Vital
records of Lee, Massachusetts, 1777-1801 :
from the records of the town Congregational Church and
inscriptions in the early burial grounds,
all the family birth records continued beyond 1801 given as fully
as recorded ;
containing also the baptisms and names of church members in the
records of
the Congregational Church from its organization in 1780 to 1801
Lee, Mass.: Valley Gleaner, 1899,
Pages 76-83
Transcribed
by Coralynn Brown
[Note:
Originally known as Center Cemetery, now known as Fairmount Cemetery.
Thanks to Mal Eckert & Ray Brown for this information. -jd]
In
the old grave-yard, now in the north-east corner of the cemetery
near the center of town, there are 72 monuments with memorials
to 84 persons who died before 1801. Mattey, daughter of Joseph
and Lois Henry, is supposed to have been the first person buried
there. Doubtless there were earlier deaths among the settlers
here, but no certain record of any has been found.
In
Holland's Hist. of Western Mass., (vol 2, p. 516) is the following:
"The first death that occurred in Lee befell a child of John
Winegar. The death occurred at Crow Hollow, and the chld was buried
on the West side of the river." Probablyh the statement was
made on traditional authority.
It
is supposed one of the earliest graves is marked by a rough stone
bearing only the rudely carved letters S.B. The name for which
these letters stand has not ben detrmined. The stone with the
letter L.V.D., marks the grave of Lasso VanDeusen, 8 years old,
a son of Matthew VanDeusen.
Only
two dated before 1801 are in the South Lee cemetery; one at the
grave of Isaac Davis, the first settler, the other at the grave
of Abijah Stearns.
A
few early graves in each cemetery are marked with uninscibed,
unhewn slabs of stone. There are, also, several early graves marked
in the same manner near the residence of C.E. Morely, Cape St.,
where, according to tradition, some of the settlers in that section
named Gifford and Roberts were buried.
If
any of the early inhabitants were buried elsewhere in town, all
knowledge of their graves is lost.
Owing
to weathering, probably some of the punctuation has been effacef
from some of the stones.
The
interined letters and words in the insciptions here given, are
shown, as well as possible with ordinary type. On the stones they
are close to the lines to which they belong.
AUSTIN
Joseph
F., son of Mr. James & Mrs. Achsa Austin. died May 16, 1791,
aged 12 Month.
Also: Zesna, their son died August 26th, 1793, aged 18 Month.
Margaret, their daughter died at Salem State of N. York Oct. 21,
1786, aged 3 Months.
An Infant Son of Mr. James & Mrs. Achsah Austin who was stillborn
Oct. 20, 1794
In memory of Zasna son of Mr. James & Mrs. Achsah Austin,
died April 16, 1797, aged 18 M. also their son was born &
died May 3d, 1798
BALL
Sarah,
daughter of Mr. Nathan & Mrs. Ruhamah Ball, died August 1,
1784, aged 11 Years & 3 Mos.
BASSETT
Annah
Bassett, was born June 12, 1780 and died June 5, 1798, aged 18
years.
In memory of Harriot, daughter to Mr. Cornelius & Mrs. Abigail
Bassett, who died Jan. 19th, 1798, aged 2 years & 9 days.
Nancy, dau of Mr. Cornelius Bassett, Jr. by Mrs. Abigail his wife,
died with the Small pox March 19th, 1785, aged 12 Months &
19 days.
In Memory of Joseph Bassett, son to Mr. Nathaniel & Mrs. Bethiah
Bassett, who died August 10th, 1800, aged one years & 3 days.
BEECHER
Phebe
died August 30th, 1777, aged 1 year & 9 Months.
Thomas Died February 17th, 1788, Aged 14 Months.
Permela Died April 3d, 1793, Aged 2 years & 3 Months.
Children of Mr. Thomas & Mrs. Phebe Beecher
BENNET
Betsey,
dau of Mr. George & Mrs. Elisabeth Bennet, died Sept. 7th,
1790, aged 5 Months.
CHADWICK
Mrs.
Desire Chadwick, the late consort of Mr. Abiathar Chadwick died
August 13th, 1790 in the 35th year of her age.
_______
No age nor sex can Death defy, ~ Think Mortals what it is to die.
CROCKER
In
Memory of Mrs. Content, the late Consort of Mr. Noah Crocker,
who Died July 23dd, 1794, in the 65th year of her age.
Mercy Hamblin Crocker, Died Sept. 8th, 1795, in the 4th year of
her age.
Joseph Crocker Jun., Died July 24th, 1796, aged 7 Months &
6 Days.
The above were the Children of Insign Joseph & Mary Crocker.
_______
The blooming cheeks, the lovely charms, ~ Lie clasped in Deaths
cold Icy arms.
In memory of Miss Zeruiah Crocker who died Sept 2nd 1798, in the
21st year of her age.
__________
Tis long since death had the majority ~ Yet strange: the living
lay it not to heart.
DAVIS
Mrs.
Hannah Davis, the wife of Mr. Hope Davis, Died February 23d, 1795,
in the 65th year of her age.
___________
How sudden was the stroke ~ when the Almighty spoke ~ My Friends
& Children now draw near ~ And see that you for Death prepare.
EASTON
Polly,
daug of Mr. Silas & Mrs. Rachel Easton, died February 15th,
1795, age 16 days.
EWER
Mrs.
Marcy Ewer the wife of Mr. Paul Ewer, died March 18th, 1795 in
the 39th year of her age.
___________
Farewell my friends ~ dry up your tears ~ Here sleeps my dust
~ till Christ appears.
FOOT
David,
son of Mr. David & Mrs. Elisabeth Foot, died Oct. 14th, 1790,
age 3 Months.
___________
Sleep on my babe ~ and take your rest ~ God called you home ~
He felt it best.
In
memory of an Infant son to Mr. Alvan & Mrs. Sally FOOT, who
died August 5th, 1799, age 9 hours.
____________
Ye active babes & children all ~ Behold the seene of childrens
fall ~ My day was short my hours few ~ And bid this world &
all adieu.
FREEMAN
Thomas,
son of Mr. Elisha & Mrs. Elisabeth Freeman, died June 28th,
1780, aged 3 years.
___________
The God that * * *(stone broken)
GRANT
Jared
died May 15th, 1785, aged 2 Years & 8 Months
Eunis died Mar. 19th, 1794, aged 3 Years.
The heirs of Mr. Elisaha & mrs. Mary GRANT
HALL
Nansey,
Daut of Mr. Moses & Mrs. Relief Hall who Died February 19th,
1797, aged 16 days.
HAMBLIN
William
Phinney Hamblin, son to Mr. Cornelius & Mrs. Marcy Hamblin,
died October 23d, 1797 aged 1 year 4 Months & 15 days
.
HATCH
In
Memory of Mrs. Mariam Hatch wife to Mr. Josiah Hatch who died
Nov. 9th, 1800, aged 83 years.
HINCKLEY
In
Memory of Charles son to Mr. Benjamin & Mrs. Puella Hinckley,
who died Jan. 5th, 1795, aged 16 months & 20 days.
HODGES
Leua,
Daugt to Mr. Samuel & Mrs. Lydia Hodges, died April 14, 1795,
aged 2 months.
HOWK
Rochana,
daut of Mr. Abraham & Mrs. Easther Howk, who died Janurary
3d, 1799, in the 4th year of her age.
INGERSOLL
Sacred
to the memory of Mrs. Eunice Ingersoll, consort of Mr. Moses Ingersoll,
who departed this life Nov. 19, 1795, in the 51st year of her
age.
___________
Surviving friends altough you morn ~ Let this console I shall
return ~ The righteous Judge can by his word ~ Bring me trumphing
with
the Lord.
JENKINS
In
memory of Mrs. Elizabeth Jenkins, consort of Mr. Ebenezer Jenkins
(late of Barnstable, deceased), who died Oct. 28th, 1788, aged
91 years.
__________
Behold my friends while passing by ~ This stone informs you where
I lie ~ Tho I have lived to ninety one ~ Yet you may died while
you are young.
HURD
Here
lies Worthy to be lamented, Mrs. Sibyl Hurd, wife of Stephen Leonard,
who departed this life July 19th, 1787, in the 24th Year of her
Age.
__________
My glass is run my Grave you see ~ Prepare for Death and follow
me.
LEONARD
Stephen
Leonard Junr, died May 1787
NYE
In
memory of Thomas Nye, son to Deacon Levy & Mrs. Sarah Nye,
who Died Nov. 2nd, 1792, in the 19th year of his age.
In memory of an Infant dautr of Mr. Joshua & Mrs. Charity
Nye, who died July 23d, 1783, aged 5 days.
PORTER
Huldah,
the daughter of Mr. Levi & Mrs. Catherine Porter, died March
13, 1794, aged 8 years & 13 days.
Rhoda, daut to Mr. Levi & Mrs. Catharine Porter, who died
June 5th, 1795, in the 4th year of her age.
TOBEY
- BACKUS
In
memory of Mrs. Lydia Tobey, consort to Mr. Stephen Tobey, who
died April 3d, 1799, in the 43d year of her age.
_________
Gods people are made willing ~ in the day of his Power.
In memory of Miss Remember Tobey, daut to Mr. Stephen & Mrs.
Lydia Tobey; who died Feb. 6th 1799. in the 22 year of her age.
___________
The blooming cheeks the lovely charms ~ Lie clasp'd in Deaths
cold icy arms. ~ THIS STONE was erected by Seth Backus, Junr.
WILLIAMS
In
Memory of Mrs. Lucy, wife of Mr. John Williams, who Departed this
Life, Aug. 28, A.D., 1786: age 24
___________
Farewell my loving wife ~ We bid a short Adieu ~ You can not come
to me again ~ But I must come to you.
WHITNEY
Mary,
Daut of Mr. William & Mrs. Sarah Whitney, Died July 27, 1790,
aged 1 Month.
PERRY
In
Memory of Mr. Arhur Perry who died May 7, 1794, in the 73d year
of his age.
__________
Adieu my spouse my children dear ~ I leave this world of pain
~ Let virtue by your Practice here ~ we do meet [indistinct]
HATCH
M
RS [indistinct] Rebecca, wife of Mr. Oliver Hatch, died May 1st,
1788, in the 33d year of her age.
____________
Farewell my friends ~ dry up your tears ~ My dust lies here ~
Till Christ appears.
BRADLEY
On
stone to the memory of Esthe and Lydia Bradley
____________
Decaying mortals here's the place ~ The house destined(?) for
Adam's race ~ Be ready then to meet the Lamb ~ Of God, the Judge,
the Great I AM.
THATCHER
- WILCOX
This
stone erected by Rowland THATCHER Junr., to perpetuate the memory
of Miss Electa WILCOX who departed this Life May 16th 1800, Aged
19 years 2 months & 14 days.
____________
All you that stop my tomb to see ~ As I am here so you must be
~ Repent, repent now you have time ~ For Iwas taken in my prime.
FOOT
On
stone erected to the children of Jonathan Foot Jr:
______________
Those guiltles charmes, those ~ marks of genius are surpest, ~
Which nust the foundest hopes ~ in tender parents breasts.
WINEGAR
In
memory of Mr. JOHN WINEGAR, who Departed this Life the 14th of
March, 1798, Aged 55 years & 2 mo.
______________
In solemn silence here I lie ~ Pray from me learn that you must
die ~ All youthful scenes of pleasure bright ~ must end as watches
of the night. ~ ~ O may this be your happy case ~ That he who
gives you length of days ~ May raise you to His corts above ~
There to pertake of boundless love.
Two infants of Jacob & Anna Winegars, One died March 3, 1797,
The other died June 16, 1802
BASSETT
In
Memory of Mrs. Mary Bassett, the late Consort of Mr. Nathan Bassett,
who Died May 4th, 1796, in the 44th year of her Age.
______________
Death is a debt to Nature due, ~ Which I have paid & so must
you, ~ Here let me rest my weary head, ~ Till Christ my Lod shall
raise the Dead
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