. January 3, 1717/8 (Yarmouth)

- The Deacon Hezekiah Purinton stone, d. January 8, 1717/8 (North Truro)

- The Jonathan Halet stone, d. January 12, 1717/ (Yarmouth)

- The Simon Crosby stone, d. January 19, 1717/18 (Brewster)

- The Remember Jennings stone, d. January 23, 1717/18 (Sandwich)

- The Anna Paddack stone, January 31, 1717_ (Dennis)

- The Mr. Benjamin Parker stone, d. February 4, 1717/8 (Yarmouth)

- The Mr. Robert Astinie stone, d. February 17, 1717/18 (Brewster)

- The Capt. John Paddack stone, d. February 18, 1717/18 (Dennis)

- The Mr. Zachariah Paddack stone, d. April 8, 1717/18 [!!!]) (Dennis)

- The Patience Bacon stone, d. January 13, 1718_ (Barnstable)

- The Sarah Paine stone, d. February 11, 1718/19 (North Truro)

- The Lieut. Edmond Freeman stone, d. February 11, 1718/9 (Eastham)

- The Shearjashub Bourn Esqr. stone, d. March 7, 1718/9 (Sandwich)

- The Thomas Lewes stone, d. March 19, 1718_ (Eastham)

- The Deacon Job Crocker stone, d. March 20, 1718/19 (Barnstable)

- The Infant Hallet stone, d. January 25, 1719_ (Yarmouth)

- The Mrs, Sarah Hallet stone, d. January 31, 1719/20 (Yarmouth) (a number of gravestones from the period 1720-1747, then . . .)

- The Mr. John Miller stone, d. January 31, 1747/8 (Yarmouth)

- The Joseph Lothrop Esqr. stone, d. February 11, 1747_ (Barnstable)

- The Mr. Nathaniel Harding Junior stone, d. March 1, 1747/8 (North Truro)

- The Samuel Smith stone, d. February 21, 1748_ (Wellfleet)

- The Susanna Paine stone, d. March 8, 1748/9 (North Truro)

- The Mrs. Hannah Hallet stone, d. February 6, 1749/50 (Yarmouth)

Fieldstone Gravestones, 1713-1736 (4 representative inscribed examples):

- The Benjamin Paine stone, d. 1713 (Eastham)

- The Bennet Paine stone, d. May 30, 1716, age 45 years (Eastham)

- The Barn[abas] Fre[e]m[an] stone, d. 1736 (Eastham)

- The Marcy Fre[e]man stone, d. 1736 (Eastham)

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